Report: Chris Hero Returning to WWE

Chris Hero is heading back to World Wrestling Entertainment, reports WrestlingObserver.com‘s Dave Meltzer. The report notes that a company source in WWE confirmed that Hero is returning. Meltzer noted on his radio show on Saturday that Hero didn’t have bookings in 2017, which likely meant a WWE return was likely. Those suspicions were proven to be true today.

There’s no word on whether Hero is heading to WWE’s main roster or if he’ll be in NXT. It’s also not known when his return might take place. Hero will turn 37 years old later this month.

If he does return to NXT, he could go back to using the Kassius Ohno name that he had when he started with WWE in February 2012. He was released by the company in November 2013. There were reports that his weight were a concern to officials although that was never confirmed.

TJR Thoughts: I’m happy for him because he’s been a very good wrestler for over 15 years now. He’s had a lot of success everywhere he’s been except in WWE, where he was only in NXT. I think he’s likely going to be in NXT as a veteran that can work with the younger guys and put on good matches with anybody he’s in the ring with. If they put him on the main roster that would certainly be fine too.

Regarding his name, I think they should let him use the Chris Hero moniker that works really well for him. Kassius Ohno was a fun idea because of the “KO” thing and knockout elbow smash, but with Kevin Owens there as the “KO” in the company, they might want him to be just Chris Hero. Since WWE has let guys like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Austin Aries, Bobby Roode, Eric Young and others keep names they had in other companies, they should let Hero use that name as well.

As for his weight, I don’t see it as a big deal. He’s got a bit of a gut and maybe WWE didn’t like it three years ago, but they are bringing him back again and it’s because of his work in the ring. If having a big gut really mattered then the likes of Kevin Owens and Bray Wyatt wouldn’t be featured prominently every week. Put a shirt on him if they think it’s that big of a deal.

Another tidbit about him is that when CM Punk came up with the idea for The Shield, he wanted it to be Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Kassius Ohno. It was WWE that decided to replace Ohno with Roman Reigns and the rest is history.

Here’s one of his best matches in NXT against William Regal from 2013.