15 WWE Returns That IMMEDIATELY Backfired

Plot twist (sort of): Shawn's 2002 return was everything a blistering comeback should be. That immediately paid dividends at SummerSlam. It looked like Michaels hadn't lost a step. He'd go on to enjoy approx eight years of stunning work that maybe even topped what he'd achieved pre-back injury in the 1990s. Lightning didn't strike twice for HBK though.

He signed on for a marquee tag bout with Triple H vs. Kane and The Undertaker at Crown Jewel 2018, and fans were hyped by the thought of seeing Shawn wrestle for the first time since his 2010 retirement. He'd always been steadfast about never returning, so this felt like a huge deal. Surely such a legend wouldn't agree to work again unless he was about to blow everyone's minds?

Hmm. It was obvious within minutes that Shawn wasn’t the HBK of old. Fans knew he'd be slower and have some ring rust, but they also had every right to expect a better match than they got. The Crown Jewel tag was embarrassing from start to finish. Trips tore a pec, Kane’s wig fell off, all four botched multiple spots - it was just terrible. Michaels and ‘Taker later admitted their regret over this whole sorry affair.

They were mortified, and rightly so. Even the biggest Shawn Michaels fan could've done without this sorry excuse for a send off. DX vs. The Brothers Of Destruction unpicked some of the exhilarating work HBK had done before retiring the first time. It was a blatant cash grab. Nobody's throwing stones at wrestlers for getting paid, but the match was atrocious.

It began poorly, then got even worse.