'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
WWE has already brought back numerous superstars during the first half of the current year. 2024 has seen the televised in-ring returns of Andrade, Naomi, The Authors of Pain, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and Shawn Spears, formerly known as "The Perfect 10" Tye Dillinger. This year has also seen the arrival of "All Ego" Ethan Page on the NXT brand.
Money In The Bank was WWE's latest PLE, giving wrestling fans a handful of historic moments that have seriously impacted the landscape of the Endeavor-owned promotion. As we've reached the halfway point of 2024, what other surprises and impactful moments does World Wrestling Entertainment have in store for the masses?
Without further ado, let's take a look at 10 former WWE wrestlers who could be making their televised return to the Stamford-based promotion during the second half of the current year.
Trending
#1. Will former RAW GM AJ Lee return to WWE because of the feud between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre?
The beef between CM Punk and The Scottish Warrior is arguably WWE's most heated rivalry in recent months. The Straight Edge Savior has cost McIntyre the World Heavyweight Championship during three major PLEs in 2024. Most recently, Punk interfered in the World Title triple threat match between Damian Priest, Seth Rollins, and Drew McIntyre at Money In The Bank in Toronto.
Drew and Punk have been at each other's throats for months. Their rivalry has become highly personal, with McIntyre mentioning Punk's family members, more specifically his dog Larry and wife AJ Lee. The Scotsman also stole Punk's bracelet, which has Larry and AJ's names on it.
Plenty of fans were speculating online about AJ Lee returning during the 2024 Money In The Bank premium live event, with some suggesting her return would result in Drew McIntyre losing the men's ladder match. However, Lee didn't return at this year's MITB. The Scottish Warrior would win the briefcase on Saturday, but Punk would ensure Drew didn't leave Scotiabank Arena with another reign as World Heavyweight Champion.
Considering how personal and violent the storyline between Punk and McIntyre has become, it wouldn't be surprising to see AJ Lee make a televised return to WWE sometime in 2024. Whenever that happens, the fans in attendance and around the world will predictably pop to see the former three-time Divas Champion in a wrestling ring once again. Lee last wrestled in a six-woman tag team match alongside Paige and Naomi, defeating The Bella Twins and Natalya on Monday Night RAW after WrestleMania 31 on March 30, 2015.
#2. Is former Mr. Money In The Bank Jack Swagger on his way back to WWE?
Jack Swagger was known as Jake Hager in All Elite Wrestling, debuting on the inaugural episode of AEW Dynamite in early October 2019 and leaving the company when his contract expired in May 2024. Before that, he was known as "The All-American American" Jack Swagger, a multi-time champion who wrestled for World Wrestling Entertainment.
The two-sport athlete from the University of Oklahoma competed in WWE for over a decade, starting in the developmental territories DSW and OVW before becoming a notable star on the main roster. During his time in the Stamford-based company, Jack Swagger became a two-time world champion, gaining a reign apiece with the ECW Title and SmackDown's World Heavyweight Championship. Swagger also held a reign as United States Champion.
Swagger would win the Money In The Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 26 on March 28, 2010. He'd cash in his MITB contract on the following episode of SmackDown, preying on a vulnerable Chris Jericho to become World Heavyweight Champion. Jack would also win 2013's Elimination Chamber match, going on to challenge Alberto Del Rio for the Big Gold Belt at WrestleMania 29, but The All-American American wasn't able to end The Mexican Aristocrat's title reign inside MetLife Stadium.
Jack Swagger was released by WWE in March 2017 after being relegated to an enhancement talent. On the most recent episode of NXT, Ethan Page talked about Trick Williams' "swagger" during the Heatwave contract signing. Could this be a sign of an All-American American return to WWE? If that turns out to be the case, Swagger would arguably be a good fit on the NXT brand as a headlining talent or a henchman for the wrestler with All Ego.
The former champion could also potentially return to Monday Night RAW, the home of the current version of the World Heavyweight Championship.
