This week saw Santos Escobar officially depart WWE, only for the company to swiftly agree new terms with the SmackDown star before he could make the move elsewhere.
With WWE making the effort to re-sign Escobar, perhaps they will turn their attention to others that have recently departed, or those who exited years ago.
Here are eight more former WWE stars that could re-sign with the company.
8. Karrion Kross & Scarlett
With Santos Escobar re-signing with WWE, perhaps the same could be coming soon for Karrion Kross?
Although he departed WWE back in early August, Kross continues to give interviews that suggest he still has a lot to contribute creatively in terms of future programs, if he were to return to the company.
While Kross has resumed his work around the indies, he and his wife Scarlett have made his intentions of committing to a company fully clear.
Whether or not Kross & Scarlett ever make their big WWE return still remains to be seen but certainly either or both could be enjoyable additions to a future Royal Rumble as a surprise entrant.
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7. The Hardy Boyz
Making a big appearance on the NXT and TNA crossover event Showdown, Matt and Jeff Hardy made history once more in WWE.
Besting Darkstate, the duo became the NXT Tag Team Champions for the first time in their careers.
While The Hardy Boyz are looking ahead to their future competition in NXT, their next big bout is against a pair of fellow WWE legends.
Matt and Jeff Hardy are set to face off against The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D’Von Dudley) at TNA Wrestling Bound for Glory on October 12, with both sets of tag team titles on the line. With their contracts with TNA potentially up towards the end of the year, perhaps one last WWE run could be coming?
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6. Carmella
One potential returning WWE star might be Leah Van Dale, formerly known as Carmella during her time wrestling for WWE.
While the former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion has gone on to found her own women’s health and wellness platform, there could be a WWE return in her future.
Previously commenting about feeling somewhat “ghosted” by WWE at the end of her contract, Van Dale currently heavily pregnant with her second child with WWE commentator Corey Graves. Nearing her due date, any potential return would of course be far into the future.
Being a fun addition to a women’s Royal Rumble or even surprise return for a Money in the Bank ladder match (as the inaugural winner of course), there could be some fun stories left for Carmella in WWE.
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5. TJP
In news broken by PWInsider Elite, it seems that a former WWE NXT Cruiserweight Champion who went on to have a robust career in Japan is potentially headed back to the company.
Reportedly set to pick up at the Performance Center soon, TJP will be working in a backstage capacity.
While there weren’t a lot of details revealed, it was noted that it was expected to be a short term partnership as a guest coaching role.
Since departing WWE in 2019, TJP would go on to gain acclaim in NJPW where he captured multiple titles in the company as a member of the United Empire stable.
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4. Dakota Kai
In a 2025 release that was surprising to fans, Dakota Kai departed from WWE in May after having just been involved in a top storyline.
Making it to the finals of the inaugural tournament for the women’s Intercontinental Championship, it seemed that Dakota Kai could be poised to continue her feud with Lyra Valkyria.
However after leaving WWE, the former Damage CTRL star has yet to appear in any other promotion, rather noting that she took some time away from wrestling entirely.
Recently commenting that she had interest in getting back involved, fans still hope to see the return of Dakota Kai to WWE.
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3. Matt Cardona
Formerly known as Zack Ryder in WWE, since departing the company in 2020 Matt Cardona has entirely reinvented himself as one of the biggest names in indie wrestling.
While Cardona did appear as a part of the recent TNA invasion storyline on NXT TV, he didn’t actually have a match at the Showdown event.
Instead a bout between Josh Briggs and Matt Cardona is set for next week’s NXT, a match that is set to be a potential show stealer.
With his real-life wife Chelsea Green partnering on-screen with Ethan Page, there could be the historic storyline brewing over the support of the former United States Champion.
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2. Braun Strowman
While Braun Strowman hasn’t returned to WWE TV, he has returned to the USA Network in a show about his time travelling with WWE.
Airing well after he was released from the company back in May, Strowman’s travel and food show Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman is set to debut on October 24 after SmackDown.
The show will follow Braun Strowman as he travels around America intent on taking in a culinary adventure by visiting locations and ordering literally everything on a restaurant menu.
In what would seem like an incredibly simple crossover, it would make total sense to see Braun Strowman pop-up sometime soon to remind WWE that the Monster Among Men is still One Big SOB!
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1. Shayna Baszler
While Shayna Baszler was released from WWE back in May, it seems that she has kept a friendly relationship with her former employer.
Spending some of her time during her non-compete clause helping out backstage in NXT, Baszler was even credited for being the producer for a TV match.
Later making an appearance on TV, it could be that Baszler ends up back in action at the Performance Center as her next big move.
Definitely able to recapture her intensity as a singles in-ring star if given the opportunity in NXT, it could be that Baszler ends up an iconic on-screen manager or even, authority figure on Tuesday nights.
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