Number 4 on the top 5 returns in the WWE in the current era is Daniel Bryan’s return at Summerslam 2010 to aid Team WWE vs. Team Nexus in Nexus’s debut match.
It was a mystery who would be the final man on team WWE and Nexus had made their debut, destroying any and everything in their path, and had been dominating the WWE as a whole since said debut. Khali had been taken out and there were rumors everywhere, some even said Miz (who offered himself that night, but was turned down) would join, but the actual person to join the team was surreal.
NO ONE expected Daniel Bryan of all people to walk out from backstage and be on Team WWE’s side. At the time Daniel Bryan was fired from the company due to complaints about the violence of none other than Nexus’s debut, something Daniel was a part of. During the debut, he ended up choking someone with a tie and it was seen as too violent for PG tv and he was fired as a scapegoat. He barely even got mention from Wade Barrett, the leader (possibly co-leader along with Daniel Bryan if you watch the debut) of the Nexus, who said that one of their members had a “change of heart” and that’s why they made him go missing (beat him into oblivion).
The reasons for this return being so awesome is that not only was it kept secret from nearly everyone, eliciting a true surprised response, but it blended the wants and needs of real life (many clamored for Daniel to get his job back from such a nonsensical issue) into kayfabe and had Daniel come back the hero and savior that everyone wanted him to be (even as a fairly new superstar at the time).
Also, Bryan had an impact immediately upon his return and nearly cleaned house in the ring, eliminating several Nexus members on his own.
Overall, a great return and a great end to a bad situation.
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