10 Greatest WWE Comebacks Of 2016

WWE relied heavily upon nostalgia in 2002-2003, and was deservingly bashed for it. Fans chastised Vinnie Mac for dusting off relics like Kevin Nash and Sable rather than investing in new stars. The same problem almost happened this year except for one major difference: the returning stars pulled their weight and elevated the company as a result.

Here are the Top 10 Comebacks of 2016:

10) Nikki Bella

After ten months away from the ring, leaving for neck surgery following the end of her then-record-setting Divas’ Title reign, Nikki Bella returned to action as the surprise replacement of Eva Marie at SummerSlam. Throughout the fall, Bella has served as Smackdown’s veteran female (as absurd as that seems) and has feuded with Carmella, defending her throne from the hungry young lioness. Plus, she’s starring in two reality shows on E!, establishing herself as a mainstream star.

9) Bob Backlund

He’s been on WWE TV in five decades, which has to be some kind of record with The Fink and the Boss himself. A two-time WWF Champion, Mr. Backlund dedicated his summer to making Darren Young great again. A more refined, yet still eccentric version of Mick from Rocky, Backlund cracked me up every week with his out-of-touch philosophies and drill sergeant commands. Ultimately, Backlund’s quest failed as Young hasn’t been seen for months, but you can’t deny the effort.

8) Rhyno

Although the Manbeast lost in the general election for a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives, he’s still one-half of the Smackdown Tag Team Champions—a feat unfathomable at the start of the year and quite impressive considering his partner is Heath Slater. The crackers to Slater’s Cheese Whiz, Rhyno has provided the muscle for his partner’s lofty goals.

7) Maryse

The Miz is a generous man for sharing his enchanting wife with all of us every week. Of course, the French-Canadian goddess is more than just a pretty face: Maryse has greatly enhanced her husband’s role, interfering in his matches and adding extra heat to his persona, which really isn’t a character. It’s the real Miz. From the moment he wakes up, to the airport, to the rental car, to the entrance ramp, to the center of the ring, to the victory party at night…Miz gets to be with Maryse.

Lucky prick.

6) Seth Rollins

Oh, what could have been. WWE dropped the ball with Seth Rollins’ return, ignoring the fans’ embrace after his triumphant rehabilitation from injury and doubling-down on his previous treacherous ways. Rollins was a sympathetic hero who had overcome adversity to reclaim the title he had never lost, and he was targeting universally-loathed Roman Reigns to boot. But WWE stifled his support, and kept him on course to battle Finn Balor.

Unfortunately, Balor suffered an injury at the hands of Rollins, and WWE needed a back-up plan. Enter Triple H, who turned on his former protégé and aided Kevin Owens in becoming the WWE Universal Champion, thus making Rollins a good guy after already sandbagging him in the summer.

It’s a case of great matches, but bad booking for the Architect.

5) Randy Orton

Perhaps his most interesting run since attacking the McMahon family in 2009, The Viper resurfaced in WWE this past summer after being sidelined for nine months. Announced as Brock Lesnar’s opponent at SummerSlam, Randy Orton looked fresh and focused, embracing the cheers of the crowd despite a lengthy career against them. Although he was pummeled to a bloody pulp by the Beast Incarnate, Orton recovered quickly and engaged in psychological warfare with Bray Wyatt.

Then, in a stunning move we’re still wary to accept, Orton willingly joined the Wyatt Family, even taking a bullet for Bray at Survivor Series for the benefit of his team. It’s safe to assume he’ll turn on Bray eventually, but until then, I’m glued to my seat for the ride.

4) John Cena

Fun fact: The face of WWE has been off TV more than he’s been on it this year. Aside from a WrestleMania 32 appearance saving The Rock from the Wyatt Family, John Cena has competed from only Memorial Day to No Mercy in October. However, he maximized his minutes, feuding with AJ Styles and having a Match of the Year contender at SummerSlam. The rest of Cena’s in-ring time has been spent chasing his 16th World Title, a goal that will always remain elusive because that distinction belongs solely to the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

3) Brian Kendrick

Nobody imagined that Spanky would emerge as the biggest star of the Cruiserweight Classic, yet here we are. It’s a condemnation of WWE brass, certainly not Brian Kendrick, who made the most of this second chance and redefined himself as a desperate, conniving veteran hell bent on holding down the next generation of cruiserweights. Kendrick’s story of redemption was the most fulfilling of the tournament, expertly told by commentator and best friend Daniel Bryan. His full-blown heel turn on Raw has been the highlight of the division’s weak run, and hopefully he’ll continue as the focal point of 205Live.

2) Shane McMahon

If it wasn’t for WWE 2K17, Shane O’Mac would have topped this list. His comeback was a Hail Mary by Vince to sell 100,000 tickets for WrestleMania 32, and the Boy Wonder scored a touchdown. Gone from his father’s company for seven years, Shane returned to one of the loudest pops in recent memory. Fans love the daredevil antics of the billionaire’s son, and Shane was visibly moved by the adoration, giving fans one more crazy moment by dropping an elbow off the Cell at Mania.

Even though he lost to the Undertaker, he somehow gained control of Smackdown and appears every week as a refreshing face authority figure.

1) Goldberg

Although his goatee aged, his presence was effervescent—Da Man slapping hands and hugging kids, cussing up a storm, genuinely thrilled to be back in the ring. Before he even grabbed the mic, the fans chanted “This Is Awesome” and “Holy Shit” because holy shit, Goldberg was back! He left a dozen years ago, at the height of Fahrenheit 9/11 and Smarty Jones and Ashlee Simpson’s lip-synch fiasco, disgruntled at his disappointing run in McMahonland.

Thanks to video game developer 2K Sports, who has influenced the return of Ultimate Warrior and the debut of Sting, now Goldberg has resurrected in the hearts and minds of wrasslin’ fans followed by a pulsating comeback to WWE TV.

At Survivor Series, Goldberg shocked the world by squashing Brock Lesnar in under two minutes, rekindling the fire of 1998 when pro wrestling dominated pop culture. How did he do it, why did it happen, damn those spears looked good. Everybody talked Goldberg and for the first time in WWE parlance, it was in a positive way.