10 Times The Past Screwed WWE's Present

Dave Batista’s WWE return was a crash course in how not to book an ageing star’s comeback. While the former Evolution member received a decent welcome upon returning, the novelty soon wore thin. Many fans found it hard to shake the feeling that Batista was only there to build hype for his burgeoning Hollywood career, and it was hard to get excited when he announced his entrance into the 2014 Royal Rumble.

Daniel Bryan was absolutely surging at the time. The Yes! Movement was at the peak of its powers, and fans were absolutely dying to see their hero in the company’s biggest spotlight. He lost to Bray Wyatt early in the show, but Bryan was a huge favourite to win the Rumble among oddsmakers and fans alike, but things became very, very concerning as the match progressed.

Batista showed-up as promised, but Bryan did not. The fans filled the arena with chants of his name as the clock counted down for entrant number 30, but it was Rey Mysterio who emerged, not Bryan. Mysterio immediately became the biggest heel in the company: Bryan had been snubbed, and the fans were furious.

Batista eventually eliminated Roman Reigns to become one of the most universally rejected Royal Rumble winners in history. The past had once again prospered to the present’s detriment, and while the situation had as much to do with Batista’s flopped return as Bryan’s omission, it was a huge disappointment. WWE fortunately righted this wrong at WrestleMania XXX, but at the time, Batista’s 2014 Royal Rumble win was a real kick in the mouth.