10 Wrestlers Who Left And Returned More Badass

8. PAC

Super Liger Chris Jericho
Dragon Gate

In his formative years, PAC tore up Dragon Gate by very much wrestling within the pulsating, acrobatic in-house style and transcending it with his formidable power and star aura.

In WWE, he developed his prodigious grasp of psychology in a superb transformation from desperate NXT tweener to main roster BASTARD, a role cruelly unexplored that has now fully informed his deadly approach, in which he withholds the spectacular reaches of his arsenal with barely-suppressed, crowd-baiting glee. He perfected it upon his 2018 return to Japan's number two promotion, but not after a tricky transition process.

His Open The Dream Gate Championship win over Masato Yoshino was received with a lukewarm fan and critical response; it was felt that PAC slowed the pace down to an extent that generated a bored strain of heat, but over time, fans grew accustomed to his more methodical approach, and it bore long-term success, in that fans were willing to receive the emerging project Ben-K as his successor.

Between the stalling and heat spots, and snarling body language, PAC became a badass in part by dusting off a top-rope Tombstone piledriver, as one does.

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 surefire Undisputed WWE Universal 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!