WWE RAW delivered a surprise this week when Triple H brought back former World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler for a one-night return. It was a big moment, especially with Ziggler stepping straight into a high-stakes match that could have pushed him right back into the spotlight.
But the night didn’t end the way he hoped.
Dolph Ziggler Returns, But Solo Sikoa Stops the Momentum
Ziggler walked into RAW looking sharp and focused. He threw everything he had at Solo Sikoa, landing multiple finishers and creating moments where it looked like the upset win was right there for him. The crowd believed it too.
But in the end, all it took was one Samoan Spike for Sikoa to end the match. Ziggler was pinned clean, missing out on the chance to advance and face John Cena.
This loss puts him in the same spot as Matt Cardona, who also returned recently but couldn’t secure the big win WWE fans were hoping for.
Triple H Reacts to Ziggler’s Return
Despite the loss, Triple H made it clear he respected the moment. He shared a photo of Ziggler after the match, calling attention to the former world champion and praising him for stepping up.
His message was simple:
Another @TheGarden moment made.
Another show stolen. @NicTNemeth pic.twitter.com/Q8ll5AbfHG— Triple H (@TripleH) November 18, 2025
“Another @TheGarden moment made. Another show stolen. @NicTNemeth”
It was a reminder that Ziggler is still one of the most reliable performers when the lights are bright.
Since Ziggler is signed with TNA right now, this appearance seems to be a special one-off moment rather than the start of a long WWE run. Still, it was a meaningful return that gave fans a dose of nostalgia.
Matt Cardona Returned Too: But On SmackDown
Ziggler wasn’t the only surprise this week. Matt Cardona, better known to longtime fans as Zack Ryder, returned on WWE SmackDown. After his match, he delivered an emotional message about how long he’d been waiting for this shot.
His words summed up five years of hard work:
“Five years. It’s been five years since I put on Zack Ryder bootss. Every morning, the first thing I do before I even open my damn eyes, is how, can I get back here? What do I have to do to get back here. I busted my a** for the past five years. Death Match King, Indie God, the Complete, all for this moment. This might be a one time shot. I might get a call tomorrow. It does not matter. Because I’m Zack Ryder. I’m always ready. And I guess you could say this, Woo, Woo, Woo, You know it.”
Both Ryder and Ziggler came back swinging. Neither got the victory, but both got the moment they’ve been chasing since leaving WWE.
Also Read: Brock Lesnar’s Huge WWE RAW Return: WarGames Reasons
