Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins and Best Ways to Return Injured and Absent Superstars

When the WWE roster is no longer missing Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins and the long list of absentee Superstars, the company will have a myriad of opportunities to reinvigorate the stagnant product.

Just having those talented wrestlers back in the mix will be a major boost. More than that, though, WWE has to find ways to point them toward their next feud and create big moments upon their arrival to maximize their returns.

Brock Lesnar needs to ball up his fist and start hammering away at the man he will face at WrestleMania 32. Seth Rollins has an obvious storyline to star in once he heals.

John Cena, Undertaker, Randy Orton and Cesaro are all out of action, too. How does WWE go about welcoming them back in a way that earns them momentum right away? Let's dive in, one case at a time, to answer that.

Note: Sting, Tyson Kidd and Daniel Bryan are not included, as the severity of their injuries has their in-ring futures in doubt.

Seth Rollins

The WWE world title should be the magnet that Seth Rollins is drawn to, but it's his relationship with The Authority that should be the crux of his next storyline.

He never lost the championship. He has had to sit at home recovering from torn ligaments in his knee and watch other men carry around his belt. Chasing down that gold is an obvious means to insert Rollins back into the flow of WWE programming.

Once Rollins is healed, he should make a surprise appearance when the current world champion is in the ring. The Architect should attack and challenge the champ, demanding a match, but The Authority tells him they have other plans for him.

A frustrated Rollins lashes out. He tells Triple H that he is furious that the group has moved on without him, that Sheamus was The Authority's crown jewel after he left, etc. It's an easy journey from that point to a Rollins face turn, positioning him as the anti-hero who looks to take down the corporate stable.

If the timing is right, Triple H vs. Rollins could be a SummerSlam main event.

It's a matchup that PWInsider (h/t Marc Middleton of Wrestling Inc.) reported could happen down the line. It's a matchup that has classic written all over it, and it would be the ultimate welcoming party for Rollins.

John Cena

The last we saw of John Cena was at Hell in a Cell 2015, where Alberto Del Rio made his surprise return, kicked the champion out cold and took his United States Championship away from him.

The re-entry point for Cena once he has wrapped up shooting American Grit is obvious: He goes after the man who dethroned him. For one, the U.S. title has been Cena's main focus for much of the year. And second, the way his story left off dictates that he seek payback.

WWE can sell his absence as a mental recovery from losing the title. The announcers can talk up how much Cena has been seething at home, preparing for his rematch. 

To first set all that up, Del Rio should wail away on some poor babyface after defeating him.

While the fan favorite writhes in the grip of Del Rio's cross armbreaker, Cena makes a surprise return, running out to save him. The old rivals lock horns again. The narrative resumes.

Create a few run-ins, but rather than fully investing in that rehashed feud, Cena's actions in the Royal Rumble should set up who his opponent will be instead.

Undertaker

Now that the Survivor Series celebration of Undertaker is over, everything Deadman-related should be focused on his path to WrestleMania.

WWE can both elevate its first pay-per-view of the year and set up a marquee WrestleMania match with a single motion.

The company should promote that Undertaker is assured a spot in the Royal Rumble weeks before the event. Undertaker hasn't competed in the PPV's signature Battle Royal since 2009. That alone is a selling point for stepping into the 30-man fray in 2016.

Then Undertaker can draw a later number and battle his way into the match's final four. Just as it looks as if he is moments away from earning a title shot to end his career on, John Cena clobbers him and throws him over the top rope.

Undertaker's frustration over not getting one final crack at the title is an easy emotion to build on. 

Have him tease walking to the back before returning to ringside to yank Cena out of the ring and out of the Rumble. Have him grow angry and desperate in the coming weeks, continuing the direction he was going during the Brock Lesnar feud.

WWE can then proceed with building toward the Cena vs. Undertaker battle that it is rumored to have penciled in, per PWInsider (h/t Marc Middleton of Wrestling Inc.)

Big Show

Big Show's return will have the least impact of all the stars on this list. He just doesn't move the needle at this point in his career.

