Braun Strowman is only the latest name that has been heavily rumored to return to WWE. With recent rumors of Daniel Bryan and CM Punk going to AEW, WWE may try to counteract these potential signing by bringing back top names to their product. However, Strowman isn't the only big name of the past that WWE can conjure up.

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During the first half of 2021, over 40 Superstars left WWE. Plenty of released wrestlers could come back to WWE, much like when Samoa Joe returned to NXT in June after being released by the company on April 15. Joe is set to make his in-ring return at TakeOver 36 in a match for Karrion Kross' NXT Championship. Who else might WWE bring back?

Updated on November 9th, 2021, by Andrew Kelly: Many believed that WWE’s purge of talent post-Wrestlemania could be the last major dumping of for a while, yet the year 2021 has seen multiple more collections of superstars being released from their contracts. NXT, under its 2.0 rebranding, has seen an upheaval and recasting of their roster, with many losing their roles in the developmental brand. The main roster hasn’t been shy to cuts either. With some time passing since the releases mentioned here, it's much clearer to see where their futures are headed, and who is more or less likely to make a return down the road. Samoa Joe did in fact make his WWE return, winning the NXT Championship, though he quickly had to relinquish the belt due to injury, with Kross being added to the released list. AEW completed the signings of CM Punk and Bryan Danielson, which didn't prompt any reaction to bring back any other released stars to date.

7 "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt

The Fiend Bray Wyatt Debut

Bray Wyatt is one of the more shocking releases of 2021. The Eater of Worlds was let go by WWE on Saturday, July 31. Though Wyatt is fresh off of a firing from WWE, the company still may bring him back sometime down the line, especially if CM Punk's rumored AEW debut turns out to be a success. Punk is rumored for the first episode of AEW Rampage on August 13, 2021:

  • CM Punk did in fact make his AEW debut on the Rampage First Dance show, sending shockwaves through the wrestling world, making himself a regular on television to this point.

Even if it takes years for Wyatt to return, there's always a possibility that Wyatt will make a come back to the company that made him famous. It'd be amazing if The Fiend makes a surprise return at SummerSlam and they play an angle where Wyatt was released but not The Fiend, but that's merely speculation and wishful thinking at best.

Despite his release last Saturday, WWE is still selling Wyatt merchandise. Two days before his release, a photo was released on the web, showing that Bray appeared to be in fantastic physical shape with a noticeable loss of weight. Wyatt reportedly has a 90-day non-compete clause with WWE, so he'd have to wait until late October to jump over to WWE's competition. Strangely enough, Wyatt was medically cleared to compete just two days prior to his release.

  • Wyatt has now renamed himself on Twitter to his real name, ‘Windham’, in an attempt to distance himself from his WWE moniker. He has been very active on Twitter, hinting at possible next steps, counting down the days until his non-compete clause is finished. With news emerging about Vince McMahon being unhappy with Wyatt, with creative differences and clashes, it seems unlikely that he will be back for quite some time. With rumblings about his next steps brewing on social media and within the wrestling world, Windham may show up somewhere very soon.

6 Braun Strowman

Braun Strowman Intercontinental Champion

According to Dave Meltzer, WWE is reportedly interested in bringing back The Monster Among Men, particularly as a reaction to the recent AEW signings. In July, WWE released new merchandise for Strowman, further fueling speculation of a return.

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On July 27, Strowman sent out a cryptic tweet, making fans wonder if the choices Strowman is referring to are in regards to what wrestling company he'll join. WWE released Strowman on June 2, 2021, along with five other wrestlers. Much like Samoa Joe, WWE could snag Strowman before his 90-day non-compete clause is up.

  • Strowman’s first move into the wrestling world outside of WWE, was with EC3, acting under his birth name of Adam Scherr, in EC3’s FreeTheNarrative series, which has been packed full of creative ways of storytelling, showcasing unique in-ring action, and proving itself to be a work of art. Strowman seems set to soon arrive in Impact, under the new name of ‘The Titan’. With his impressive speed and agility for his size, don’t be surprised to see him climb the ranks quickly in a new home.

