Cesaro Returns to WWE Raw, Loses No. 1 Contenders Fatal 4-Way Match to AJ Styles

After four months on the shelf with a shoulder injury, Cesaro made his highly anticipated return to WWE programming on the Monday Night Raw after WrestleMania 32.

WWE provided a GIF of his new entrance:

Cesaro took part in the main event of the night, a Fatal 4-Way match against Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho and AJ Styles. It didn't take long for Cesaro to show off his athleticism with a triple powerbomb, via WWE: 

However, Styles ultimately won the match and became the No. 1 contender to battle Roman Reigns for WWE's top prize. 

The Swiss Superman had been on the shelf since suffering a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder in November. His absence during the months leading up to WrestleMania 32 was worse for WWE after Superstars such as John Cena, Seth Rollins and Randy Orton also suffered injuries that kept them out of the biggest show of the year—or in Cena's case, in a limited role.

Rapper and noted WWE fan Wale believed big things would have been in store for Cesaro at the Showcase of the Immortals had he remained healthy:

"

I think if Cesaro was healthy he would have been I the mix top of the card

— Wale (@Wale) March 22, 2016"

Upon the announcement of the injury, Cesaro discussed the groundswell of support behind him and the importance of keeping that going after his return, per WWE.com:

"

I just want to come back as soon as possible. I felt I was building a lot of momentum, and that was all thanks to the fans. I really appreciate all the support I've gotten and I've felt that the Cesaro Section is finally rising and it's becoming undeniable ... and then, of course, this happens. ... I want to keep the momentum up when I return, and I'm sure the Section will still be there.

"

The 35-year-old Superstar is among the best in-ring workers in the world, and he has a marketable look that should seemingly make him a natural fit for the main event scene in WWE.

While he has been on the verge of greatness before—most notably when he won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 30—his pushes have stopped short of the top.

When asked specifically about Cesaro on Steve Austin's Stone Cold Podcast on WWE Network in late 2014, WWE chairman Vince McMahon said he hadn't connected with the fans and was lacking the "it" factor, per WrestlingInc.com.

While Cesaro isn't as great on the mic, his in-ring performances inspire huge crowd reactions, and it can be argued that his rise after WrestleMania 30 was sabotaged by the decision to keep him heel and pair him with Paul Heyman.

Despite that misstep, Cesaro managed to bounce back, and he had an entertaining run as the tag team champion along with Tyson Kidd until Kidd went down with a neck injury.

Cesaro again picked up some steam after that with great matches against Cena and Owens, but the shoulder injury stopped him in his tracks.

The King of Swing has what it takes to be one of the faces of WWE, and the fact that he is from Switzerland gives him a great deal of international appeal, which is a huge positive for the company.

The WWE Universe seems ready to embrace Cesaro as a top star if WWE is willing to pull the trigger, and the fact that his absence kept him fresh gives the creative team an excuse to start with a clean slate and provide him with that opportunity. 

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