Working a dozen dates a year and still closing the show is its own skill. Some of these men earned that deal; a couple just outlasted everyone else.
1Brock LesnarWrestled a handful of dates a year for over a decade and still held the world title through most of it.1000pts
2The RockLeft for film in 2004 and came back for WrestleMania main events in 2012, 2013 and 2019.898pts
3GoldbergReturned in 2016 for short, explosive runs and won the Universal Championship in under two minutes.762pts
4Ronda RouseySplit two short WWE runs around her MMA career and held the Raw Women's Championship in both.571pts
5John CenaCut back to a part-time schedule after 2017 while filming in Hollywood, then closed his career on a year-long farewell tour.571pts
6CM PunkReturned in 2023 after nine years away and worked a selective schedule around injuries.467pts
7The UndertakerSpent his last decade wrestling almost exclusively at WrestleMania, and made each one an event.467pts
8Chris JerichoBuilt a career out of leaving and returning, with a new character each time.467pts
9Kurt AngleCame back for a WrestleMania-anchored final run in his late forties after years away.467pts
10BatistaCame back between films for the 2014 Royal Rumble win and a final match against Triple H.343pts
11EdgeRetired in 2011, came back nine years later and worked a limited schedule of big matches.0pts
12StingWrestled only a handful of WWE matches, all of them treated as spectacles.0pts
13Hulk HoganReturned in 2002 to face The Rock at WrestleMania X8, won one last WWE title and then wrestled only marquee matches through 2006.
14Bret HartCame back in 2010 after twelve years away, settled his score with Mr. McMahon at WrestleMania XXVI and briefly held the United States title.
15Triple HMoved into the front office and wrestled mostly at WrestleMania and other major events from 2012 until his retirement in 2022.
16Shane McMahonThe chairman's son who returned in 2016 for daredevil big-event matches, starting with Hell in a Cell against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 32.
17Roman ReignsSwitched to a limited schedule during his 1,316-day Universal title reign, appearing mainly at premium events while remaining the company's top star.
18Trish StratusSeven-time women's champion who returned in 2023 for a heel run that ended in a Steel Cage match against Becky Lynch.
19Logan PaulYouTuber who signed with WWE in 2022, works only a few dates a year and won the United States Championship at Crown Jewel 2023.
20Bad BunnyPuerto Rican music star who teamed with Damian Priest at WrestleMania 37 and won a Street Fight in front of his home crowd at Backlash 2023.
21Pat McAfeeFormer NFL punter and broadcaster who wrestles a handful of big-event matches, including two at WrestleMania 38 against Austin Theory and Mr. McMahon.
Photo credits
- The Undertaker — Megan Elice Meadows, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sting — Miguel Discart, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bret Hart — Super Festivals from Ft, CC BY 2.0
- Triple H — Web Summit, CC BY 2.0
- Shane McMahon — Miguel Discart, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Roman Reigns — Diego Serrano, CC BY 2.0
- Trish Stratus — Super Festivals from Ft, CC BY 2.0
- Logan Paul — diegofernandophotography, CC BY 2.0
- Bad Bunny — Toglenn, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pat McAfee — Righanred, CC BY 4.0
Comments 1
Working a dozen dates a year and still closing the show is what Lesnar proved was possible, and Cena joined late: https://youpick.best/articles/john-cena-vs-brock-lesnar-ranked
YP
ypb-teamSep 7
