The return of the WWE brand split has yielded the return of two former WWE stars to the company. Rhyno and Curt Hawkins both are re-joining the company's main roster, and will be assigned to the Smackdown brand.
A former Hardcore Champion and United States Champion in WWE, Rhyno's first tenure with the company ended in 2005 but he made a return last year on a part-time basis, making sporadic appearances on both the main WWE roster and NXT. Most recently, Rhyno faced Samoa Joe on the July 20 episode of NXT. Prior to that, he aligned himself with the Dudleys and Tommy Dreamer as part of a faction of "ECW Originals" that feuded against the Wyatt Family in the latter months of 2015.
Rhyno previously has held both the ECW World Title and the NWA World Heavyweight Title, winning the latter during a lengthy tenure in TNA. Outside of the ring, he is campaigning for a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives, and received an endorsement earlier this month from The Detroit News.
Hawkins makes his return to WWE after being released in the summer of 2014. Since then, he has competed under his real name, Brian Myers, and won the TNA Tag Titles last year with Trevor Lee. Myers also has appeared for Global Force Wrestling, PWG and Beyond Wrestling, among other promotions.
Hawkins spent most of his time on WWE's main roster as an undercard performer, reaching his highest level of prominence in 2007 and 2008 as part of the "La Familia" stable led by Edge and Vickie Guerrero. During that time he teamed with Zack Ryder to win the WWE Tag Titles.
The news was first reported by PWInsider.com.
It has also been rumored that Jinder Mahal may also be returning to the WWE.
By John Moorehouse