#3. Will five-time WWE World Champion Kurt Angle return to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his debut at Survivor Series?
Kurt Angle is currently on a WWE Legends contract, also known as a general nostalgia agreement, which covers merchandising and has led to special televised appearances for the 1996 Olympian. Angle last wrestled at WrestleMania 35 in April 2019, losing to "The Lone Wolf" Baron Corbin.
The Olympic Gold Medalist made his televised WWE in-ring debut at the 1999 Survivor Series pay-per-view, defeating Shawn Stasiak. He'd go on to have one of the best rookie years in the history of the Stamford-based wrestling promotion. In less than a year following his PPV debut, Kurt Angle would win the European Championship, the Intercontinental Title, the 2000 King of the Ring tournament, and the coveted WWF Championship.
Angle has won 13 world championships throughout his prestigious career, winning the TNA World Heavyweight Championship six times, becoming a five-time WWE World Champion, and holding a reign apiece with the WCW Championship and the IWGP Championship. He'd become a two-time NCAA Divison I Champion as a collegiate amateur wrestler. The legendary grappler would also become a three-time NCAA Division I All-American.
Kurt is a multi-time Hall of Famer, being inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame (2016), the Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame (2021), the WWE Hall of Fame (2017), the TNA Hall of Fame (2013), the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2012), and as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (2001).
The 25th anniversary of Kurt Angle's WWE debut is coming up in November 2024. Perhaps the TKO-operated organization could celebrate this milestone by having Angle host the 38th edition of Survivor Series. Trish Stratus hosted WWE's most recent PLE. Will Kurt follow in her footsteps in a few months? The company has commemorated the 25th anniversary of The Undertaker (2015) and The Rock (2021) respectively at Survivor Series, will they do the same with an Olympic gold medalist this year?
#4. The Rascalz' Zachary Wentz, aka former two-time NXT Tag Team Champion Nash Carter, is feuding with No Quarter Catch Crew's Charlie Dempsey
Zachary Wentz of The Rascalz is set to tangle with Charlie Dempsey on the next episode of TNA iMPACT! During the most recent episode that aired on the 4th of July, Dempsey interfered in a match involving Trey Miguel and Leon Slater. The former NXT Heritage Cup Champion attacked everyone in his path, including Miguel, Slater, Wentz, and even the referee.
The Rascalz are currently involved in a beef with the No Quarter Catch Crew, but this feud has yet to spill over to WWE programming. In late May 2024, Joe Coffey released a video on X that mocked Wentz, leading some fans to speculate about the potential of an onscreen rivalry between a reunited three-man Rascalz and NXT's Gallus.
Wentz has a prior history with World Wrestling Entertainment. In December 2020, he signed a contract with WWE and was assigned to the developmental brand in Orlando, Florida. He'd stay with the company until April 2022, becoming a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion as one-half of MSK and winning the 2021 Men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic alongside Wes Lee.
If his recent interactions with NXT wrestlers are any indication, there's a possibility that the former Nash Carter could find himself back in a WWE ring sometime soon. If that happens, the original three-man stoner trio known as The Rascalz could team up to fight other trios like Gallus and No Quarter Catch Crew on the white-and-gold brand.
#5. and #6. Are tag team legends The Hardy Boyz returning to WWE in 2024?
Matt and Jeff Hardy are both currently making appearances for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. However, as of this writing, they haven't signed contracts with the Nashville-based promotion and are working as free agents.
During an appearance on the Busted Open podcast in June 2024, Matt talked about The Hardy Boyz having another run with the Stamford-based promotion, leading to the legendary tag team being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. However, he'd like to have "a hell of a run" in TNA first, before he and Jeff go back to World Wrestling Entertainment.
