11 MORE WWE Returns That IMMEDIATELY Backfired
2. The Ultimate Warrior (1996)
Some have said that jobbing to The Ultimate Warrior in short order at WrestleMania XII was part of Triple H's punishment for being involved in the 'Curtain Call'. That's factually all wrong. That incident didn't happen until 19 May, and 'Mania XII was on 31 March. So, either someone could predict the future and was punishing Hunter ahead of time, or his loss had nothing to do with hugging Shawn Michaels, Diesel and Razor Ramon.
Nah, the WWF simply needed someone on the midcard to stare at the lights for Warrior during his comeback. Trips had nothing better to do, so he was chosen for that spot. Here's the thing: Federation fans were happy to see a star the magnitude of Warrior return at first, but they'd swiftly grow bored of his stale act.
Post-Triple H squash, Warrior moved onto a truly odd feud with Goldust. He was gone by July amidst backstage drama with Vince McMahon after no-showing several live events, so this reprise proved to be a complete waste of everybody's time and energy. Again though, Warrior’s dated presentation was also totally at odds with the ‘New Generation’ style of ’96. He wasn't quite King Kong Bundy, but there was only so long fans were going to pop for his style when placed next to HBK or Bret Hart main events.
Warrior clashed with the WWF over his comic books too. There was a lot going on backstage. His ego, general disinterest in putting a shift in, and thoughts he was a fish out of water all combined to make his comeback a disaster almost straight away.