Still, he has value as a recognizable name with a world championship pedigree. The smart move is to use that to both elevate a newer star and to add depth to the tag team division.

Have Tyler Breeze talk up his mystery partner who is going to help him reach tag team gold. Prince Pretty sets his sights first on The Usos to earn his way into tag team contention. On Raw, he stands across the ring from The Usos when Big Show stomps down the entrance ramp.

Big Show can talk about how much potential he sees in Breeze and how much he reminds him of Chris Jericho, who he won tag team titles with.

Forming the odd-couple duo is a way to get Breeze some traction, have Big Show fill out the roster and add a fresh squad to the tag team division. 

Cesaro

A shoulder injury halted Cesaro's rise. He was gaining popularity in the midst of a hot stretch in the ring, and he seemed destined to move up a few slots on the card.

His absence may still end up being a boost for him. As PWTorch's Wade Keller mentioned on The Steve Austin Show (NSFW language), he won't be bogged down by recent losses and benefits from "the booking team taking a fresh look at him."

Accomplishing that is a two-step process.

Firstly, WWE needs to make his comeback as big a deal as possible. Once his shoulder heals and the company knows with more certainty when to expect him back, it can start to hype his return with vignettes. Show Cesaro working out. Show him pulling off astounding feats of strength.

Make him look like a snarling animal anxious to burst out of the cage.

Then it will be time to take advantage of the anticipation for his comeback. Have him open the first Raw he's on post-recovery and call out a top star. Cesaro should say that he knows he's the best wrestler on the roster and will prove it over the coming months.

WWE should have him move from opponent to opponent each week, putting on lengthy, hard-fought matches against the likes of Dean Ambrose, Sheamus, Rusev and Roman Reigns. Have him go on an impressive winning streak and gauge if fans are interested enough in it and him to have it lead to a world title match.

Randy Orton

It's not clear when Randy Orton will be back. Not only is he dealing with a torn shoulder, but Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Bill Pritchard of Wrestle Zone) reported that he's due for neck surgery, too.

That creates even more time for WWE to refresh Orton's character. By the time he comes back, the memories of the stories he was a part of before he went down with injury will have mostly faded.

The Viper has always been at his best when he's a vicious, cold-hearted predator. It makes sense to have him revert back to that when he returns.

WWE would be wise to have him go after Dean Ambose, a man he could have a stellar feud with, especially if the Intercontinental Championship is at stake.

Have Ambrose be in another situation where he's outnumbered two-to-one and in need of a tag team partner. The Lunatic Fringe announces at the last minute that Orton is his mystery partner.

Orton, though, immediately throttles Ambrose. He leaves him lying and explains that he's done making alliances. They never got him anywhere, and he doesn't trust anyone.

Present him as a paranoid, angry man focused on his own success. If that success includes a pursuit of the IC title, WWE can further its mission to elevate that belt's prestige. 

Brock Lesnar

Like with Undertaker, Brock Lesnar's sights have to be set on who he is poised to face at WrestleMania.

The powerhouse is set to charge into Raw on Jan. 11 in New Orleans, as Steve Carrier of Ringside News noted. When that night comes, The Beast Incarnate should stand in the ring and demand a title shot. After all, he just knocked off a legend at Hell in a Cell, and no one beat him directly to dethrone him.

The champion doesn't answer. That angers the big man.

Lesnar starts tearing up the ringside area. He threatens to start hurting the announcers. Enter Kevin Owens.

Owens then steps up to him, explains that while everyone else is afraid of him, he's not. "I'm going to hurt hurt you," Owens tells him. A brawl explodes and the build to a curveball of a WrestleMania match begins.

Former WWE writer Court Bauer said on MLW Radio (h/t Nick Paglino of Wrestle Zone) that WWE is considering pitting Owens against The Beast Incarnate.

That's one hell of a career opportunity for Owens and an intriguing, fresh matchup. Kick-starting the hype for it right away is the smart move, letting all of Lesnar's other opponents until then be warm-ups for the beating he promises to lay down on Owens.