THIS Former WWE Champion Planning Full-Time Wrestling Return In 2022

The question now, is where does this wrestling machine end up?

by Andrew Pollard
Mike Mondo Mikey The Spirit Squad
WWE.com

Having not competed regularly since 2019, former WWE Tag Team Champion Mike Mondo, aka Mikey of The Spirit Squad, is gearing up to make a full-time return to the ring in 2022.

As per PWInsider, Mondo intends to return to the squared circle on a permanent basis next year. This follows recent Instagram posts from the grappler talking up how he's not done with wrestling yet, and also asking fans which version of him they prefer - the "wrestling machine" Mike Mondo as seen in ROH and OVW, or the "90% entertainment" persona of Mikey?

Mondo has worked a handful of independent dates in recent years - including an appearance for New York Wrestling Connection this past Sunday - and was last seen on a national stage for Court Bauer's MLW back in 2019. There, he teamed with his Spirit Squad buddy Kenny. The Mikey and Kenny tandem also had a brief return to WWE in 2016 as part of The Miz's feud with Dolph Ziggler, aka the former Nicky of the Squad.

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It remains to be seen where Mike Mondo/Mikey ends up, but this should be a fun one to keep your eye on.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.