With the upcoming WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025 premium live event coming up in only a few weeks, there are some big names who could be returning.
The landscape of WWE could shift after Wrestlepalooza following several potential returns including major names being rumored to be on the verge of a comeback.
Here are nine returns that could be set for WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025.
9. AJ Lee
After WWE Raw featured a segment between Becky Lynch and CM Punk caused fans to break out into “AJ Lee” chants more than once – Lynch had a retort.
With Becky reminding fans that AJ “doesn’t work here,” Punk and Becky would go on to have a contemptuous exchange including Becky putting hands on Punk and the latter vowing that she would prove to regret it.
With Lynch involved in The Vision storyline, it seems inevitable that a female ally will appear for Punk at some point.
While it could be AJ Lee, there is also potential in Rhea Ripley or Bayley who has yet to return since her apparent character shift.
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8. Brock Lesnar
After the main event of SummerSlam 2025 came to a close, the action wasn’t over yet for John Cena.
While he lost the WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes, he instead faced a familiar foe albeit one that had been absent from WWE for two years in Brock Lesnar.
With Lesnar having not appeared since the random attack to close SummerSlam, it still seems likely that the Beast will be set to appear at Wrestlepalooza.
Since John Cena has been confirmed for the event, his opponent is likely to be the returning Brock Lesnar, whether or not there is any substantive build.
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7. Bianca Belair
After being out of action due to injuries she sustained during WrestleMania 41 – including multiple broken fingers – Bianca Belair has not revealed a timeline for her return.
Given recent development surrounding the WWE Women’s World Championship – namely Naomi vacating the title after announcing her pregnancy – fans began to wonder if it would be Bianca Belair who would return in hunt of the title.
Instead on the September 1 WWE Raw it was confirmed by Adam Pearce that there will be a Women’s World Championship match at Wrestlepalooza, pitting Stephanie Vaquer against IYO SKY.
Belair could potentially return after the match as a big surprise, stepping up as the first challenger to whoever becomes champion.
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6. Pat McAfee
One confirmed return for the upcoming Wrestlepalooza PLE is commentator Pat McAfee.
Recently his absence on WWE Raw has been covered by Corey Graves and Wade Barrett but the former NFL star will be back for his hometown event, Wrestlepalooza in Indianapolis, Indiana.
McAfee has been taking a hiatus from his WWE commentating duties in the lead-up to the notoriously busy college football season.
With Triple H noting that McAfee will be back for the ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming debut of WWE, the crossover makes sense.
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5. Ilja Dragunov
After being out of action due to injury since September 2024, it has been reported that Ilja Dragunov is nearing a return.
A potential new foe for the new United States Champion Sami Zayn, Dragunov could immediately return to make an impact in pursuit of a title on SmackDown.
Conversely, Dragunov could prove to be a formidable babyface opponent for Judgment Day and Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio.
Whatever the future holds for The Mad Dragon, it seems he is certainly poised for a bright future in WWE.
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4. Saraya (Paige)
Fans of the Bella Twins refuse to give up hope that eventually Brie will make an appearance alongside Nikki back in WWE, but there is another fan favorite from Total Divas that could still make a return to WWE.
Saraya, formerly known as Paige during her time in the company, could be on her way back.
Paige saw her WWE in-ring career cut short due to injury before she eventually departed the company and returned to in-ring action in AEW under her real first name, Saraya.
Potentially able to make a nostalgic return at Wrestlepalooza, she could always make a surprise to help out an old friend – perhaps AJ Lee?
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3. Braun Strowman
One former WWE star that could make a surprise appearance at Wrestlepalooza is Braun Strowman.
Still set to debut this fall on the USA Network is Everything On The Menu with Braun Strowman. The travel and food show features Strowman as the host, exploring different eats as he travelled as a WWE star.
Already making promotional appearances for the show, it would make sense to see Strowman return – even if just as a part-time attraction or for a single story – in concert with promotion of this new show.
Always a fan favorite for the audience in attendance, throwing in an appearance by the impressive size and stature of Braun Strowman on WWE’s PLE debut on ESPN could make sense.
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2. Tama Tonga
After having been written off of WWE TV ahead of WrestleMania 41 due to a legitimate injury, fans are still patiently awaiting the return of Tama Tonga.
While his official thoughts on Jacob Fatu’s subsequent wars with Solo Sikoa and the new MFT faction have yet to be revealed, it seems likely he won’t become yet another MFT.
With another member of the Bloodline having remained absent from TV since SummerSlam in Jacob Fatu, it’s possible that Tonga will return to reunite with the Samoan Werewolf instead.
Possibly creating a new Bloodline alliance in Jimmy & Jey Uso, Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga, there could be some intriguing storylines moving forward into a new iteration of the faction.
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1. GUNTHER
While GUNTHER is reportedly out of action “indefinitely”, he is reportedly out with a legitimate nose issue that contributed to the time off.
Since he remains rumored to be facing John Cena in the legendary star’s final match in December, it seems likely that GUNTHER will make a return sometime soon.
Potentially staking his claim on the pursuit of a title, GUNTHER could also just be back to prove himself against the 17-time champion.
With a lot of intriguing opportunities to make GUNTHER make sense as Cena’s final opponent, the duo could be on the verge of kicking off a historic story.
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