Surprise returns or hyped returns?

[Rammsteinmad]

For example, let's say Triple H returns at the Royal Rumble, would you rather they hype it, which would give you something to look forward to, POSSIBLY even boost sales etc, or would you prefer a surprise return that basically... surprises you? :|

[Rammsteinmad]

I'm a sucker for surprise returns myself.

[Xero]

It really depends on the situation. I wouldn't do it with Triple H because it's pretty obvious he's going right into it with Sheamus, and with the way he went out a hyped one doesn't make sense.

And surprises can be amazing, especially when they don't get out. Cena coming out at the Rumble, in hindsight, was awesome. NO ONE seriously thought he'd be back by then.

[St. Jimmy]

Hyped. Surprise returns always ruin shit.

[Xero]

I think something like Jericho's is the perfect way to go with a hybrid surprise/hype. While, yeah, it was pretty obviously Jericho right from the start, the concept of the mysterious vignette is awesome.

On a similar note, I wish they'd do vignettes for guys coming in more often. They did it with Del Rio and it really built him up well.

[CSL]

From a business point, hyped for the most part. From every other point, surprise. Gotta pop that crowd mane.

[HBPunk]

as a fan always always ALWAYS suprise please. not voting cos like...what happens at the end?!

[Rammsteinmad]

You get a kick in the testicles.

[HBPunk]

for reals??

[Tazz Dan]

Yeah gotta go for the surprise return. Hyped can be good also, but there's nothing like the mark out moment you get when something awesome happens that you're not expecting.

[XL]

as a fan always always ALWAYS suprise please. not voting cos like...what happens at the end?!
:wtf:

[DLVH84]

I say surprise. I loved it when The Road Warriors (unfortunately minus Paul Ellering and Power Warrior) returned in May 2003 to fight Kane and RVD.

And The Rockers' reunion in March 2005.

[CSL]

lol you are ridiculous. You'd be a brilliant troll if I thought that's what your aim was.

[HBPunk]

lol you are ridiculous. You'd be a brilliant troll if I thought that's what your aim was.

im rather aimless really ;)

[Majunior]

I tend to enjoy a surprise return far, far more. But sadly a hyped return is probably better for ticket sales.

Touching on the vignettes comment, I really do miss how they used to do vignettes for people back in the day. From Razor Ramon's pre-debut vignettes to Austin calling out Bret, even more recently to Cryme Tyme's vignettes with their training routine, a good vignette can be memorable, build interest, and be entertaining in it's own right.

[VSG]

Something like Jericho's debut/return and Taz's debut. Probably midway between surprise and return.

[MoFo]

Surprise......

Nobody saw that Christian return on ECW coming (well unless you read spoilers). Made it pretty great.

[Jeritron]

Both. Like Xero said, depends on the situation. I'd much rather see an Undertaker or Jericho type return hyped up.
Also, returns from long injuries are pretty cool when they hype up the rehab and return.

But the suprise run-in or rumble entrant thing is one of the most incredible things in wrestling.

I think they killed the WWF version of nWo by hyping it. It should have been a suprise.
Conversely, hyping up the debut of Goldberg was correct since hype is his middle name.

[XL]

Didn't they do a surprise with the Goldberg debut? As I remember it they were hyping a debut at Backlash, then he debuted the Raw after Mania 19.

[James Steele]

Midcarder - hype it up
Main Eventer - suprise

[loopydate]

Didn't they do a surprise with the Goldberg debut? As I remember it they were hyping a debut at Backlash, then he debuted the Raw after Mania 19.

His first match was at Backlash, but they hyped during Mania that he'd be on RAW the next night.

[FourFifty]

Midcarder - hype it up
Main Eventer - suprise

This

[Poit]

I prefer surprises for the most part.

[BollywoodSingh]

His first match was at Backlash, but they hyped during Mania that he'd be on RAW the next night.

No, I don't think they mentioned it all that Goldberg would be on Raw the next night. At WrestleMania, from what I remember, they only hyped that he would be at the Backlash PPV.

As a fan, I prefer surprises. If I was running WWE, I'd hype returns obviously if it was likely going to increase ratings or buyrates. But I'd actually leave hyped returns for PPVs so the company could actually make money off it. TV returns should be more often surprises because I don't think there's much point in one week TV rating jump when things will go back to normal the next week.

[Cuzziebro]

99.8% of the time in WWE a return being hyped ends up a disappointment.

[Sixx]

Save a retard from the terrorists kind of return.

[VSG]

99.8% of the time in WWE a return being hyped ends up a disappointment.

I beg to differ, more often than not they work nicely for the short term which is all a debut/return has impact on.

[dhellova guy]

Surprise. It goes back to the WCW way of thinking, that if you don't know whats going to happen week to week, you got to tune in to find out.

[whiteyford]

Big name coming back, hype. But random entrants in the rumble or one night only returns work best as a suprise. Suppose if you could hype a return without giving a specific date you could get the best of both though.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Why are any of you concerned about ticket sales? Do any of you work for WWE? I thought we were all fans here.

That being said, definitely surprise returns for me. Pretty much for the same reason I don't read spoilers.

[RiX1024]

I'll go for surprises because if it's hyped it's not believable, like John Cena's return for example I was like WTF and hyped HHH's 2002 return for example to me was like 'yeah he comes out, cut a promo and maybe beat someone up' which he did, didn't do much for me (only the entrance).

[Johnny Vegas]

Very good question/topic.

I'd say surprise returns. Just something about The Rock, SCSA, (i wanted Bret Hart to make a surprise comeback to the WWE when he could still wrestle..God i wanted that lol), etc when their theme music hits out of nowhere. Best returns, period.

[XL]

Why are any of you concerned about ticket sales? Do any of you work for WWE? I thought we were all fans here.

That being said, definitely surprise returns for me. Pretty much for the same reason I don't read spoilers.
Spot on.

I had Miz's Title win spoiled as I watch Raw on YouTube on a Tuesday, first result for "Raw 11/22/10" was "Miz wins WWE Title on Raw 11/22/10". Took away the surprise.

I try not to read rumours nowadays for that reason.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Swagger and The Miz were both spoiled for me. :(

[Londoner]

I prefer surprsie returns depending on who it is.