The Most Shocking Retirements In The WWE
The WWE Universe is a full of macho men, dramatic storylines, and one-of-a-kind champions. Over the past five decades, the WWE and other wrestling companies alike have put on the performances of a lifetime with their superstars to thank. These men and women gave all of the blood sweat and tears they had to professional wrestling an we will never forget them. Their careers, and their shocking retirements, will live in history, even if many will never be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
The Ultimate Warrior
Top on our list: The Ultimate Warrior. His first stint in the WWE was from 1981 through 1987 and he jumped in the ring for a second time from 1994 to 1998. The Ultimate Warrior took professional wrestling to a whole new level when he took down Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania, taking his title as champion.
In 1991, The Ultimate Warrior demanded greater benefits and a pay raise in his contract with WWE. The company obliged, but only to keep him temporarily happy and fulfill obligations at the upcoming Summerslam. Once the match ended, WWE suspended Warrior for his grandiose requests and he quit in return. His comeback in 1994 was considered a let-down, so the wrestler eventually stopped making appearances.
The Warrior's Life After Retirement
The Ultimate Warrior was a two-time Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion and a World Heavyweight Champion. He was the first and only professional wrestler to hold both titles at the same time. The wrestler had broken a record and dominated the wrestling world... until he couldn't handle it anymore.
After he retired from the world of wrestling, The Ultimate Warrior went on to become a public speaker. He died in 2014 in Scottsdale, Arizona, only days after he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, appeared on "WrestleMania XXX", and made his last appearance on "Raw."
Rick Rude
"Ravishing Rick" Rude was a long-time wrestler from 1982 to 1994. He had a final match in 1997 where he protested the WWE, quitting permanently. He was always admired for his good looks and suave moves, but he was still a favorite wrestler, nonetheless.
Rick originally left the WWE in 1991, after WCW offered him a much better contract. He had to retire in 1994 because of a back injury, but it didn't stop him from returning to the WWE in 1997. After "D-Generation X" he quit on the WWE for the second time, but they made him continue with a weekly show due to a contract requirement. He was also appearing on the WCW at the same time.
Rick Rude's Life After Retirement
Rick held a lot of titles during his professional wrestling days. He is a four-time World Champion of Heavyweights and a WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion. He also shocked many audiences with his wardrobe choices... or lack thereof. And yes, we do mean he was famous for being scantily clad.
Rick Rude died at the young age 40 from heart failure. The cause was allegedly stated as mixed prescription drugs. He was currently training to make a second comeback in the wrestling world. It's a shame that he died so young, as he wasn't ever able to fully enjoy life as a retiree. Read on to her about a famous female WWE wrestler.
Alundra Blayze And Her Monster Trucks
Alundra Blayze is an Italian born, American raised professional wrestling champ who joined the WWE in 1993. She was voted Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Rookie of the Year and was AWA's World Women's Champion. She is also a professional monster truck driver.
Alundra Blayze got very angry with the WWE for releasing her from her contract while she still held a champion title. The diva wrestler decided to surprise the cast and audience of Monday Night Nitro and sacked her title belt right into the trash. Alundra made quitting quite an exciting act with that exit.
Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle is a masterful professional wrestler and made WWE history not just with his titles, but with performance art. Before he joined WWE, Kurt was a gold-medalist in free wrestling during the 1996 Summer Olympics. His first debut in the wrestling ring was in 1998, one year before he signed a multi-year contract with WWE.
Kurt has had his fair share of injuries; he fractured two of his cervical vertebrae, which led to him taking time off. In 2016 discussion started about when he plans on retiring, after a string of concussions and head trauma. He admits that he's kept his post-concussion seizures a secret, and can't remember any of the WWE Summerslam pay-per-view event from 2000.
Kurt's Life After Retirement
Angle is the WWE's second ever Grand Slam Champion by winning the WWE European, Tag Team, World and Intercontinental Championships. He was also King of the Ring in 2000. Kurt has won 21 championships, 13 of them world championships.
Now, Kurt Angle is what you might call a "freelance" wrestler, and makes appearances for various networks and wrestling organizations. In 2013 he was arrested for a DUI, and checked into rehab later that year. He has recently expressed his desire to act and is exploring different character roles.
Edge
Edge's retirement from the world of wrestling wasn't just a shock, but a heartbreaking experience. He was a beloved character of the WWE since his first title win as the Intercontinental Champion in 1999. He is one of the accomplished professional wrestlers in WWE history.
