This week in WWE history - (Feb 14-20) The Rock makes his WWE return, The End of ECW 

This week's WWE news has been dominated by the company's recent trip to the Middle East.

Following last night's Elimination Chamber event, there is now a new WWE Champion named Brock Lesnar, and former champion Bobby Lashley will be out for four months after it was revealed that he will require shoulder surgery.

Elsewhere on the card, the RAW Women's Championship for WrestleMania was made official when Bianca Belair emerged victorious from inside the Women's Elimination Chamber.

This is only WWE's second trip to Saudi Arabia in February, which means that history from this week looks a little different.

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#5. The Rock returns to WWE - Monday Night RAW February 14th, 2011

The Rock has become one of the most talked-about former wrestlers in recent months after it was leaked that the company was hoping to set up a match between him and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 38.

More than a decade ago, WWE was able to keep The Rock's return to screens a closely guarded secret when he was announced as the host for WrestleMania 27. This later led to a match against John Cena at WrestleMania 28 and a rematch a year later at WrestleMania 29.

The former World Champion's WWE return came as the ultimate surprise. The company has to work much harder in the present day to keep such secrets, given the fact that there are now sources everywhere.

Also, on this day in 1999, WWE presented In Your House 27: St. Valentine's Day Massacre. This was the show that is best remembered for the debut of Paul Wright, who was known as The Giant in WCW.

The Big Show became an icon in WWE, but after around two decades with the company, the former champion shocked the world when it was announced that he had departed WWE in favor of AEW back in 2021.

It was announced on February 24th, 2021 that Wight was now All Elite, after allowing his previous contract to expire.

#4. Edge made history by competing in two Elimination Chamber matches in one night - No Way Out - February 15th, 2009

Edge has had quite the WWE career over the years and was able to make his return after being told that he would never wrestle again back in 2011.

The Rated R Superstar was in his prime back in 2009 when he made history when he broke the rules and entered himself into a second Elimination Chamber match after losing his first.

Edge walked into No Way Out as the WWE Champion, but after Triple H won his Elimination Chamber match, The Rated R Superstar took out Kofi Kingston and entered himself into the World Heavyweight Championship later in the night.

In a single night, Edge was able to walk out victorious and essentially swapped the WWE Title for the World Heavywight Championship.

Elsewhere on this day, Edge was stripped of a world title but was able to reclaim it a few hours later on an episode of SmackDown in 2011. General Manager Vickie Guerrero took the title away from Edge in favor of Dolph Ziggler before Teddy Long made his return and booked a match between the two men.

Edge was able to come out on top in the bout and reclaim the title he never actually lost.

#3. The end of ECW, new Champion crowned - February 16th, 2010

WWE revived the ECW brand back in 2006 and presented their own version of the show on SyFy.

This was seen as the third WWE brand for several years but has been panned by critics and fans of the original ECW brand since the show itself was toned down much more than the Philadelphia-based show ever was.

Less than four years later, the company pulled the plug on ECW after their 193rd episode of the show.

On February 16th, 2010, WWE presented the final episode of ECW, which saw Ezekiel Jackson become the final ECW Champion when he was able to defeat Christian in the main event.

The reign and win is somewhat forgotten since the title was deactivated and retired following the match, meaning that Jackson was never able to defend it.

Elsewhere on this day, Brie Bella announced her plans for retirement for the first time when she noted that she wanted to walk away in the summer in order to start a family. Brie later retired at WrestleMania 32 and has since gone on to welcome two children. She has also gone on to make several notable returns, most recently at the 2022 Royal Rumble.

#2. Big Daddy V passes away - February 18th 2014

Throughout his WWE career, Big Daddy V was known by several wrestling names, Mabel, Viscera, and finally Big Daddy V in his later career.

The star had become a popular member of the roster but departed the company in 2008 after being drafted over to SmackDown in the draft. Ahead of his release, he was repackaged as Big Daddy V and was made part of the revival of the ECW brand, where he feuded with the likes of CM Punk and Boogeyman.

Following his release, the former star went on to wrestle on the independent circuit and wrestled for the final time in October 2013.

Viscera passed away from a heart attack just four days after his 43rd birthday, and interestingly, the decision was made to cremate the former star before placing his ashes into the pendants of his loved ones. It has been reported that 500 of these pendants were created in all and housed the ashes of the star who once entertained the WWE Universe under several different personas.

#1. Randy Orton cheats his way into the WrestleMania main event - No Way Out - February 19th, 2006

As part of the annual Royal Rumble match in 2006, Rey Mysterio was able to last eliminate Randy Orton in order to book his ticket to WrestleMania.

This was just two months after Eddie Guerrero passed away and emotions were still running high when Latino Heat was brought into the storyline. Orton used Guerrero's name in vain, which then led to Mysterio putting his main event title match on the line at No Way Out.

The match saw Orton use the ropes as leverage in order for him to defeat Mysterio and take his place in the main event against Kurt Angle. SmackDown General Manager Teddy Long was later able to sympathize with Mysterio and added the star to the match, making it a triple threat.

As part of the show on April 2nd in Chicago, Mysterio was able to defeat both men by pinning Randy Orton following a West Coast Pop to become World Champion for the first time.