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Alberto Del Rio, Zeb Colter Return to WWE During Hell in a Cell 2015 PPV

Posted: Oct 26th 2015 By: Adam Wells - BleacherReport.com

WWE wasted no time pulling out surprises at Hell in a Cell, kicking off Sunday's show with the triumphant return of Zeb Colter. He introduced Alberto Del Rio as John Cena's opponent in the United States Championship open challenge.

The stunning moment was captured by WWE's official Twitter account:

@WWEZeb just shocked the @STAPLESCenter, as @JohnCena's #OpenChallenge opponent is ... @VivaDelRio!! #HIAC

It wasn't enough just to have Del Rio return with Colter, though. WWE Network provided video of the final kick to Cena's face that scored Del Rio the victory:

With one swift kick, the #USTitle changes hands on @WWENetwork as @VivaDelRio defeats @JohnCena at #HIAC! #USOpen [url=http://www.pic.twitter.com/QiANTa1j9n]pic.twitter.com/QiANTa1j9n

Colter hadn't been on WWE television since last December's TLC pay-per-view, though he did provide occasional updates on his recovery from injury on Twitter:

HELLO... @WWE UNIVERSE. HAPPY MLK DAY. MY RECOVERY IS DOING WELL. HOPE TO BE BACK ON THE FIELD SOON. THANKS FOR ALL THE MSGS. @JCLayfield

Del Rio last appeared on WWE television during an episode of Main Event in August 2013. He was released by the company later that month for "unprofessional conduct and an altercation with an employee," per WWE.com.

According to Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com (h/t Marissa Payne of the Washington Post), WWE terminated Del Rio because he allegedly slapped a producer backstage for making a racist comment:

Based on sketchy stories and what wrestlers have been talking about, at catering, somebody asked [Web producer] to clean off his plate. The person joked something along the lines of how that?s Del Rio?s job. Del Rio found out and confronted him. As the story goes, he didn?t apologize and then smiled at him, and Del Rio slapped him.

Whatever happened in the past appears to have been resolved. Del Rio was always a solid performer during his first stint with the company, reaching tremendous heights by winning the 2011 Royal Rumble and being a two-time WWE champion.

Having roster depth?especially with a high-caliber performer like Del Rio?is essential for WWE. Getting him off to a good start with a clean victory over Cena in his return match is even better.