Edge shockingly announced his retirement from the WWE in 2011. The wrestler had recently defended his World Heavyweight Championship title at Wrestlemania and was at the peak of his career. Edge soon admitted that he had been diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis and was at risk of paralysis or death if he continued wrestling.
Edge's Life After Retirement
Edge won 31 championship titles during his wrestling career, and 11 of them were World Championships, one was a United States Championship, and he also won a record-breaking number of 12 Tag Team Championships. He was a popular headliner for WWE's pay-per-view matches.
Since his retirement from the WWE, Edge has taken an interest in acting. He has made several cameo appearances in major Hollywood productions, but is more focused on the premiere of his new reality show "The Edge and Christian Show." He was inducted into the WWE's Hall of Fame in 2012.
Razor Ramon
Razor Ramon may not have been the WWE crowd favorite, but he was fairly significant for two reasons. The first, being that he helped jump started Hulk Hogan's career, and the second being a participant in the greatest "ladder" match in WWE history. He was an important member of the family at the time.
When Razor Ramon retired from the WWE he broke a key rule of the ring along with his off-stage friend, Kevin Nash. He and Nash had decided to leave for the WCW because of better benefits in their contracts. At the end of their last match, the two wrestlers embraced one another to symbolize their departure and shattered the illusion of their vendetta-fueled storylines.
Ramon's Life After Retirement
Ramon's personal accomplishments are as impressive as the other wrestlers' on our list. He was the consecutive, four-time Intercontinental Champion and a nine-time World Tag Team Champion. He is also a founder of the WCW's New World Order. So many awards! When he quit, he broke character, shocking the audience.
WWE was never angry about Ramon's exit from the organization. In 2014 they inducted Razor into the Hall of Fame and still makes appearances at matches and WWE events. The former wrestler still struggles with legal problems that are a result of his drug and alcohol dependency.
Macho Man Randy Savage
Everyone knows the name Macho Man Randy Savage, even if without being a huge fan of the WWE. Macho Man Randy was a top-earner for the wrestling company and became a living legend by the end of his career. He wasn't the easiest wrestler to work with, as he demanded more coverage during the matches.
Wanting to claim the spotlight for himself, Randy Savage left WWE for a better offer at WCW in 1994. The wrestling community was crushed and had to accept that a WWE icon was moving on to another organization, where he would be working with Hulk Hogan. The WWE refused to induct him into the Hall of Fame after his sudden departure.
Randy's Life After Retirement
Randy held 31 championship titles over the course of his wrestling career, having won the majority of them in the WWE. He acquired six World Championships, the World Heavyweight Championship four times, and was called the greatest champion of all time by the WWE. He was also the King of the Ring in 1987.
Randy Savage died of a heart attack in 2011 at the age of 58. He had gotten married to his high school sweetheart, Terry Funk, one year before his death. In 2015, the WWE decided to induct him into the Hall of Fame to honor his memory and acknowledge is many accomplishments.
Bret Hart
Bret Hart is one of greatest professional wrestlers of all time and proved it time and time again throughout his 23-year career. He made his ring debut in 1978 and took on the stage name Bret "The Hitman" Hart. He was in the WEE from 1985-1987.
Bret asked to get out his contract with WWE in 1997 to move to the WCW, resulting in the infamous "Montreal Screw Job." Hart had to put title against Shawn Michaels in the Survivor Series, and the end of the match was fixed without Hart knowing he would lose. It was his final match before moving companies.
Bret's Life After Retirement
Hart was given one of the WWE's most long-term contracts. He has won 32 championships throughout his career and is the only two-time winner of WWE's King of the Ring. He was also the firs person to win both the WWE and WCW Triple Crown Championship.
Hart said "I do" for the third time in 2010 and has recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He has a niece who is now a superstar in the WWE, female wrestler Natalya. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006 by Stone Cold Steve Austin.
CM Punk
CM Punk is a unique, professional wrestler within the WWE universe. He is a mixed martial artist who is also signed as a UFC fighter. He joined the WWE in 2005 and played character roles that incorporated his beliefs and values into the storyline. He refrains from drinking and drug use and has an anti-establishment approach.
