10 Surprise WWE Returns That Immediately Transformed Title Matches

Wrapped up in the emotion of the moment, The Rock perhaps regretted his tacit gesture for Stone Cold Steve Austin to 'get the F out', having returned to whip up a storm on the first edition of Monday Night Raw following 'The Rattlesnake's sensational June 2002 walkout.

He didn't channel his words directly down the lens at his career rival, but in suggesting that any roster members having Austin's doubts should head for the exit was more than just a neat way to tie in the company's latest marketing slogan.

The company Stone Cold walked away from after months of unrest and the continued eroding of his physical and mental wellbeing was a very different place to the version that exists today. Losing his biggest star almost overnight, McMahon's efforts to bring in The Rock at short notice highlighted the panic that had clearly set in for the Chairman. It was perhaps more astonishing that 'The Great One' even said yes, but his rabble rousing monologue ended on a surprisingly pointed note as he announced his intentions to be present for the upcoming pay-per-view WWE Title match between The Undertaker and Triple H.

Interfering in the contest itself, the entire segment foreshadowed his return and then-historic sixth title reign. Having physically asserted himself earlier than planned, Rock took back the strap at July's Vengeance supercard just in time to admirably put over Brock Lesnar at that year's SummerSlam.