15 WWE Returns That IMMEDIATELY Backfired
12. The British Bulldog (1999)
Keep in mind before reading this entry that the WWF wanted Davey Boy Smith to be a key part of World Title storylines heading into 2000. He feuded with The Rock, and was part of a 'Six Pack Challenge' for the vacant WWF Title at Unforgiven 1999. That took place on 26 September. Earlier in the month, on the 9 September SmackDown, Smith returned to action and...
...beat Big Boss Man in 90 seconds for the Hardcore Title, then handed the belt off to Al Snow. The British Bulldog did all this wearing jeans and a hoody, so he barely looked like the chiselled man mountain federation fans had last seen back in 1997. Truthfully, Davey's comeback was snake-bit from the off. He was having personal issues and had various addiction woes away from the ring.
Regardless, this was a less than stellar piece of booking for such a major comeback. The company even changed Bulldogs music up, which meant fans in attendance initially had no clue who was answering Boss Man's open challenge. Worse was to come the longer Smith wrestled. It was painfully obvious that he was a shadow of his former self as a worker.
The whole thing was pretty sad to see, actually. Bulldog had been such a well-received star in his prime, and now here he was looking like someone's dad decided to win the Hardcore Title before picking the kids up from school. Way to make someone big time look less than, guys. This was a poor decision.
If anything, Bulldog should've been kept back for Unforgiven and eased back in rather than poking his nose into the Boss Man vs. Snow stuff just because that story had dogs in it and he had dog in his name.