Then again, pro wrestling is littered with examples of how time truly does heal all wounds. And the 37-year-old Miltonian — who after being released in 2002 filed a $7-million lawsuit against the ‘sports entertainment’ giant, claiming among other things that a career-ending injury was the result of being forced to perform in the rain with an affiliate promotion in Puerto Rico — can certainly be added to that list.

While he’s had no official fence mending with the WWE, Hans — better known by his in-ring moniker of Tiger Ali Singh — admits his time with Vince McMahon’s company provided a great learning experience.

“It’s easy to dwell on the negatives when you’re young. When it (split with WWE) first happened it was hard to see all the positives, but things change,” said the eldest son of Asian icon Tiger Jeet Singh, who signed with the WWE (then WWF) in 1997, just prior to the ‘Attitude Era.’ “I believe there’s a destiny to everything and as hard as it is to imagine, I wouldn’t change anything. I learned a lot from guys like Pat Patterson and Tim Pritchard about how to market myself. I was lacking some of that before.”

Hans is hoping to bring some of that showmanship to the Japanese audience starting tomorrow, when he begins his long-awaited comeback — doing so with Hustle Entertainment, whose roster includes fellow ex-WWE grappler Tajiri. His tour will include two tag matches with Tiger Sr. and a probable clash with six-foot-nine-inch, 500-plus-pound retired sumo great Akebono.

At a fairly sizable six-foot-five-inch, 295 pounds himself, the former WWE villain — who once humiliated American fans for money in his Asian royalty persona (similar to Ted DiBiase) — is far more suited to Japan’s largely ground-and-pound style than that of North America’s high flyers.

He’s incorporated a number of shoot-style moves into his arsenal, as well as an Olympic roll finisher.

Working with renowned trainer Ron Hutchinson for the past several months, Hans has gotten back to his mixed martial arts (MMA) roots leading up to this week’s big return.

Having schooled many top-name wrestlers like Edge and Christian Cage, Hutchinson admits he does worry that the three concussions his Milton protégé suffered within a nine-month period — just prior to his extended exile — could be a problem.

But speaking to Hans’ overall readiness to return, he’s largely optimistic.

“There’s always an issue about ring rust, but Mick’s done a phenomenal job preparing himself and he’s just so determined,” said Hutchinson, who first trained Hans in the early ‘80s and has been working with him three or four days a week for much of this year. “I’d probably be hesitant about taking on a student in their late ‘30s, but Mick’s really always been around the business through his father and knows what it’s all about.”

Now free of the chronic headaches that plagued him since the concussions, Hans says he’s in the best shape of his life — even with a torn ligament in September causing a serious disruption to his training — and feels more excited about competing than he did in his twenties.

“Maybe it was the whole arrogance with youth thing, but I was never really nervous before,” said the husband and father of three, who since his WWE departure focused on his family’s real estate and other business endeavours. “My dad and I both think that nervousness is a good thing. I’m probably going to be able to appreciate it (wrestling) more now.”

The father and son duo has a few other things lined up for the near future, including a private tournament in the Middle East next month and what they hope will be the first annual goodwill tour this spring in India — where down the road they’re looking to start up a wrestling/MMA promotion.

But for right now Tiger Jr. is focused solely on winning over the Japanese audience, much like his saber-wielding madman father has for close to 40 years now.

“I’m really looking forward to having that competitive kinship with my dad again and just enjoying this comeback, whether it’s for a year, two or 10. I’ve definitely had a feeling of unfinished business since leaving the WWE. I didn’t want that to be the way I ended wrestling, in a tainted or cheap way.”