In the world of professional wrestling, which is always changing, nothing is ever really over. Characters come back to life, rivalries start up again, and legends come back, usually to huge crowds and high ratings. WWE has been leaning heavily on the past again lately, giving a lot of screen time to nostalgia acts. WWE is playing the greatest hits more often than ever, whether it’s John Cena, The Undertaker, The Rock, or even older groups like DX or the NWO.
WWE knows how to reward long-time fans while getting back viewers who have stopped watching. They do this by bringing back old favorites along with flashy new games, often with 40 burning hot bonuses to sweeten the deal. But the return of these famous people raises some important questions: Is this a smart move to get more viewers, or is it a creative crutch that keeps the next generation from moving forward?
Why Nostalgia Works
Nostalgia is very appealing on a psychological level. People who grew up watching wrestling during the Attitude Era or the Ruthless Aggression Era have memories of those times. WWE knows how to use that emotional connection perfectly.
When Stone Cold Steve Austin’s glass breaks or Edge’s guitar riff plays, it makes you feel something right away—something that not many modern stars can match. WWE knows that bringing back legends is an easy way to get people to cheer and watch TV.
Also, wrestling fans are very loyal to the stars they grew up with. In a time when people don’t pay attention for long and new stars take a long time to rise, it’s safer to stick with well-known names that already have a lot of fans and are popular with the general public.
The Recent Wave of Returns
WWE has let a lot of nostalgia returns happen in the last two years:
In 2023 and again in 2024, John Cena came back for a few weeks and drew a lot of viewers to SmackDown.
Fans were shocked when The Rock showed up on several episodes of Raw, including a long-teased fight with Roman Reigns.
The Undertaker has been in a lot of non-wrestling roles, like backstage segments and symbolic cameos like the Bray Wyatt tribute.
Lita, Trish Stratus, and Mickie James have all wrestled long after their prime years, often in big pay-per-view events.
Even groups like D-Generation X and Evolution have had reunion spots that take over parts of the show, especially on special anniversary episodes or themed nights.
WWE doesn’t just use physical appearances to show the past; they also use video packages, theme songs, and old footage to do so.
The Game of Ratings
Nostalgia acts are coming back, and it’s not just for emotional reasons; it’s also a smart move in the ratings war. WWE doesn’t just have to compete with AEW; it also has to compete with streaming services, sports events, and social media.
WWE promotes it as a must-see moment when a legend comes back, even if it’s just for five minutes. This means that:
- Episodes that were promoted around big returns had more people watching them live.
- Clips and reactions that go viral on social media
- More sales of merchandise for returning superstars
- More people are coming to live events where legends are announced.
The numbers say it all. SmackDown episodes with The Rock or Cena almost always do much better than regular episodes. The buzz also helps get more people to buy pay-per-view events and sign up for the WWE Network (or Peacock, depending on where you live).
The Sword with Two Edges
But there is a big downside.
1. Stopping New Talent
When a part-timer or legend gets a 10-minute segment, that’s 10 minutes that could have been used to build the future. When older stars come back, young stars like Bron Breakker, Austin Theory, or LA Knight often have to wait their turn, especially on big shows.
Sometimes, they have to lose to legends in one-time matches, which slows down their progress. Goldberg’s squash of The Fiend in 2021 and Cena’s pinning of rising stars during comeback runs are two examples of how nostalgia can get in the way.
2. Creative Stagnation
When you depend too much on the past, you stop being creative. Nostalgia can help in the short term, but it doesn’t create new characters or long-term storylines. When a risk with a new star could have brought new excitement, creative teams may choose “safe” booking instead.
3. Tired of watching
Even the most loyal fans might get tired of all the comebacks after a while. If every big event has a return instead of a new chapter, the product can feel like it’s been used before. And younger fans, who didn’t grow up with these stars, might not feel the same way about them.
When Nostalgia Works the Best
This doesn’t mean that nostalgia should be thrown away. But if you use it wisely, it can make both the legends and the current roster better.
Passing the Torch Moments: When a legend puts over a younger star, it can be magical. Imagine The Rock supporting Roman Reigns (if done right) or The Undertaker lifting Bray Wyatt’s hand.
One-Time Attractions: Carefully marketed matches, such as Edge vs. Seth Rollins or Cena vs. Reigns, can make big events seem more important.
Mentorship Roles: Having legends be managers or mentors (like MVP with Lashley or Paul Heyman with Reigns) keeps them relevant without taking over matches.
Nostalgia should be the side dish, not the main course.
What’s next for WWE?
Triple H, who is now mostly in charge of creative, has been more careful than Vince McMahon about using the past, but not by much. It’s hard not to give in, especially when Raw, SmackDown, and premium live events are worth a lot of money.
Fans can expect more surprises in the future, especially with Raw XXX and SmackDown 25 coming up. There are already rumors that WWE is planning to bring back a lot of people for WrestleMania 41 to get more attention around the world.
Balance will be the most important thing. The business needs to find ways to honor the past while also building the future. This means letting legends shine while making sure they don’t overshadow the stars of tomorrow.
Last Thoughts
WWE is on a tightrope. There’s no denying that nostalgia sells. But if you don’t use it right, it could turn the product into a museum instead of a living, breathing evolution of professional wrestling.
It’s a good idea to bring back famous people like The Rock or John Cena, just like giving gamblers 40 hot bonuses is a good way to get them back to a familiar casino. The show must go on, though, and it’s WWE’s job to make sure the next generation of superstars is just as memorable.
Fans love a familiar entrance theme, but what they really want is to believe in the next big star.
