Netflix releases first images of Cobra Kai season five that teases the return of Karate Kid's bad boy

They say 'Cobra Kai never dies'... and that is proving to be true, as Netflix gears up to drop season five in a matter of weeks.

That's right, everyone's favourite martial arts drama is coming back to the small screen and it looks like it is going to pack a mighty punch.

Netflix has dropped a bunch of new pictures to tease the new season and have dropped a major bombshell in the process.

Mike Barnes is back, so it looks like Terry Silver just bought himself a champion.

The nefarious bully of the 1980s martial arts scene from Karate Kid III is returning to terrorise the Cobra Kai gang once again.

Barnes, played by Sean Kanan, has appeared in new photos for the next instalment of the TV series.

Fans have been anticipating the return of bully Barnes since the final moments of Cobra Kai season four, in which Silver took control of the dojo from Sensei John Kreese, played by Martin Kove, by framing him for attempted murder.

Silver then claims he will get 'an old friend' to help him manage Cobra Kai, which many fans had assumed to be Mike Barnes.

And they were right.

So, that's all we know for now about Barnes' return as we only have a few happy snaps to go off.

The images also show off a new-look dojo and it seems that the gym has had quite the glow up.

Sensei Silver is officially the queen of makeovers if you ask us.

The new snaps seem to indicate that Silver has also recruited some new faces for the Valley gym.

But, as well as some new faces, we'll also be reunited with some old friends.

As per the poolside pic shared by Netflix, Miguel Diaz - played by Xolo Maridueña - is apparently back from Mexico after running away to find his biological father.

Robby, played by Tanner Buchanan, doesn't look too thrilled about the return of his old rival. Yikes.

So who knows what will happen next at the Cobra Kai dojo? 

Not us, unfortunately, but thankfully we don't have to wait much longer as Netflix has ditched Cobra Kai's New Year release tradition.

Instead, the new series will be available on the streaming giant from Friday September 9.

So clear your plans for that evening, because it's time to become a karate kid once more.