10 WWE Returns That Were Completely Wasted

Absence makes the heart grow fonder and this statement definitely applies to how WWE fans feel whenever a star disappears from their screen for an extended spell.

Although these breaks from television and live events are usually unexpected and tend to come about due to injury or a star suddenly parting ways with the company, more often than not these spells away from the WWE Universe turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Once an injured or exiled performer is finally given the green light to step back into the company's squared circle, these returning stars are usually given a hero's welcome and a much needed push off the back of their highly anticipated comeback.

However, not every absent wrestler is given the same treatment upon their return and on more than a few occasions WWE have completely cocked up what should have been a truly triumphant re-emergence.

Long lost legends being completely overlooked, main event players being stuffed into rushed programmes and thunderous pops being completely ignored, have all left fans with a bitter taste in their mouths when they should've been celebrating the return of their favourite ass-kickers.

If any WWE wrestler is not seen competing in the ring for over a year due to a serious injury, it's only natural for fans to start wondering when or where their eventual return will go down and what direction WWE will push them in when they finally do resurface.

Unfortunately, when it came to six time Women's Champion Mickie James' long awaited comeback earlier this year, WWE decided to waste what could have been a memorable first appearance back on Monday Night Raw in 14 months by having the legend appear in an awkward backstage segment with social media influencers Lana and Natalya.

If that wasn't enough, the star was then humiliated in her official in-ring return as the audience's attention was pulled away from James and Natalya's bout to focus on a verbal back-and-forth between Seth Rollins and Samoa Joe at ringside. Oh, and James would lose said match by count-out.

Thankfully, James was given a shot at Asuka's Raw Women's Championship a few weeks later, but even that bout was marred by a refereeing mistake which saw the contest abruptly ended.

What could have been an epic return for the former Knockouts Champion has quickly turned into a deeply disappointing affair. But it surely can't get any worse, right?