Ruined Returns
 

It seems to me lately that there have been a few spoiled returns lately (Hogan, Batista).

Got me thinking, I don't recall that happening a lot back in the day. I mean, the IWC tends to learn about potential returns, but I don't recall the mainstream world/media spoiling it like they did with the last couple.

I would have thought both Batista and Hogan's returns would have been WAY bigger as surprises. In the Batista situation, maybe would have even changed the way the fans have reacted to him as well.

Can y'all think of situations similar to me? And that it seems to be more frequent nowadays?

Not a fan of his, but if Batista was a surprise entrant in the Rumble (and was kept as a surprise at that) I'd probably have spazzed out when his music hit.

Wouldn't have cared five minutes later though, but the return itself would have been cool.

But yeah, I guess the internet makes it harder to keep things secret anymore. Kinda ruins the surprise, but on the other hand advertising it in advance usually gets a small spike in ratings, which I guess is what they're really looking at.

I too would have gone pretty nuts for it. Knowing he was coming out and then seeing him look so much.... older, didn't help his situation much.

Does Jericho's latest return count? I remembered his movements being followed by everyone and I thought someone put the nail on the coffin sighting him at the airport.

I cherish you

They all count brah! Yeah that too. His latest return was ruined, his 2007 return was MAJOR ruined, when it should have been as big as his debut.

One that wasn't ruined. When Rock came back to guest host WM27 in 2011. I think there were rumors but I never got the impression Rock's 2011 return was confirmed to the same extent of Y2J, Batista, Hogan's, etc. recent returns were.

^ YES! Major goosebumps and a lot of my friends who had stopped watching WWE since the 90s came back to watch it again just from that return.

this topic brings me back to something I wonder about with debuts,returns, insider info.

who is the fucking rat? if say vince calls guy x about coming back and they work out a deal shouldn't it be as easy as picking a day and the guy hopping a flight?

someone in corporate sees contracts and leaks it? a ring guy is the one getting info and passing it? or is there a network of guys always scoping indy booking and airports looking for links?

how did they keep the rock coming back under wraps? and if you were the WWE and wanted the rat found wouldn't you send out false info to diff people and see what comes to the surface?

I would imagine Rock's was easier to keep under wraps. He's a huge movie star that 1. doesn't need and/or want the pre-hype because he'll get plenty of attention after the return; 2. he's not dependent on WWE for another shot at glory/fame/wealth; 3. he has an exclusive team of people that he pays handsomely to handle his schedule, contracts, etc., that are true professionals and know when and how to keep their mouths shut

Plus, I believe he said he dealt exclusively with Vince when negotiating his return arrangements, so there was less chance of it leaking I suppose.

Rock's was the last major secret I can remember. When his music went off I actually said "holy shit" while watching in my basement.

the rock's was spoiled for me on here. i learned a lesson that day to be careful when clicking on spoilers

Crippy in the general sense then would you say for average guy returns the rat is usually someone on wwe staff? Lucky guesses that end up being right?

Most likely yes. Definitely at minimum one, if not sometimes both. Either that or the returning talent talks too much, either to their friends about it or to smark fans or "dirtsheets" about it, all because the returning talent loves the spotlight and attention or the opportunity to possibly return to their former "glory".

Also, I honestly don't think that Vince cares as much overall about surprising or shocking the fans with returns, except when HE feels like it matters and then it truly pisses him off. They're a publicly traded company that honestly don't have to listen or care as much about what the fans want as long as the don't piss off too many, they know they're going to have a certain minimum amount of viewers and revenues every week regardless.

On the Batista thing... this got me wondering, could not knowing he was going to be there salvaged the Royal Rumble? Like nothing gets said, we go about business as usual and high teens, low 20s he enters. He still wins it and goes on the Mania. Not only would this have helped with the no D-Bry in Rumble situation (which they possibly could not have foreseen) and adds to the "Anyone can win it" aspect. Could also make future surprise entrants be taken more seriously as threats.

I remember Cena coming back at the Royal Rumble a few years ago, the one at MSG. It seemed to be quite a surprise and was received really well considering it was during the height of the Cena hate.

I don't think Batista winning and suddenly being thrust into the main event would have gone over well regardless. He was just the wrong guy at the wrong time, considering the current following Daniel Bryan has built for himself.

Feel like sometimes they let shit leak on purpose to boost ratings.


Imagine what Brock's return would have been like if it hadn't been leaked.

Ric flairs last return was quite ruined at the, slammys was it? Wwe has been playing spoiler a lot. One thing that kills me is when they show a surprise person before they come out.. I can remember a recent one with the new age outlaws before they were regulars again. They showed them walking backstage advertised as "up next". I just feels like it takes away from the luster of the surprise, and the general feeling of. " holy shit" with a massive pop behind it.

I remember that one... he was supposed to be out like 8 months to a year and came back after 3

The reason they're ruining returns lately is that they're in a desperate attempt to pop the ratings

Y2J's "Olympic runner" anyone?