5 The IIconics

IInspiration Holds Up Titles

Billie Kay and Peyton Royce would be a welcomed addition to WWE's women's division, especially when it comes to the tag team aspect, which is flailing. Kay and Royce's separation didn't work out as management would have hoped, but maybe they'll come back better than ever if and when they do return. A little time away from WWE could have been exactly what this duo needs.

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Both women were cut by WWE on April 15, 2021. There's a chance that the company may rethink this decision and bring back the lovably shrill Aussies. If they were to come back as a unit, it wouldn't be surprising to see them in contention for the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles right off the bat.

  • The pair of Billie Kay and Peyton Royce wasted no time in finding a new place to showcase their talents. Oozing with charisma, with bounds of promise and potential, the newly christened ‘IInspiration’ made their Impact Wrestling debut at Bound for Glory 2021, winning the Impact Knockouts Tag Team Championships on their very first night. Now in a company which is boasting perhaps the best booking of women’s wrestling anywhere in the world, it is unlikely that The IInspiration will return to being ‘iconic’ in WWE any time soon.

4 Mighty Molly

Hurricane And Mighty Molly Can Help Nikki ASH

Nikki A.S.H.'s current gimmick is a nod to the personas of The Hurricane and Mighty Molly from two decades ago. WWE could use Gregory Helms and Molly Holly in their past superhero gimmicks to aid the current Raw Women's Champion against the forces of evil. It'd also be fun to watch Mighty Molly go one-on-one with Nikki.

Even if The Hurricane and Mighty Molly aren't brought back on a full-time basis, it'd make for fun backstage segments and six-person tag team matches. The Hurricane was last seen in a WWE ring last January in the men's Royal Rumble match. In 2021, Holly was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. She last wrestled in the women's Rumble match in 2020 with her Mighty Molly gimmick. However, unlike Helms, Molly lasted over 10 minutes in the rumble while The Hurricane just made it to 30 seconds before being eliminated.

In April 2005, Holly was released by WWE. Although she never returned as a full-time wrestler, she has made sporadic appearances throughout the years, including competing in a 20-woman battle royal at WWE's first-ever women's pay-per-view, Evolution, in 2018. Helms was furloughed by WWE on April 15 of last year. However, he returned to the company later that year in a producer role. Earlier this year, Holly mentioned that WWE offered her a job as a coach in the Performance Center but that she had turned them down.

  • Molly Holly hasn’t been too active in the wrestling world, nor has her superhero alter ego, Mighty Molly. Nikki A.S.H. was certainly riding a wave of momentum following the debut of her gimmick, climbing the ranks quickly to become Miss Money in the Bank, before cashing it in the next night to become Raw Women’s Champion. Things have cooled since this sudden burst to the top, with her dropping the title. Whilst she has seen success in the tag team division with Rhea Ripley, it seems unlikely that WWE will invest enough in Nikki A.S.H. to even think about bringing back Mighty Molly to give any sort of rub.

3 Heath Slater

Heath Slater Impact Wrestling

Heath hasn't wrestled for Impact Wrestling since Bound for Glory in October 2020. Slater suffered injuries at the event that would require surgery months later. Considering that former 3MB members, Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre, are currently locked in a feud, it wouldn't be surprising if WWE wanted Heath to ditch Impact to engage in this rivalry. Although the former Heath Slater wasn't happy with WWE's purported contract offer last year, that may all change in 2021. Slater was released by WWE on April 15, 2020. However, he would return for one night only a few months later to challenge Drew McIntyre to a match that he'd quickly lose.

Slater could return to try and talk some sense into Mahal and McIntyre to put their issues aside and get the band back together. Although that could be seen as a step back for the two former WWE Champions, the crowd would certainly pop for a 3MB reunion even if it's extremely short-lived. Maybe, though very unlikely and predictably regrettable, Slater could complete the 3MB prophecy in WWE.