It's also worth noting that Matt and Jeff could potentially do cross-promotional work across both companies without remaining exclusive to either company. Jordynne Grace, Joe Hendry, Ash by Elegance and Frankie Kazarian are four examples of TNA wrestlers who crossed the line to NXT programming while retaining their roles with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
Wrestling fans worldwide would love to see The Hardy Boyz have one last run in a WWE ring. The last time they won tag team gold while signed to the Stamford-based promotion, they had to relinquish the SmackDown Tag Team Titles a few weeks into their reign due to Jeff's knee injury in April 2019. Perhaps sometime in 2024 or 2025, they'll return, looking for one last run as champions in the world's most famous wrestling promotion.
#7. and #8. Team Angle reunion? Will two-time WWE Tag Team Champions Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas return?
If WWE is looking to celebrate Kurt Angle's 25th anniversary at Survivor Series, they may have to bring in a few familiar faces from Kurt's past. From late December 2002 to mid-June 2003, Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas were part of a group known as Team Angle. They were originally presented as a gift from Paul Heyman to the Olympic gold medalist. While under Angle's wing, they captured the WWE Tag Team Titles from Los Guerreros.
After they broke up with Kurt Angle, the duo of Haas and Benjamin began to call themselves The World's Greatest Tag Team. They'd attain a second reign as WWE Tag Team Champions together before they were separated in the 2004 Draft. Haas and Benjamin also had two reigns as ROH World Tag Team Champions during their run with Ring of Honor in the early 2010s.
Shelton Benjamin was released by WWE twice, first in April 2010 and then again in September 2023 after he had returned in 2017. Charlie Haas was also released by the Stamford-based promotion twice, first in July 2005 and then again in February 2010, after returning to the company in April 2006. Haas has only wrestled one match in 2024 so far, according to Cagematch.net. Benjamin has reportedly wrestled nine matches in the current year.
Haas and Benjamin are currently free agents, and they would add depth to the tag team division of any of WWE's three brands if they were to ink a new deal with the promotion now owned by Endeavor. Perhaps the company can save the duo's hypothetical return for the 2024 Survivor Series during the 25th anniversary celebration of Kurt Angle's debut. Perhaps the talented in-ring tandem dubbed The World's Greatest Tag Team has one more run left in their tank in World Wrestling Entertainment.
#9. and #10. Mosh and Thrasher of The Headbangers
The Headbangers recently resurfaced as part of the Post Malone & Friends Pack DLC for WWE 2K24, which was released on June 26, 2024. In May 2023, Mosh and Thrasher revealed on social media that they had signed general nostalgia agreements.
Their contracted relationship with World Wrestling Entertainment has led to the release of a Headbangers T-shirt on the WWE Shop website as well as Mosh and Thrasher appearing as playable characters in the company's latest video game release. There are also new WWE-licensed Headbangers action figures that will reportedly be released sometime in the future, according to a post from Thrasher on X.
The headbanging duo, much like Kurt Angle, are signed to a Legends deal with the TKO-operated wrestling promotion. However, unlike Angle, Mosh and Thrasher remain somewhat active as pro wrestlers on the indie circuit. Much like Haas and Benjamin and The Hardys, The Headbangers are another veteran tag team who could add depth to any of WWE's three brands if they returned as onscreen performers for the promotion during the second half of 2024.
Mosh and Thrasher's last official match in WWE happened in November 2016 on the 900th episode of SmackDown, wrestling on the losing side of a 16-man tag team match. During the Attitude Era, The Headbangers held a reign apiece with the WWF Tag Team Titles and the NWA World Tag Team Championship. Only time will tell if and when the duo returns to wrestle in front of a televised audience for World Wrestling Entertainment.
The Headbangers' inclusion in WWE 2K24's latest DLC release could be used as a way to reintroduce a mainstream wrestling audience to the duo before potentially bringing them back as on-screen characters for the promotion's weekly programming. If that turns out to be the case, millions of fans worldwide won't have to solely rely on a video game to watch Mosh and Thrasher wrestle some of the top tag teams of today.
