From shocking retirements to electrifying comebacks, these WWE legends stunned fans after years away from the ring. Whether overcoming injuries, controversies, or personal battles, their returns re-energized the wrestling world and rewrote the narrative of their careers. Get ready to relive some of wrestling’s most emotional and impactful homecomings, featuring iconic names like Edge, Bret Hart, and The Dudley Boyz.
00:09And today, we're counting down our picks for the longest time WWE stars quit the company, or retired from it or its affiliated promotions, only to delight fans by returning years later.
00:19We'll be looking at those who made long-term or impactful returns.
00:23I'm home.
00:25Number 10, Edge.
00:31After dominating WWE, both in the tag team division as well as a singles wrestler, the wrestling world's heart was broken in 2011.
00:39On the Raw after WrestleMania 27, where Edge defended his title against Alberto Del Rio, he announced his immediate retirement due to cervical spinal stenosis.
00:48It seemed like we'd never hear Tony Chimel announce the Rated-R Superstar again.
00:53Because the MRI showed that I have to retire.
00:59Because he wasn't cleared to compete, the Canadian stayed away from anything physical.
01:04However, that changed in 2019 when he speared Elias during a SummerSlam segment.
01:09Suddenly, the rumor mill churned.
01:15At the 2020 Royal Rumble, Edge made his emotional return as Metalingus blared out.
01:20Three years later, he departed the WWE.
01:23Instead, he joined AEW under his real name, continuing where he left off.
01:28Can he get him?
01:31Can Cope get him?
01:32One, two, three!
01:36Number 9, Bret Hart.
01:38After 13 years in the then-WWF, the hitman's career with the company came to a controversial
01:43end at 1997's Survivor Series, with the infamous Montreal Screwjob securing his switch to rival promotion WCW.
01:51Are you kidding me?
01:55However, in 1999, Hart faced Goldberg at Starcade.
01:59Where a kick seemingly caused the Canadian a massive concussion, Hart continued wrestling through it.
02:04But by 2000, he announced his retirement.
02:07In 2010, Hart made his first live appearance on WWE programming, leading to him getting back in the ring against Vince McMahon at WrestleMania 26.
02:16Mr. McMahon got one of the worst beatings that I have ever witnessed.
02:20However, he wasn't done.
02:22Hart took part in several more matches, including winning the United States Championship from The Miz.
02:27The hitman continued wrestling occasionally until 2011, when he stepped away again.
02:32I cannot believe this!
02:34Bret Hart said earlier tonight he was a man of his word!
02:39Number 8, The Dudley Boys.
02:41WWE tag team wrestling in the early 2000s was a game-changer, as the matches became some of the most exciting on the card.
02:48And, in part, that's thanks to The Dudley Boys.
02:51Look at this! Bubba Ray!
02:53Christian threw a table!
02:55You got mass destruction!
02:57The ECW legends joined WWE in 1999, revolutionizing the division as they won the tag titles many times.
03:04Yet, by 2005, Bubba Ray and Devon were released.
03:08The duo didn't hang around long, as they soon joined TNA as Team 3D.
03:13As a tag team, they stayed there until 2014 when Devon left.
03:17In 2015, while Bubba popped up on his own at the Royal Rumble, the Dudley Boys arrived together months later, attacking the New Day.
03:24This led them into many matches over the year, lending their invaluable experience to the division.
03:45Number 7, AJ Lee.
03:47In a division that, at the time, was struggling for recognition, Lee was one of the standouts.
03:52After making her main roster debut in 2011, she took the women's division by storm with her unhinged character as she won the Divas Championship three times.
04:11Lee then used her position to advocate for better pay and representation for the women.
04:15However, following the fallout from her husband CM Punk's departure, more on that later, Lee felt conflicted.
04:21Ultimately, this caused her to retire in 2015.
04:31As well as film work, Lee became a producer at Women of Wrestling for a couple of years.
04:35In 2025, she made her dramatic return to the WWE, immediately attacking Becky Lynch and setting up a husband-wife feud.
04:42The original checkbuster with a payback to Becky Lynch!
04:51The straight-edge superstar debuted on WWE's main roster in 2006.
04:55With his unorthodox appearance and deep passion for the industry, Punk worked his way up to being one of the company's most popular stars and winning many titles.
05:03And the new World Heavyweight Champion, CM Punk!
05:10However, following 2014's Royal Rumble, Punk walked out on the company and seemingly retired.
05:15This caused a massive scandal as he spoke about the case on Colt Cabana's Art of Wrestling podcast.
05:31Punk then spent time acting and in the UFC before returning to in-ring action at AEW in 2021.
05:37When that, too, ended in scandal, the Chicago native made his WWE comeback in late 2023 before wrestling his first broadcast match in 2024.
05:47Something none of us believed possible years ago.
05:50Number 5. The Fabulous Moolah
05:59As a trailblazer of women's wrestling, Moolah had a long career in the industry, including being involved in the original screwjob against Wendy Richter in 1985.
