8 WWE Returns That Were Much Better Than Expected

3. Brock Lesnar

Ricky Steamboat Chris Jericho WrestleMania 25 XXV
WWE.com

Brock Lesnar was only 35 when he made his unlikely WWE return in 2012, but after years of punishing toil on his body, both in his public MMA battles and private addiction battles - not to mention a near fatal bout of diverticulitis - it was reasonable to expect the breakout Beast of 2002 would be somewhat defanged.

After decisive defeats in the Octagon, the expectation was that Brock was going to slide into his slippers in Stamford, taking a soft option for hard cash.

He didn't. Lesnar's first match back in WWE for almost a decade was an absolutely rip-roaring affair opposite John Cena. The Beast was back - and better than ever. For a bit, anyway.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.