  • On the September 30th edition of Impact, Slater made his long-awaited return to action, saving Rhyno from an attack. Now that he has returned, it seems that he will remain in Impact for the foreseeable future. With WWE’s incessant releases over the year, re-signing Slater seems like a low possibility. Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal wrapped up their feud this year without much mention of 3MB.

2 Charlie Haas

Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin as Tag Team Champions

Charlie Haas is draped in gold on the indie scene as both the SWE Heavyweight Champion and the SWE Fury Six Man Tag Team Champion. Although Haas has previously hinted that he isn't interested in returning full-time to WWE, he'd be open for a role as a coach to pass along knowledge to the next generation of wrestlers. Haas believes that the ship has sailed as far an in-ring run with AEW, Impact, or WWE, but he'd still be more than willing to help out those on either roster if given a call to do so.

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Considering that Shelton Benjamin isn't doing much except being a shadow of his former self on Monday Night Raw, a reunion of The World's Greatest Tag Team would be better than being a background fixture or being squashed by Bobby Lashley. Not only was Benjamin squashed by Lashley, but The Almighty did so in a handicap match with Cedric Alexander as Shelton's partner. The duo also fell to Drew McIntyre in a two-on-one handicap match.

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Back in 2016, WWE was reportedly considering bringing back Haas to team with Benjamin against American Alpha's Chad Gable and Jason Jordan. But by the time Benjamin returned to SmackDown in 2017, American Alpha was already split up and the former Gold Standard found himself in a tag team with Gable. In 2021, it'd be interesting to see Haas and Benjamin battle The Alpha Academy's Chad Gable and Otis. And since Benjamin is being made to look like a chump on Raw, he'd benefit from a reset on SmackDown, the stomping grounds of The World's Greatest Tag Team. And if WWE really wants to go retro with Ruthless Aggression nostalgia then they should bring back Kurt Angle as their manager and call them Team Angle again.

Charlie Haas is a three-time WWE Tag Team Champion, sharing two of those reigns with Shelton Benjamin. Considering that Haas has revitalized his career on the independent scene, 2021 may be the best year to bring back The World's Greatest Tag Team to WWE. Haas can also be utilized as a trainer and coach for NXT and WWE's Performance Center. The Creator of The Haas of Pain was released by WWE twice. Haas first signed with WWE in August 2000 and stayed with the company until his release in July 2005. He returned to WWE in April 2006 and was let go on February 28, 2010.

  • Haas has had a busier year than usual this year, despite his semi-retirement, though he has remained wrestling in his home state, acting as the reigning SWE Champion. Former partner Shelton Benjamin has realigned with Cedric Alexander and Bobby Lashley, reforming a broken and less impressive version of the Hurt Business, though it's better than what they had following their breakup.

1 Jimmy Wang Yang

Jimmy Wang Yang WWE

The man once known as WWE's resident redneck has recently reemerged on the indie scene alongside his daughter Jazzy Yang. Her father, Jimmy Wang Yang, last wrestled for WWE in the dark match battle royal of WrestleMania XXVI. Yang was unsuccessful at 'Mania and was released by WWE in April 2010.

If Yang were to return to WWE, there's a greater chance he'd come back as a trainer rather than a wrestler. However, he may get a positive reaction as a surprise entrant in a future Royal Rumble match. It'd also be fun to see him in NXT, mixing it up with the affluent hillbilly, Cameron Grimes. Yang may also want to introduce his daughter to the WWE environment, prepping her for a potential career as a WWE Superstar.

  • He’s back! Jimmy Wang Yang, despite a lengthy time away, was announced to have re-signed with WWE on October 25th, 2021. Whilst it isn’t as a trainer, he now holds a role of a backstage producer. With him now being under the WWE banner, it is within the realm of possibility that he’s seen onscreen, breaking up brawls or else filling in an empty spot in a Royal Rumble perhaps? Time will tell, but the cowboy is certainly back.