8 WWE Returns That Were Much Better Than Expected

2. Finlay

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WWE

A full 31 years after making his professional debut, Dave Finlay stepped into a WWE ring for the first time at the grand age of 47 - five years since he'd last strapped on the clover-clad singlet.

Unlike PCO's surprise return in 2016 with just an extra year on the clock, the Northern Irishman's SmackDown bow wasn't treated as a nostalgia-fuelled curio - or with any special interest whatsoever, for that matter.

That's probably because his performance entirely belied his age. Going toe-to-toe with relative whippersnapper Matt Hardy, Finlay laid bare his heel credentials and low-key wrestling prowess. It was the springboard for a highly successful second career, which finally came to a close in 2011 - when the evergreen and ever 'Fit' Finlay was forced to hang up his shillelagh at the age of 53.

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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.