Ranking All 24 WWE Debuts & Returns In 2023
16. The One-Offs
Perhaps the most difficult thing to measure is the impact (if any) that wrestlers who make brief cameos have on the product.
Their appearances pop live crowds, and if announced ahead of time, they could juice ratings somewhat. But overall, these one-offs typically have no real lasting impact on the product other than making year-end lists and maybe a cool video clip.
No moment better encapsulates this entry than Raw is XXX. The 30-year anniversary special in January was a lot like previous anniversary programs, in that it featured a ton of Hall-of-Famers and WWE legends. Unlike previous specials (such as the 25th anniversary show), they actually booked this one well. Superstars such as Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Kurt Angle, Ric Flair, X-Pac, Teddy Long, Hulk Hogan, Ted DiBiase, IRS, Lita, Alundra Blayze, The Godfather and Diamond Dallas Page appeared.
D-Generation X put over Imperium as a serious threat during their in-ring segment. Undertaker had a passing the torch moment with Bray Wyatt that sadly was never realized. And of course, Ron Simmons said “Damn.”
Other one-offs, such as Pat McAfee's sporadic appearances, can also be lumped in this entry as inoffensive moments that can't be ranked as disappointments, but also didn't have lasting impacts on the product.