Elijah, Timothy Thatcher Return to WWE After Long Absences

Former WWE star Elijah, previously known as Elias, made a surprise return to WWE's NXT under his new ring name during a battle royal to determine the next challenger for the NXT Championship. Elijah, who joined TNA Wrestling earlier this year, was able to participate in the match due to the partnership between WWE and TNA, and received a positive reaction from fans despite being eliminated before the final round. Timothy Thatcher, another former WWE talent, also returned to NXT in the same battle royal after over three years away, though he was likewise eliminated and will not be challenging for the title. Both returns highlight WWE's current strategy of reintroducing familiar faces, leveraging partnerships with other promotions, and generating fan excitement with surprise appearances.