WWE Returns That MUST Happen In 2026

When wrestling fans talk about dream returns, we tend to float the obvious names — the icons, the disruptors, the nostalgia megastars who can blow the roof off an arena with one familiar guitar riff or a single raised eyebrow. But 2026 is shaping up to be a different kind of crossroads for WWE, one where strategic returns could rebuild divisions, revive midcard chaos, and give the product a much-needed jolt of the unpredictable. And look, I’m not shy about this: some departures over the last few years stung. They left holes on the roster that never quite got patched over, vibes that no one else replicated, momentum that evaporated the second those talents walked through the exit doors.

And no one fits that description better than Braun Strowman.

Braun Strowman: The Big Return WWE Desperately Needs

Let’s not beat around the bush — Braun’s release felt wrong the moment it happened. WWE hasn’t had anything close to that “big meaty monster chaos” since the guy vanished from TV. And honestly, wrestling needs that flavor. It needs someone who can barrel through ringside barriers like they’re made of cardboard and toss full-grown men as if they’re rental chairs. Braun was that walking slab of momentum, that avalanche of destructive energy who could elevate opponents simply by standing near them.

His work in his last run — especially his heavy-hitting collisions with Jacob Fatu and Bronson Reed — was some of the most compelling big-man wrestling we’ve had in years. He made people look dangerous by testing them. He made them look legitimate by selling for them. And he reminded fans what WWE programming has been missing: presence.

Sure, Braun’s body has taken a beating. He’s racked up injuries that would sideline the average human being for life, but he seems open to a comeback once he’s physically settled. And WWE doesn’t need him for 300 days a year. Drop him into the upper midcard, give him meaningful programs, let him smash through a few walls, and you’ve instantly boosted your roster’s texture. He’s a former world champion, a legitimate attraction, and someone whose absence is still noticeable whenever the show drags.

Bring him back in 2026. The fans want it. The product needs it. And frankly, WWE, if you don’t make this happen? I will absolutely be yelling about it. Loudly. And yes, I will roar. Or at least passive-aggressive meow.

The IIconics: A 2026 Rumble Surprise That Writes Itself

Now let’s talk about the return that feels like destiny: the IIconics.

We’ve had glimpses. Teases. Little reminders in NXT that Billie Kay and Peyton Royce still have that magnetic, absurd, glorious chemistry that no other women’s tag team can touch. But a tease is not a return. And WWE is sitting on a golden opportunity here.

Picture this: It’s the 2026 Royal Rumble. Chelsea Green, the queen of unhinged comedic timing, is in the ring trading shots with Alba Fyre. The crowd is loud but restless. Then the arena freezes for a split second — that iconic music hits, that unmistakable pose flashes across the titantron, and the IIconics stride back into WWE like they never left.

One Rumble entry. One reunion pop. One immediate vibe shift.

They square off with Chelsea and Alba, launch a pair of random unfortunate participants over the ropes, and instantly slide into the orbit of the Secret Service faction. And just like that, the women’s tag division — already stacked — gets something it doesn’t currently have: a duo that blends comedy, character, timing, and in-ring chemistry into something totally singular.

The IIconics make TV better. Full stop. WWE, you’ve already tested the waters. Just dive in.

Mickie James: A Hall-of-Fame Return That Shouldn’t End in a Trash Bag

Here’s the thing about Mickie James: she deserves a final WWE run that actually means something. Her last exit shouldn’t be remembered for the disgraceful trash-bag incident or the creative limitations of the late-2000s women’s division. She’s a Hall of Famer who never got her full stop — no closing chapter, no final statement match, no definitive moment that honors what she’s contributed.

Her comeback wouldn’t need to be long. It wouldn’t need to be weekly. But imagine the possibilities: Mickie vs. Charlotte. Mickie vs. Becky Lynch. Mickie vs. Bianca Belair. Mickie vs. Tiffany Stratton. Mickie vs. Nia Jax if you want the power-vs-veteran dynamic in full swing. Or even an eventual elevation match where she puts over Jade Cargill in brutal, definitive fashion.

Mickie James working with today’s generation could create the kind of dream matches fans didn’t even know they wanted until they were right in front of them. And if WWE ever wanted to get creative, the Nick Aldis factor is right there waiting to be used for a clever mixed-tag angle.

Will it happen in 2026? Probably not. But this is my manifestation corner, so we’re dreaming big.

