After being out of action since October, Harper returned to the ring at Saturday night’s WWE Raw live event in Rochester, New York. Harper pinned Mojo Rawley in his first match.
Harper has not appeared on television since August. On the August 21 episode of SmackDown LIVE, The New Day defeated Harper and Rowan in a No Disqualification Match to win the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. WWE announced the next day that Rowan had suffered a torn right bicep, sidelining him indefinitely. Rowan reportedly suffered the injury three days earlier at SummerSlam during a match against The New Day.
With Rowan out of action, Harper continued wrestling at live events, but as a singles competitor. He lost a number of matches to Karl Anderson and R-Truth, with his final bout taking place on October 1. Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter in November that Harper underwent surgery on his left wrist.
Rowan returned to action in January at the Royal Rumble, interfering on behalf of Daniel Bryan to help him retain the WWE Championship against AJ Styles. This also marked the beginning of his alliance with Bryan.
Harper teased his appearance at Saturday night’s show, writing on Twitter, “Is anything going on in Rochester, NY tonight?”
Is anything going on in Rochester, NY tonight?
— . (@LukeHarperWWE) March 9, 2019
ROCHESTER’S OWN! @LukeHarperWWE takes on @MojoRawleyWWE right now! #WWERochester pic.twitter.com/D1OsavVrfb
— #WWEFastlane TONIGHT (@SammyMaggio) March 10, 2019
Rochesters own WWE Luke Harper. I really am here with my son. Great father son event (I think). Go Harper pic.twitter.com/QuKvxOMdcy
— richard tantalo (@ChiefTantalo) March 10, 2019
.@LukeHarperWWE IS BACK. #WWERochester pic.twitter.com/LoNiswsys7
— Joey Shoot Trash (@JoeyShoots) March 10, 2019
Welcome home @LukeHarperWWE great time #WWELive @CityRochesterNY pic.twitter.com/HshhSQeqDn
— Justin Hoven (@HovenJ1016) March 10, 2019
I'll send you the video I have of his entrance, too! pic.twitter.com/cbFndVJ8jU
— Mrs. Nourse (@MrsNourse5) March 10, 2019
#WWERochester @LukeHarperWWE pic.twitter.com/ybCpMsGQXf
— JHeath (@jheath2275) March 10, 2019
Nothing like hometown pops @LukeHarperWWE . Thank you, thank you, thank you. pic.twitter.com/5z6xOGwdz4
— Joshisnotajabroni (@bigpoppapuns) March 10, 2019
#WWEROCHESTERNY Welcome Home @LukeHarperWWE We love you #RoadToWrestlemaniaTour pic.twitter.com/FCeTu8oI9m
— (THE SHOTTGUNN) B.I.G $OL (@BIGSOL585RocNY) March 10, 2019
Follow up. No service in the Suite here.
But @LukeHarperWWE was indeed here and got without question, the biggest ovation of the night thus far. #WWERochester pic.twitter.com/YEFopWqo2r
— ! (@thejcmoney) March 10, 2019
Next up @LukeHarperWWE in the ring sporting #WebsterSchroederWarriorsWrestling T-shirt to the ring! HUGE POP for the hometown hero! pic.twitter.com/EXy8Rba2sE
— Talking Turnbuckles (@TalkTurnbuckles) March 10, 2019
It’s Saturday… you know what they means ? @LukeHarperWWE is back home #WWERochester pic.twitter.com/HzAR8ZGVuK
— RJ Kruszynski (@KruszynskiRj) March 10, 2019
Esw own @LukeHarperWWE in #WWERochester @ESWWrestling ! pic.twitter.com/K17Jte92nl
— ⭐️Diana⭐️ (@hockeyydivaa71) March 10, 2019
Hometown boy @LukeHarperWWE #wwerochester pic.twitter.com/phYNKBIrOw
— Mike Larry (@MNLarry3) March 10, 2019
That hometown pop for @LukeHarperWWE! Glad to see you! pic.twitter.com/tIYuUu2nAF
— Tim Young (@wTimYoung) March 10, 2019
