4 blockbuster WWE returns and storylines that would drastically improve falling TV ratings

WWE's decrease in overall viewership for their weekly WWE Raw and SmackDown Live shows have been falling at a pretty consistent rate over the last few years, but with the company having two new television rights deals in place, the ratings are a more important topic now than ever.

Over the last few years, Vince McMahon's company has had a booking formula that hasn't been too conducive to getting the wrestlers on his roster over with the fans.

At this point, it's clear that some things within the company need to change. On top of that, some of the superstars within WWE would probably benefit from having their characters altered or changed completely.

In addition to changing a few of their characters' roles, they could also benefit from bringing back former big-name superstars in an attempt to not only improve their weekly television ratings in the short-term, but to help build stars for the long-term.

So with that in mind, here are 4 returns and storylines that would improve WWE's weekly ratings.

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#4 The Rock returns for another title run

The last time we saw The Rock compete in a competitive match was way back at WrestleMania 29, where he lost the WWE World Heavyweight Championship to John Cena in the show's main event.

Due to a pretty severe injury that he suffered during his match with Cena, it's been difficult for The Rock to make his way back to the ring for anything other than a squash match. Essentially, the ex-WWE Champion is probably more concerned with preserving his movie career than he is with having another match.

But if he does end up having a desire for another WWE Championship run, then Vince McMahon will undoubtedly make that happen. Of course, The Rock would have to be willing to appear on TV fairly often to make this worthwhile, but if done correctly, it could, in the end, help WWE launch their next mainstream star.

#3 Roman Reigns turns heel

One thing that WWE fans have been begging for in recent years is a Roman Reigns heel turn, as the audience hasn't every really been interested in seeing the ex-WWE Universal Champion in the good guy role.

If Vince McMahon wants to prove that he's still willing to go out on a limb and try something different, then this is the move to make. If done correctly, it could prove to the WWE fans that things are on the verge of changing for the good within the organization.

In the end, a Reigns heel turn, especially if he turns against someone like The Rock, could end up making him the biggest babyface star WWE has in the long-run.

One thing's for sure, a Roman Reigns heel turn would pique the interest of the fans who are frustrated with WWE, and it would convince them to give Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live another chance.

#2 John Cena returns, turns heel

It's quite clear that John Cena's full-time days as WWE's face of the company are over, as the former sixteen time World Heavyweight Champion has shifted his focus away from pro wrestling.

While Cena has always been WWE's poster-child good guy, he has mentioned in the past that he'd be open to turning heel if the right opportunity came about, and with the company's rating slipping every single week, now could be the time to bring him back, and turn him heel.

WWE deciding to turn Cena heel will work for the first few weeks, but after that, it'll be all about how it's executed. Of course, it would have the potential to be a Hulk Hogan in WCW-esque run if done correctly.

The only problem the company would have in this situation is that the fans would likely be 100-percent behind Cena as a heel, simply because the majority of the wrestling audience has been begging for it for over 10 years.

#1 CM Punk returns

Simply put, there's not a hotter free agent in the pro wrestling business than CM Punk, presuming that the former WWE megastar is interested in returning to the squared circle.

If Punk does end up making a return to the ring, most expect that it'll be with Tony Khan's All Elite Wrestling, but that doesn't mean that it's a guarantee that he'll end up there.

While AEW has a ton of money to spend, so does Vince McMahon and WWE thanks to their new television rights deals. So, the world's biggest sports-entertainment company could, in theory, offer the "Best in the World" a Brock Lesnar-type deal, with the only difference between the two being that we'll see Punk a little bit more.

Wrestling fans have been chomping at the bit to see CM Punk back in a pro wrestling ring, no matter where it is. But, a return to WWE would for sure help drastically improve their weekly television ratings.