The Rock and 5 WWE in-Ring Returns We're Still Waiting for

WrestleMania season has a propensity to bring out the best in all WWE performers, with many big stars battling through injury simply to appear on the card, if nothing else, for the lucrative payday. 

However, this year has taken somewhat of a different tone, with multiple big-name stars still out with injury. This unlucky caveat seems to have beget a very crowded 12-man tag team match to decide GM supremacy on television until the other guy returns.  

Most stars in question are expected to make their much-anticipated in-ring return no later than WrestleMania first, but with the iconic pay-per-view steadily approaching, time is ticking. 

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1. Alberto Del Rio

The former upstart WWE Champion went down with a groin injury the night after Tables, Ladders and Chairs, and what was thought to have been a one-month injury quickly degenerated into a nagging problem that has continued to this day. 

Del Rio has recently gotten back in the ring at WWE live events, but has not competed in a TV match in 2012. 

Del Rio made a surprise appearance at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view in support of Interim Raw GM John Laurinaitis and is expected to appear in the 12-man tag team match for power of both Raw and SmackDown.

Given the lack of babyface depth in the WWE, Del Rio could soon take the Miz's spot of being a heel who is lost in the shuffle, as Miz's ongoing losing streak has been turned into a storyline that should eventually result in some positive booking for a change.  

2. Christian

Christian went down with an ankle injury in late 2011, but seems to be close to a full recovery, as it was announced this past week on SmackDown that he will be competing on Team Johnny.

Christian's ankle has taken its own time in healing, with the former multiple-time world heavyweight champion even describing it as the "most frustrating injury of [his] career."

Captain Charisma picked the right time to return to the ring, as WrestleMania should give him some much-needed momentum headed into post-Mania storylines on SmackDown. 

3. Evan Bourne

With Evan Bourne's 60-day suspension lifted as of last Saturday, his future with the WWE is still up in the air after failing two wellness tests in a brief window of time. 

Bourne has been rumored to return in order to feud for the United States Championship, and there has also been talk of Bourne possibly joining Team Teddy should fellow injured star Rey Mysterio continue to recover from injury. 

With Bourne on his last leg, it will be interesting to see if the WWE is willing to give the embattled yet talented star another chance.

4. Rey Mysterio, Jr.

Rey Mysterio, Jr. went down with a knee injury during several months back when he worked hurt and paid for it. The commodity of a babyface has been on a steady road to recovery that was supposed to lead to WrestleMania in the best-case scenario. 

While Mysterio is certainly a candidate to make a surprise return between now and WrestleMania, it is more than reasonable to question whether or not he is fully healed. If not, he could wind back up in the same injury situation he was in to begin with. 

5. The Rock

The last time we saw the Rock, he was in rare form at November's Survivor Series pay-per-view. And while the pay-per-view did not deliver at the box office like many thought it would, Rock did just enough to leave fans wanting more. 

Now that four months have gone by and Rock has appeared on four consecutive Raw Supershows leading up to WrestleMania, fans seem tired of the war of words and ready to see him fight. 

The Rock and John Cena are expected to close the show at what is being hailed as the biggest WrestleMania of all-time. If the Rock's last in-ring performance is any indication, he hasn't lost a step. How the styles of both Cena and the Rock mesh will be a story to follow during WrestleMania XXVIII.