2 WWE Superstars who can't make a return and 3 who won't 

Over the years WWE has released several superstars and later allowed them to make their return. The door is never truly shut for any former WWE star unless there are reasons beyond their control that would prevent them from being able to wrestle.

Many superstars want to return to WWE and have tried to push for a return in recent years. But injuries that these stars suffered earlier in their careers have meant that they will never be able to step into a WWE ring again.

Several former WWE Superstars have made it clear that their careers have now come to a close and they don't wish to make any kind of a return in the near future.

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#5. Won't return to WWE- Batista

@WWEUniverse Thank you for letting me entertain you. I love this business and whether you cheered me or jeered me, I’m grateful for being a small part of your life. I am officially retired from sports entertainment and I am grateful for every second of my amazing journey ✌🏼

— The Artist Formerly Known as Super Duper Dave (@DaveBautista) April 8, 2019

Batista is a former World Champion in WWE who last wrestled for the company at WrestleMania 35 where he lost to Triple H in a No Holds Barred match.

Batista went on to retire from in-ring action and has since been solely focused on his acting career. The Animal has recently been a part of The Avengers franchise as Drax The Destroyer and continues to be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The 52-year-old has been linked with a return to WWE several times following his retirement, despite missing his Hall of Fame induction at the beginning of April. This forced the former World Champion to make it clear that he was retired whilst appearing at Justice Con last month:

"Don't put that out there; people will jump all over that [laughs]. 'He's coming out of retirement!' No, I'm not. It's so hard to convince people that I'm actually retired. You have no idea how tough that discussion is. When a professional wrestler retires, they don't really retire, they kind of retire. If the paycheck or event is big enough, they'll come out of retirement. It's just not that way with me. I exited the business in such a storybook way, I could never go back. I'm just done. I got to finish on my own terms, and nothing is going to bring me back and take away from that."

Despite recent links to a match with Bobby Lashley, it appears that Batista has made it clear that his WWE career is now behind him.

#4. Can't return to in-ring action in WWE- Tyson Kidd

"Good grief!"@WWEBigE got the better of this 🔥 exchange with @TJWilson 6 years ago today at #WWEPayback 2015.👀 https://t.co/ti6qFdAx0F pic.twitter.com/aNBy3McoFG

— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) May 17, 2021

Tyson Kidd is a former Tag Team Champion in WWE and the husband of current Women's Tag Team Champion Natalya.

Back in 2015, Kidd suffered a spinal cord injury in a dark match against Samoa Joe on Monday Night RAW, when The Samoan Submission Machine delivered the Muscle Buster.

Kidd later noted that only 5% of people usually survive the kind of injury that he suffered and that he was forced to have 16 staples, four screws, and a rod inserted in his neck.

Two years later, Kidd became a full-time employee backstage in WWE but has been pushing for a return in recent years. The former Champion recently noted that he tried to return at The Royal Rumble back in 2020 but WWE Chairman Vince McMahon made it clear that this wasn't an option:

“I tried doing one Royal Rumble and a lot of thought went into it, but it got turned down. I’m not mad at it. It’s kind of funny the way Vince [McMahon] laid it out. He’s like we can control everything we can in our power, but what if something happens? What if something we can’t control happens?"

Kidd went on to state that he was aware that he wouldn't be able to wrestle again due to many factors in wrestling that can't be controlled.

#3. Won't return to WWE- Layla

The Women's Revolution has seen the WWE return of many former Women's Champions including Trish Stratus, Lita, Victoria and even Michelle McCool.

The latter once partnered with Layla to form LayCool. Many fans have since questioned why the British star hasn't returned to WWE since her departure back in 2015.

Layla opted to retire from the company and then went off the radar as she trained to become a real estate agent.

The former Women's Champion recently spoke to Ring The Belle on YouTube where she revealed that she had no interest in returning to WWE:

“I just feel that I had a very fruitful long career, and I attained everything I possibly could have attained in WWE, and I was given every opportunity. That door is closed, and I’m okay with that. And I feel just happy that I was able to have that. I look at my past, and I’m like, ‘wow I did all that stuff,’ and that’s just how I’d like to keep it.”

Layla left WWE back in 2015 and went on to marry fellow WWE star Ricky Ortiz. The former Divas Champion is now seemingly content with what she achieved in the nine years she spent in WWE and isn't looking for a way to make her return.

#2. Can't return to in-ring action in WWE- Jason Jordan

Jason Jordan was last seen in a WWE ring back in 2018 when he was part of a storyline with RAW General Manager Kurt Angle.

Jordan suffered a neck injury ahead of The Royal Rumble where he was wrestling alongside Seth Rollins. It was believed that the surgery needed to correct the injury would be minor.

Instead, Jordan has been on the sidelines for the past three years and has taken up a role as a producer for WWE matches backstage.

Jason Jordan's former tag team partner Chad Gable noted back in January that the former Triple Crown Tag Team Champion was "working on" making his in-ring return:

"It’s unfortunate what happened with his injury, but you never say never. He’s working on it, he’s trying to get back, and who knows? A reunion is always something that I would never be against. Never say never."

Whilst the likes of Daniel Bryan and Edge have shown that neck injuries can be overcome after some time on the sidelines, as of writing, Jason Jordan seems content in his backstage position. It was reported last month that Jordan had been promoted to the role of Lead Producer in the company.

#1. Won't return to WWE- CM Punk

CM Punk left WWE back in 2014 and over the past seven years, the former World Champion has made several different comments regarding a return.

Punk seemingly remains open to making a return to WWE or even working with AEW if he feels that the storyline is right. That being said, the former Champion recently made it clear that there was a big reason why he won't be making his return to WWE anytime soon:

“I don’t need the money. And the way the wrestling business is now, it’s wacky. You’ve got WWE, who has multiple billion-dollar television deals, and the television’s awful. I go back there, I’m just another guy. And it’s not even that – I’d be just another guy that’s doing not-good television,” said Punk.

WWE would be open to Punk's return since it's clear that this would be one of the biggest returns that the business could provide. Despite this, it seems that the former world champion doesn't want to return to the business where he first found fame.