Cameron Grimes: A Writer’s Dream Who Should Never Have Gotten That Shredded

If there’s one thing WWE desperately needs right now, it’s a jolt of personality — someone who can bring comedy, charm, timing, and pure wrestling talent all in one package. And nobody embodies that mix more perfectly than Cameron Grimes.

His NXT run in 2021 was peak sports-entertainment storytelling. The skits with LA Knight were absurd, brilliant, emotional, and endlessly re-watchable. He played heel and babyface with equal mastery. He felt like a real person in a heightened world — which is the exact sweet spot WWE rarely hits anymore.

But somewhere between NXT and the main roster call-up, he made the fatal mistake of getting too shredded. He lost that everyman look that made his character work, becoming just another carved physique in a sea of carved physiques. The muscle took nothing away from his wrestling, but it stripped away the visual identity that made fans instinctively root for him — or root against him — depending on the role.

Bring him back. Let him be weird again. Let him be funny. Let him wrestle like only he can. WWE’s midcard is dry enough to function as an industrial-grade dehumidifier. It needs Grimes’ chaos and charm.

Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.: Because a Dentist in WWE Just Makes Sense

Listen, Britt Baker coming to WWE isn’t about tribalism, Twitter wars, or who “won” a talent jump. It’s about stories. It’s about matchups that fans fantasized about in 2020 but never got. It’s about bringing in a fully formed character — not a project, not a prospect, but someone who’s already figured out who they are and how they present themselves.

Her AEW run defined her. She was one of the pillars. And now that the original AEW era feels like it’s shifting into something else entirely, the moment is ripe for a new chapter. Even Tony Khan practically admitted he’d welcome her back.

WWE could plug her into high-profile matches instantly: Britt vs. Becky. Britt vs. Bianca. Britt vs. Charlotte. Britt vs. Rhea if you want the straight-up violence. And because she’s an actual, real dentist, the comedy and character potential is endless. If Kane can be a pyromaniac libertarian mayor in the Fed, Britt Baker can absolutely pull out a fake molar for a promo segment.

Jump fatigue is real — but Britt isn’t just any jump.

Deonna Purrazzo & Steve Maclin: A Package Deal WWE Shouldn’t Ignore

Deonna Purrazzo — the Virtuosa herself — is one of the most technically gifted wrestlers on the planet. Not “one of the best women’s wrestlers.” One of the best wrestlers, period. Her TNA run was masterful, her character work razor sharp, and her in-ring precision unmatched. So the fact that AEW has barely used her? It borders on malpractice.

Three TV matches in a year. Three losses. Eight Ring of Honor matches, all wins, but barely seen by the mainstream audience. It’s baffling. This is someone who should be anchoring a division, not sitting in catering purgatory.

If WWE ever wanted to enrich its women’s wrestling landscape, Purrazzo is the kind of talent you build around. And while you’re at it? Bring in Steve Maclin too. The guy has reinvented himself since his Forgotten Sons days, became a legitimate force in TNA, and proved that he’s more than the unfortunate baggage of the faction he got stuck in.

Sideburns. Technique. Presence. The man checks boxes.

If either becomes available, WWE should be on the phone immediately.

Andrade: Wrestling’s Greatest Agent of Chaos

Finally, let’s close with wrestling’s most fascinating agent of absolute, unfiltered madness: Andrade.

I want this man to jump companies annually. I want him to set fire to bridges and then rebuild them with a handshake and a smirk. I want the news cycle to tremble every time Andrade posts an Instagram story with dramatic lighting.

This is a man who once reportedly punched Sammy Guevara in the face and somehow stayed employed long enough to get re-hired, re-fired, re-signed, and re-rumored a dozen more times. He doesn’t just create storylines; he is a storyline.

And that’s why a 2026 WWE return — followed by another jump, followed by another return, followed by who the hell knows what else — feels like perfect chaos. Wrestling isn’t just about five-star matches. It’s about the mess. The politics. The unpredictability. Andrade delivers that in a way few ever have.

Let him roam free. Let him cause havoc. Let the timeline melt.

Final Thoughts

2026 could be a landmark year for WWE if they’re bold enough to pull the trigger on returns that matter — not just returns that trend. From Braun’s unparalleled chaos to the IIconics’ electric chemistry, from Mickie James’ deserved curtain call to Britt Baker’s creative spark, from Purrazzo’s underused brilliance to Andrade’s walking tornado of drama, the possibilities are endless.

WWE loves to say “anything can happen.”