Emma – AKA Tenille Dashwood – returned on SmackDown (Picture: WWE)
Emma made a surprise return to WWE on SmackDown as she answered an open challenge made by Ronda Rousey.
The SmackDown Women’s Champion was willing to face anyone on Friday night as she looks to build momentum and find fresh challengers, which she did as the woman known as Tenille Dashwood in IMPACT Wrestling made an appearance.
It was the first time WWE fans have seen Emma – who was a significant part of the women’s revolution alongside Paige, now working for AEW as Saraya, in NXT – in five years.
As Michael Cole noted on commentary, she returned four years and 364 days after her release, and she looked strong by really taking the fight to Rousey.
In the end, the Baddest Woman On The Planet got the job done after a rake to the eyes to steal the win, but Emma came out of this with a lot of praise from fans.
Following her comeback, Emma simply tweeted a red heart emoji and added: ‘Home’.
‘Welcome back! You have been missed,’ tweeted one viewer, and another wrote: ‘Congratulations! You deserve to be back in WWE where you were as instrumental as anyone in the evolution of Women’s wrestling’.
Meanwhile, a third fan added: ‘Welcome I’m SO HAPPY to have u back (sic)’
And a fourth person said: ‘You kicked some serious ass tonight !! I loved it!!!! You’re awesome!!!! (sic)’
Emma confirmed her IMPACT exit over summer, and also revealed she is dating SmackDown star Madcap Moss, who lost to Karrion Kross on Friday’s episode.
Meanwhile, she previously reflected on her WWE release back in 2017 and told Daily DDT: ‘I had an amazing career there and I’m very grateful for it. People will ask, “Do you wish you could go back?” or “Do you have any hard feelings?”
‘And I don’t. What I was doing was perfect for my life then and what I’m doing is perfect for my life now. That influenced where I am now and I’m grateful for the journey.’
WWE SmackDown airs Friday nights at 1am on BT Sport 1.
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After a great spell in IMPACT Wrestling as Tenille Dashwood, Emma is back!