While it was indeed a moment that fans had been waiting for literally a decade, AJ Lee’s return to the WWE also highlighted a deeper issue: the company relies on these surprise returns while glossing over more prevalent matters that it needs to address to take the product to new heights.
[Before we begin, please note that this is an opinion piece.]
When Lee came back, fans celebrated. She, like her husband, had pretty much walked away from the business and was happy with their lives post their pro-wrestling career, which is what made her return so special.
However, if you glossed over the celebrations, there were a few angry rants and tweets made in small pockets across the internet, highlighting whether WWE was depending on old favorites to carry the company forward.
Which brings us to the first issue:
WWE Uses Returns As Compensation For Predictable Weekly Television
Over the last few months, weekly shows, i.e., RAW and SmackDown, have been pretty much hit or miss. While getting some stars to make their comeback does increase interest in the product, WWE writes itself into a trap by delivering a tepid episode following that.
This has unfortunately been a recurring phenomenon recently, and instead of fixing the root issue, WWE seems to look the other way and pick the easier way out. While this may work in the short term, it is not something that is sustainable, as these moments can save boring TV for only a finite amount of time.
WWE Returns Lead Rise To Stagnant Stars
Once a return happens and the payoff is done, WWE unfortunately books itself into a corner by not knowing how to take the story forward.
For example, look at the recent return of R-Truth. It was something that made fans feel like they were being heard. His decision to cut his hair and reveal a more intense persona was something that everyone was looking forward to. However, in a few weeks, he was back to doing the same old things he was doing before his deal was allowed to run out. In fact, he stopped being featured regularly on TV.
Moreover, betting too much on established names stifles fresh talent. Entire divisions stall, as storylines focus on returning stars instead of building new ones, resulting in frustration and predictable programming. This approach often leads to painful roster cuts, where untapped potential is discarded with no justification.
Now that AJ Lee is coming back to the company, many are left wondering what will happen once her feud with Becky Lynch is done. Because just a few months ago, Nikki Bella returned, and for no fault of her own, her storylines were changed drastically, and now she is hovering around the mid-card with no real feud or storyline.
Fans Getting Fatigued With Too Many WWE Returns In Short Periods Of Time
While a return of a beloved star does help with the ratings and increasing fan loyalty, it becomes a crutch when it is done too often. With WWE sometimes having these returns with frequent regularity these days. A few years ago, returns were more unexpected and seemed more genuine.
Take Cody Rhodes’ return, for example; it was special because he went from being just another name in the roster to establishing the first legitimate competition for the Stamford-based promotion, only to return to his roots. Fast forward to 2023, Survivor Series, in one night, we saw returns of both CM Punk and Randy Orton.
While CM Punk’s return made sense, it diluted the significance of Orton’s long-awaited comeback. Too many returns at short intervals reduce them to a predictable pattern, robbing them of their special nature.
So, How Can WWE Fix This?
While it is not a big issue right now, there is always a chance of it snowballing into one.
The solution has to be to make returns what they were, something special, and when no one sees them coming. Dropping massive hints or pretty much giving away the info does spoil the moment in a way.
Besides that, WWE has one of the most stacked rosters it has seen in its illustrious history. They have the best opportunity to make future stars, and we are seeing that with the likes of Jacob Fatu and Bron Breakker. But rewind a few years during the Attitude Era or even the Ruthless Aggression Era, while there was always an unwritten hierarchy of performers, almost every star got over, which is why they could make for unpredictable TV or a surprise champion without it seeming forced.
AJ Lee’s return was something special and well-timed, but instead of going down the same path, WWE has the best opportunity to elevate its women’s division with a star of her stature at the helm.
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