10 Forgotten WWE Returns From The 1990s
Returns in pro wrestling are often unforgettable moments, especially when wrestlers return that have disavowed the WWE or even wrestling itself. CM Punk, Brock Lesnar, or Bret Hart are just three examples of unlikely returns that fans had hoped for (or in Punk's case: still hope for) and that came (or in Punk's case: may come) to be.
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But there are other returns as well, returns of wrestlers that nobody had missed or, sometimes, fans forgot had actually wrestled for the WWE - often even under a different name. With that in mind, here are ten forgotten WWE returns from the 1990s.
10 Dick Murdoch: Former Tag Team Champion Returns At Royal Rumble 1995
Prior WWE Exit: 1985
Dick Murdoch was the co-holder of the WWE Tag Team Titles alongside Adrian Adonis for a good chunk of 1984. He eventually left the company shortly before WrestleMania 1 and spent most of his time in Japan, Mid-South, and the Crockett territory. By 1995, his career was slowly winding down but he nonetheless returned to the WWE for a one-night appearance at the Royal Rumble 1995. Coming in at number 27, he was eventually eliminated by Henry Godwinn.
9 Dory Funk Jr: The Older Funk Brother Returned Under His Real Name At Royal Rumble 1996
Prior WWE Exit: 1986
The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion had wrestled for the WWE in 1985 and 1986 under the name Hoss Funk. The reasons are unclear but we can speculate that Vince McMahon wasn't fond of the 'Junior' addition or because he didn't like the name Dory.
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Either way, Dory appeared at the Royal Rumble 1996 under his real name. Brother Terry was supposed to be in the match too but couldn't make it. He instead appeared in the Rumble match a year later.
8 Jimmy Snuka: Returned For One Monday Night Raw Taping In 1993
Prior WWE Exit: 1992
Jimmy Snuka had left the WWE shortly before WrestleMania 8. He spent a lot of time in ECW - then Eastern Championship Wrestling - in 1993 where he became the first ECW TV Title holder. He also wrestled one match on WCW PPV, in a legends match at Slamboree 1993. He randomly appeared at a Monday Night Raw taping on September 27, 1993 where he defeated Paul Van Dale in a squash on the live show. Later, he was eliminated during the Intercontinental Title battle royal taped for the October 4 episode.
7 Colonel Mustafa: The Iron Sheik Becomes An Iraqi Sympathizer In 1991
Prior WWE Exit: 1988
The Iron Sheik had been a mainstay in WWE during the 1980s and even held the WWE Championship. He was a household name who had wrestled (and won championships) all over the United States. However, in 1991, Vince McMahon and the WWE decided to turn the Sheik into an Iraqi sympathizer. While his past was mentioned in passing on commentary, it was soon swept under the rug. As Colonel Mustafa, the Sheik was already in bad condition and his matches didn't deliver. He left the WWE again shortly after WrestleMania 8.
6 Saba Simba: Tony Atlas Finds A Home In 1990
Prior WWE Exit: 1987
Tony Atlas had hit rock bottom in 1989: homeless and drug-addicted, Atlas seemed without a future. In the summer of 1990 though, Vince McMahon took Atlas under his wing and gave him the Saba Simba gimmick.
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As bad as the gimmick was, it gave Atlas a steady job and he was able to get his life together again. Although he left the company again in 1991, Atlas remained on the right path and would sporadically appear on WWE television again in later years.
5 Dean Douglas: The Substitute Rocker Becomes A Teacher In 1995
Prior WWE Exit: 1991
It is less the run as Dean Douglas that fans forget about Shane Douglas' time in WWE and more the fact that this run was in itself a return. Douglas had debuted as Shane Douglas in 1990 and even replaced Shawn Michaels in The Rockers during Michaels' time away for knee surgery following SummerSlam 1990. He left the WWE in the summer of 1991 after an uneventful run and would only return in 1995 as Dean Douglas. He hated the gimmick. That, mixed with his issues with the Kliq, led to his early departure from the company at the end of 1995.
4 Greg Valentine: The Hammer Returns From WCW In 1993
Prior WWE Exit: 1992
After leaving the WWE in 1992, Greg Valentine would find some success in Bill Watts' WCW, where he won the US Tag Team Title alongside Terry Taylor. However, once Watts left, Valentine's time was up in Atlanta too. He went back to the WWE at the Survivor Series 1993 as the Blue Knight (although he was never unmasked). He would stay until the summer without much TV time or success before going back to the independent scene.
3 Ivan Putski: Polish Power Helps His Son In 1997
Prior WWE Exit: 1987
Ivan Putski had basically retired from wrestling after leaving the WWE in 1987 but he returned for one match alongside his son Scott against Jerry Lawler and Brian Christopher.
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While Scott continued to feud with the Lawlers until his knee injury at In Your House: Ground Zero in September, Ivan would not return to WWE television again.
2 Terry Taylor: Spreading His Wings In 1992
Prior WWE Exit: 1990
Terry Taylor's career had taken a nosedive in 1988 when he got the Red Rooster gimmick during his first WWE run. He returned to WCW and became the head of the York Foundation before turning into the Taylor Made Man. Despite his moderate success he went back to the WWE in late 1992 as Terrific Terry Taylor. He remained in the undercard before returning to WCW in 1993, where his in-ring career would wind down.
1 The Arabian Butchers: Four Days Over Two Runs In 1997
Prior WWE Exit: 1996
The Headhunters had debuted at the Royal Rumble 1996 as the Squat Team and were gone after the TV taping the following day. They inexplicably returned to the WWE in 1997 at an episode of Monday Night Raw as the Arabian Butchers and had one match months later in November 1997. With four appearances over two runs, the Headhunters may have had the most forgotten return in the 1990s.
