We pointed out in our article about Vince McMahon leaving the company that it could mean returns for wrestlers that the boss “didn’t get. It has only been a week or so and already the likes of Dakota Kai, Io Skyy, and Karrion Kross are back in the fold.
This obviously begs the question, who is next?
We are in August, and while the Royal Rumble is eons away in wrestling terms, returns between now and the rumble itself should be plentiful. Here are a few names to watch out for on WWE programming over the next few months.
Bray Wyatt
Bray Wyatt will continue to be a name speculated to return until the moment he does. His release back in 2021 was shocking at the time and the lack of a return is perhaps even more strange. One thing that is for certain is that Triple H understands the Wyatt character in a way Vince never did, so the return is more likely by the day.
Some have pointed to Kross returning as part of a bigger storyline involving Wyatt and others. While that would make sense for the character – and for a bunch of released superstars to come back – it is hard to believe that creative could have rolled out an angle of that magnitude so quickly.
If, and it is a huge if, they have, then WWE programming becomes must-watch TV instantly.
Johnny Gargano
Gargano was a massive part of NXT when it was at its very peak under Shawn Michaels and Triple H. Reports (Fightful Select) suggest that Michaels has already been in touch with Gargano about a return, something that makes sense as the two have a close relationship. Don’t be at all shocked to see Gargano return to an NXT that is a hybrid between what it was then and NXT 2.0.
Dexter Lumis
Dexter Lumis is all but back in the company after Raw last night. The storyline is that he wasn’t on TV at all, but made his main roster debut on Instagram after he tried to hijack Raw after AJ Styles beat The Miz.
Lumis has plenty to offer the main roster. His gimmick was almost too weird for the NXT he was part of, but the speculation surrounding Gargano and Candice LaRae would give Lumis some instant history on the main roster (dating back to their time in NXT).
This would probably make it time for an indy Hartwell promotion too.
Sasha Banks & Naomi
We have spoken about this before – especially when Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out – but the main trigger for the two women (allegedly) was a combination of Vince and a general lack of direction/appreciation for what they bring to the company. The Boss needs to be boss level after all.
Stephanie McMahon, on the other hand, is loved by wrestlers, especially those in the women’s division. It is a division that is loaded – especially with the returns of Bayley and her crew – and this one just makes sense given that the AEW women’s division just isn’t that good.
Always remember folks. Pro Wrestling is Real.
