10 Most Unthinkable Comebacks In Wrestling History

3. Superstar Billy Graham Returns To WWE

CM Punk WWE
WWE

The proto-Hulk Hogan, Superstar Billy Graham, was one of the chief architects of modern pro wrestling. His influence is almost as profound as the Gold Dust Trio or Vince McMahon himself.

He was fiercely critical of WWE after his return run in the Golden Era represented a bleak fall from grace; he sued the WWF after alleging that he was forced to inject anabolic steroids to maintain his spot, and, capitalising on the other major controversy of the early '90s, claimed to have witnessed first-hand the molestation of children from WWF officials. He rescinded the allegations, attributing them to his desire to get a payday.

Graham literally called the Fed no*ces and got a Hall of Fame induction a decade later.

It was doubly shocking, because it wasn't as if there was a financial incentive so significant that old feelings could be forgotten. While a trailblazer so significant that pro wrestling would look unrecognisable without his influence - and that is no exaggeration - Hulk Hogan did such an incredible job of using his influence that, to the vast majority of WWE fans, the company might as well have been founded in 1984.

Vince McMahon clearly is a weirdly sentimental fellow, given how, elsewhere, he is more than happy to erase vast portions of his promotion's history when the narrative fits.

 
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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!