06:08However, most impressively, she held the Women's Championship for an unprecedented 10,775 days.
06:15In 1987, Moolah signed off her WWE career in the inaugural Survivor Series.
06:20The Fabulous one is out of there!
06:24The following year, she retired after competing at the AWA, whose assets were later bought by WWE.
06:30Yet in 1999, then aged 76, Moolah got back in a WWE ring.
06:35While she often teamed with Mae Young for comedy, Moolah also competed by herself, becoming the oldest women's champion.
06:42The Fabulous Moolah!
06:45The Impossible! Wait a minute!
06:47Anything can happen!
06:48She continued wrestling occasionally until 2004, before passing away three years later.
06:53However, Moolah's legacy was later tainted by exploitation allegations from her students.
06:58She was a great professional wrestler, but she didn't know when to stop.
07:05Number 4. Kurt Angle
07:07After winning a gold medal with a broken freaking neck at the 1996 Summer Olympics, Angle had his first WWE televised match in 1999.
07:16Making the transition from amateur wrestling to professional look so smooth.
07:20Not only was he incredible in the ring, but also a delight on the mic.
07:24Now that's integrity for you!
07:26And the Olympic slam!
07:27By the champion!
07:29After the low blow!
07:31Hey, look at this!
07:32It's Arnold Miltner!
07:33However, due to injuries and substance issues, Angle was granted his release in 2006.
07:40Shortly after, he joined TNA, becoming one of the promotion's biggest stars until his departure in 2016.
07:46Angle returned to the WWE in 2017, seemingly in a non-wrestling role.
07:51However, following Roman Reigns being rolled out of 2017's TLC Tables, Ladders and Chairs, Angle got in the ring with The Shield.
07:59He continued to perform in the ring until retiring in 2019.
08:03At WrestleMania, I will compete in my farewell match.
08:08Number 3. Goldberg
08:11With incredible intensity and an explosive offense, Goldberg quickly dominated WCW after his TV debut in 1997.
08:19In 2003, Goldberg joined the WWE after it bought WCW.
08:24He immediately became a main event player.
08:27However, before Goldberg faced Brock Lesnar at 2004's WrestleMania 20,
08:31it was discovered that both would be leaving the company, resulting in fans turning against the match.
08:36Goldberg with the second spear!
08:39Jackhammer!
08:40The jackhammer!
08:41The hook of the leg!
08:43And Goldberg reached Lesnar!
08:46From there, he basically stayed away from the ring.
08:49However, that all changed in 2016 when Goldberg had a rematch against Lesnar at Survivor Series, destroying the Beast in a short bout.
08:57Not long after, Goldberg would even win the WWE Universal Championship.
09:11He had sporadic matches until his retirement following a loss to Gunther at 2025's Saturday Night's Main Event 40.
09:18All that oxygen cut off, the blood cut off and fading! It's Goldberg!
09:23And Goldberg is out!
09:24Gunther retains!
09:26Number 2.
09:27Lita
09:28Debuting in a WWE ring in 2000, Lita quickly grew to fame with the Hardy Boys as Team Xtreme,
09:34becoming one of the biggest women wrestlers to grace the sport.
09:37Lita, what you doing here?
09:39Trish, get up Trish!
09:40Lita's got no business up here!
09:42It's all or nothing!
09:43It's all or nothing!
09:44It's all or nothing!
09:45With high-risk offense and a unique alternative look, Lita would inspire many future performers before she hung up her boots in 2006.
09:53Since then, while she's popped back in a WWE ring occasionally, 2022 really kicked off her return.
09:59Following a Royal Rumble return and a standing ovation despite defeat against Becky Lynch at Elimination Chamber, Lita came back stronger in 2023.
10:08She teamed up with Becky to win the Women's Tag Team Championship.
10:12However, that reign came to an end thanks to her longtime rival, Trish Stratus.
10:16Here are your winners and the new WWE Women's Tag Team Champion, Becky Lynch and Lita!
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10:47Number 1. Trish Stratus
10:50WWE captured lightning in a bottle by not only having Lita on the roster, but also having her rival in the form of Trish.
10:57After making her WWE in-ring debut in 2000, she'd go on to win the Women's Championship an incredible seven times.
11:04Following legendary feuds with Lita, Mickie James and more, Trish retired in 2006 as a reigning champion.
11:19However, while she made occasional wrestling returns in WWE, it was in 2023 when she essentially made a full-time return.
11:26What an opponent!
11:27I would have expected a little more pomp and circumstance for such a historic occasion!
11:32After turning on Lita and Becky, Trish began feuding with the latter, which even involved the duo being in the 2023 Money in the Bank.
11:40Following a break in 2024, Trish continued her in-ring legacy in 2025.
11:45Tiffany Stratton is getting helped out by Trish Stratus!
11:50Which other WWE wrestler or tag-team return in history were you most excited about? Let us know below!
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