Former AEW Star Shawn Spears/Tye Dillinger Makes SHOCKING WWE Return During Last Night's NXT

Well, we didn't see this coming. 

For weeks, NXT has aired mysterious vignettes teasing a Superstar debut, but we're pretty sure no one expected it to be Shawn Spears. Once known as "The Perfect 10" Tye Dillinger in NXT and WWE, he left the company in 2019 after asking for his release.

As was so often the case with NXT Superstars, Vince McMahon didn't "get" Spears' gimmick and he subsequently slipped down the card. Making his AEW debut, Spears turned heel when he attacked Cody Rhodes with a steel chair, inadvertently busting his head open and earning himself "The Chairman" nickname.

Unfortunately, with Tony Khan signing as many new wrestlers as possible, Spears struggled to stand out from the crowd and found himself facing similarly poor booking. 

His decision to leave AEW didn't come as a shocker, but his return to NXT most definitely has. After the phrase "Truth will ultimately prevail but there is pain bringing it to light" played out in the arena, Spears appeared in the ring and attacked Ridge Holland with one of his patented steel chairs before revealing his identity. 

Fans in the building went nuts and we're intrigued to see where he goes from here. 

According to Fightful Select, Spears' return was kept a secret from talent with Shawn Michaels filling in for him during rehearsals earlier in the day. The decision was also made to have him keep his AEW name rather than return as Tye Dillinger. 

"What a wonderful time it has been," Spears said when he left AEW last December. "Thank you AEW for allowing me to be there from the ground level. It's been a fantastic 5 years of growth and personal development. This is a personal choice and one that is best for me and my family at this time. Thank you to all, staff and talent alike for the memories."

Check out what happened during his NXT return (along with Rhodes' reaction) in the X posts below.