5 female WWE legends who may return in 2025

Several male WWE legends, including Goldberg, Bret Hart, and The Rock, have returned to the Stamford-based company this year. While The Final Boss made his in-ring comeback at WrestleMania 40 after nearly eight years of absence, Da Man has announced that he will have his retirement match in 2025.

While more male legends are expected to appear on WWE television next year, some female ones could also make their comeback to the promotion in 2025 after a long absence. A two-time Women's Champion has recently expressed her willingness to participate in the upcoming Women's Royal Rumble a decade after her retirement. Another legend did not rule out returning to WWE for another match over a year following her last fight.

Check out five female WWE legends who may return in 2025 below:

#5. Layla

After winning the 2006 Diva Search competition, Layla signed with WWE. The 47-year-old had a nine-year run in the Stamford-based company, during which she held the Women's Championship and the Divas Title.

However, the former one-half of LayCool left the promotion and retired from professional wrestling in 2015. In her last match, she lost to Paige at a live event in July of that year. In a recent interview with the Heated Shenanigans Podcast, the former Women's Champion disclosed that she would be open to returning in 2025 to participate in the Women's Royal Rumble:

"Honestly, prior, I think people were well aware that I was absolutely done, I'm retired, that was great, and I closed that part of my life away. But now, I'm open to it. So if there is an invitation, I will definitely take that and I would love to go back. Even if it is one time, I would love to do it. So I am open to that now. I definitely am," she said.

In the same interview, Layla revealed that she was invited to participate in the Women's Royal Rumble in 2021, but things did not work out.

#4. Kaitlyn

A few months after signing a developmental contract with WWE, Kaitlyn won the third season of NXT in November 2010. Over the next four years, the 38-year-old competed on the main roster, where she held the Divas Championship for 152 days.

Although Kaitlyn left the company in 2014 and retired, she made a few appearances on the independent circuit in the following few years. She also returned briefly to WWE in 2018 to participate in the Mae Young Classic tournament. Nevertheless, Michin (FKA Mia Yim) eliminated her in the second round. The former Divas Champion's last appearance in the promotion came in 2019 when she made a one-off return on the RAW Reunion episode.

In a recent interview with The A2theK Wrestling Show, Kaitlyn did not close the door on a potential return next year for the Royal Rumble:

"I have a whole different life now but WWE is such a big part of who I am. So, I'm always down for stuff that makes sense. I'm always down that's really cool. And it just hasn't really unfolded that way yet. But yeah, I'm always open to opportunity for something to cross over or to make sense again. Always open for that," she said.

The former Divas Champion recently claimed she was in the best shape of her life. Hence, her return to the WWE ring in 2025 would certainly be interesting.

#3. Mickie James

Mickie James is one of the most accomplished female WWE Superstars in the Stamford-based company's history. The six-time Women's Champion had two stints in the promotion, with the second ending in 2021.

Despite joining TNA Wrestling following her departure, James returned in 2022 to participate in the Women's Royal Rumble. While her husband, Nick Aldis, is currently the SmackDown General Manager, the 45-year-old was seen in attendance among other legends at Bad Blood last October.

In a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, Aldis teased the return of his wife when asked about the possibility of it happening:

"No comment," Aldis said, laughing. "Look, I can't say too much. ... It was very much a sort of like, 'Hey, we'd love to see you again. We'd love to do more.'" [H/T: Wrestling Inc.]

With her husband in WWE, James could definitely be one of the legends returning to the company in 2025.

#2. WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus

Despite retiring in 2006, Trish Stratus has returned several times over the past 18 years. In 2023, she returned for a brief full-time run as she entered a heated feud with Becky Lynch. The seven-time Women's Champion lost to The Man in a historic Steel Cage Match at Payback in September last year.

Stratus' last appearance in WWE came last July in her hometown of Toronto. She introduced John Cena, who went on to announce his retirement plans. In a recent interview with TV Insider, the Hall of Famer did not rule out returning to the wrestling ring in 2025:

"Possibly. I imagine at some point. I don’t know what I’ll be doing in a wrestling ring, but I can’t imagine I won’t be in a wrestling ring. It is my 25th anniversary after all. So, yeah," she said. [H/T: TV Insider]

In the same interview, Stratus expressed her desire to work with Nia Jax. It would be interesting to see if that happens in 2025.

#1. Stephanie McMahon

For over two decades, Stephanie McMahon worked in WWE. In addition to being an on-screen talent, The Billion Dollar Princess held several positions backstage. Although she became the Chairwoman and Co-CEO in 2022, she resigned in January 2023 following her father Vince McMahon's return.

While her father is no longer with the promotion, Stephanie's husband, Triple H, is the Chief Content Officer. Over the past several months, the former Women's Champion made multiple appearances in WWE. She also kicked off Night Two of WrestleMania 40 earlier this year.

Although The Game clarified that his wife is not currently part of the company, many believe she could return in 2025. WWE analyst Peter Rosenberg suggested on his Cheap Heat podcast that Stephanie could make her comeback as an on-screen authority figure:

"I don't know if she has any interest in ever doing this again. Part of me feels like she's not gonna do it. I don't know. I don't know. I think it's Triple H before it's Stephanie but she has been showing up to stuff more. You do see Stephanie around more. So, you know, certainly it could happen," he said.

A few signs recently indicated the 48-year-old may have secretly returned to the company. It would be interesting to see if that would officially happen in the new year.

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