Welcome back: these are the wrestlers and personalities we'd like to see make their WWE returns - or debuts in a few cases

Wrestling Digest, August, 2003 by Keith Loria

WITH INJURIES TO MANY KEY personnel and fan interest dying down for both "Raw" and "Smackdown," WWE needs to make some moves quickly to keep the organization heading in the right direction. Bringing in Goldberg was a smart move, but there's plenty of talent out there who Vince McMahon should offer up a contract to in the very near future.

Here's a look at 10 wrestlers and personalities WWE should bring back into the fold.

BRET HART

WWE is constantly trying to bring in that one main-eventer that it thinks will instantly give it the ratings push it needs. It tried with Scott Steiner. It tried with Hogan. It currently is hyping the return of Kevin Nash and ex-WCW superstar Goldberg. But if WWE is serious about truly getting people interested again, Vince McMahon needs to bring back Bret Hart. Everyone knows their history and the hatred involved, but as we have seen time and time again in this business, when money is involved, anything is possible. Imagine the buzz that would be involved in a Hart vs. McMahon match at Wrestlemania or a rematch of Hart vs. Shawn Michaels in Montreal for a title. You can throw any name in wrestling history out there but the "Hitman" is truly the man who fans want to see return. And yes, we know Hart suffered a stroke and that makes the chances of his return very slim, but we've learned never to rule out any possibility when it comes to wrestling.

SANDMAN

You can't think about extreme wrestling without the name Sandman coming to mind. And even though WWE has shied away from insane hardcore competitions lately, there's no denying that what the Sandman brings to the ring is something that fans love to see. The five-time Extreme Championship Wrestling champion would be great in a feud with Rob Van Dam or even trading moves with Steve Austin, if "Stone Cold" ever steps back in the ring. When Metallica's "Enter Sandman" blasts over the arena's speakers, fans are guaranteed action and excitement at full throttle. This is something that WWE desperately needs now.

SIMON DIAMOND

How Diamond hasn't been picked up already is one of those great wrestling mysteries. Diamond is a big man, has the "look" of a champion, and could work the mic as well as anyone in the business. And more importantly, Diamond could do it where it mattered--in the ring. Diamond was exciting to watch and potentially is as good as anyone currently on the WWE roster. Just imagine Diamond putting his Simonizer on Chris Jericho.

RICK STEINER

Although WWE made a big deal about bringing in Scott Steiner earlier this year and immediately gave him a world-title push, "Big Poppa Pump" has been relegated to mostly tag-team action in recent weeks. And if that's how WWE is going to use him, it may as well bring in his brother, Rick, and reunite one of the most dominant tag teams in wrestling history. The Steiner brothers could wage a war with the Dudley Boyz and create an exciting and powerful feud that could go down as one of the best battles in history. The "Dog Faced Gremlin" is also a fan-favorite and is a great mat wrestler.

ACE ORTON

With Randy Orton expected to be a big player (if he ever can stay healthy) in WWE now that he's aligned himself with the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair and Triple H, it would be interesting to see how this third-generation wrestler with an ego the size of a small island would react if his old man started to give some fatherly advice. Considering Ace was best friends and the body guard for Rowdy Roddy Piper for so many years, it makes sense for him to follow Hot Rod's lead and remind fans--and his son--that Cowboy Bob Orton is a legend in the business.

JOEY STYLES

It takes a special voice to handle play-by-play duties, and with apologies to Jim Ross, WWE needs someone with a bit more flare and personality. Styles is one of the best in the business, and has kept his instincts sharp working in Major League Wrestling. Vince McMahon needs to bring Styles in and change the voice of his programs or he is going to see more fans flee from the boring telecasts. And while he's making the move, he should also bring in Don "Cyrus" Callis as Styles' partner. Callis knows how to put a guy over in the ring and plays the heel the way it's meant to be done.

JOANIE LAURER

There are some who think that the woman's field in WWE is as good as it's ever been, but those opinions are mostly based on testosterone. While many of the woman look great in the ring--especially in those bikinis--the wrestling itself is a little weak. Enter the woman they call Chyna. Under either her given name or her character's name, Laurer is a force to be reckoned with. She is strong enough to compete with the boys and yet has her share of male admirers as well. Chyna would do wonders for the women's division and make it something to talk about again.

STING

The Stinger is probably the only major superstar who has never had his day in WWE and it's about time that changes. While he may not be the force he was at the peak of his career, he is still one of the most popular wrestlers of all time, and it would be interesting to see what path he could carve for himself in Vince McMahon's world. His dynamic style and showmanship would be a big plus.