Breaking Down Potential Cinderella Stories Among Rumored Returning WWE Stars

Don't look now, but more veterans are coming.

Per Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Marc Middleton of WrestlingInc.com), with WWE set to launch a second era of the brand extension, reports have been circulating that WWE is in talks with former talents. Names from MVP to Kurt Angle to Stevie Richards have been thrown around, as WWE's aging New Era veterans seem to be on the verge of clashing with aging old era stars.

It may not be long before WWE live events begin to play out like a Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Still, with the array of potential comeback stories comes just as many potential Cinderella stories. Pro wrestling fans are a nostalgic bunch, which will allow for some veterans to overachieve more than others.

WWE's roster is in transition, so the majority of old veterans will function as pigs to the New Era slaughterhouse. High-profile names will be key in developing and legitimizing up-and-coming talent, and in addition to bolstering a roster that is set to get split in half, this theory justifies WWE in signing names from the past.

But regardless of the era, WWE hardly has an age limit. A 46-year-old Triple H headlined WrestleMania this year. A 39-year-old AJ Styles is feuding with John Cena. Anything is possible. And with opportunity suddenly a thing in WWE, a few names stand to benefit beyond their wildest imaginations.

Kurt Angle

The only thing stopping Kurt Angle from being recognized as an all-time great is WWE's at-times petty storytelling. In 2010, WWE's controversial list of top 50 Superstars of all time had Angle at 34th in a move that coincided with his stint in TNA.

This is a man with multiple world title matches at WrestleMania. A super athlete who is basically a slightly shorter version of what would come out of a lab if one dialed up the perfect professional wrestler. Angle's overly physical style has led to a barrage of serious injuries, including an emergency neck surgery around this time last year, per Instagram (h/t WrestlingInc.com).

With his body breaking down, there is no telling how long Angle will be able to wrestle, let alone work at an intense WWE pace that has made mincemeat of several indy veterans who work a similar style.

But that's what makes Angle a Cinderella. He's the old man in winter who doesn't know when to call it a career. Just imagine the athletic spectacles of Angle against the ROH alumni who were all but shunned during his heyday.

If the former Olympian is able to work anywhere near the pace of his glory years, a grassroots campaign for one more WrestleMania main event will follow.

Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy had one of the hottest babyface runs in WWE history in 2008. Unfortunately, his biggest foe was WWE's wellness policy. Multiple wellness violations derailed what should have been a lengthy stint atop WWE's main event. Despite being a surefire Hall of Famer in both singles and tag team competition, Hardy's WWE career will always be a story of what could have been.

If signed, perhaps fans will get a glimpse into what could have been if he is able to recapture some of the magic of his scorching 2008 run.

Hardy's real-life struggle and recovery from substance abuse can make him a modern-day Shawn Michaels. Michaels not only won a world championship at age 37, but he was arguably better as a grizzled veteran than as a reckless—yet insanely talented—youngster.

Charisma doesn't just die. No matter how much time goes by, it is as prevailing as it is impossible to teach. Despite shortcomings on the microphone, Hardy is among the most purely charismatic Superstars in WWE history, and that alone can carry him toward an unlikely world championship.

Rey Mysterio

Rey Mysterio is a Cinderella story with or without the veteran status. As a cruiserweight who eventually became a world champion in WWE, Mysterio made a career out of being an underdog. Now, with his age and health quickly turning on him, Mysterio is an even more sympathetic figure.

Common logic dictates that Mysterio would be a perfect fit to put over Kalisto, whose diminutive, Lucha Libre bona fides often draws obvious comparisons. Mysterio can help emphasize the power of a Baron Corbin and can be the ultimate underdog in a match against Braun Strowman.

But if he's able to stay healthy and catch fire, Mysterio's ceiling could be much greater. Mysterio is a former WWE and world heavyweight champion, and he can still be a believable contender today. Having one last run would be one of the greatest Cinderella stories of them all. Think about how many hurdles Mysterio would overcome by winning a world championship in 2016 and find me a better underdog tale.

Alfred Konuwa is a featured columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report and Forbes. Like him on Facebook.