CM Punk announced that he would not be extending or renewing his contract after the pay-per-view event against John Cena. Once he defended Cena for the championship title, he left the WWE, walking out on his contract, and mysteriously reappeared a few weeks later, shocking everyone again. He was eventually fired.
CM's Life After Retirement
During his time as a professional wrestler, CM won many championship titles. He was the World Heavyweight champion three times, the WWE Championships twice, and was the 19th Triple Crown Champion. Punk's most famous move is the self-invented "pipe bomb."
After CM Punk returned to the WWE (presumably to keep John Cena on his toes), he retired again in 2014. He lost his first UFC fight this past September and continues to work on his writing. Yes, he's a man of many talents. He writes occasionally for Marvel Comics and makes the rare, yet relevant television appearance.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin has an even larger legacy that Macho Man Randy Savage, and it's no wonder why. Steve practically resurrected the WWE and put them back in competition with the WCW. He's the ultimate Ringmaster and no one can forget it.
In 2002, Stone Cold Steve Austin made the most shocking decision of the year. Hulk Hogan was the WWE's newest addition to the company and the two were set to match up in a long-awaited performance. The wrestlers couldn't decide on a winner and alternative opponents were chosen for each icon. Austin publicly criticized the WWE's creative direction and declared a rift in their relationship.
Steve Austin's Life After Retirement
Steve Austin has surpassed the popularity that once surrounded Hulk Hogan and is the greatest anti-hero in wrestling history. He is a six-time WWE Champion, 1996 King of the Ring, two-time Intercontinental Champion and four-time Tag Team Champion. Earning all of these titles crown him the 5th Triple Crown Champion in WWE's history.
Steve Austin reluctantly returned to the WWE and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. He's now a popular television personality and in the reality show circuit. He also dips his toes in the film industry once in a while, making cameos with the exception of a starring role in The Condemned.
Brock Lesnar
Hailing from South Dakota, Brock Lesnar had a successful career from the start. He signed with the WWE straight out of college in 2000, and immediately won three WWE championships. He is the youngest wrestler to ever win a championship, at the age of 25. With such a successful start to his WWE career, it was a shock when Lesnar announced he was leaving the WWE to join the NFL in 2004.
Eight years had passed since Brock Lesnar had wrestled for the WWE. During that time he had played for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL, had a stint with New Japan Pro Wrestling, fought in the UFC, and underwent surgery. But then, he returned in 2012, and took down The Undertaker, who was undefeated at the time, proving that Brock was back and still in form.
Bam Bam Bigelow
Weighing in at 390 pounds, Bam Bam Bigelow was "The Beast from the East." He was known for his agility (especially for his size) and of course, his strength. He joined the WWE in 1987 as part of Hulk Hogan's team during the Survivor Series. He eliminated heavyweights King Kong Bundy and One Man Gang, even outlasting the iconic Hulk Hogan.
A year after joining the WWE he had to pull out, due to a knee surgery. He would return in late 1992, winning two fights right away and making the finals of the 1993 King of the Ring. Although Bam Bam Bigelow held promise and defeated top names to reach many finals, he couldn't go that extra mile to win a WWE title. After losing to Goldust at the Survivor Series in 1995, Bigelow announced his retirement.
Bobby Lashley
Lashley is another multi-talented athlete. He was a collegiate amateur wrestler and a sergeant in the U.S. Army before joining the WWE in 2004. He wrestled in Raw, SmackDown! and WrestleManiaevents and was known to take out the top guys as the dark horse.
In 2008, the WWE announced that Lashley would be leaving the WWE after a six month injury that required surgery. Unfortunately for WWE fans, once Lashley was healed he decided to go the MMA route and went on to have a successful career in mixed martial arts.
Chyna
She was the most successful woman wrestler in the WWE in the 90s, having won the WWE Intercontinental Championship twice, and the WWE Women's Championship. She shattered the glass ceiling as the first woman to participate in the Royal Rumble and King of the Ring events and defeated top male wrestlers including Kurt Angle and Triple H.
Chyna was known as the most dominant female competitor in WWE history, which is why her retirement in 2001 came as a shock.
Rey Mysterio
Born in San Diego, Mysterio is Mexican-American and first began wrestling in Mexico when he was 14 years old. He had a long-spanning, successful career in the WWE, from 2002 to 2015, claiming two WWE World Heavyweight Championship titles, and one WWE Championship title.
He was known for his high-flying Lucha Libre style and is still known as one of the greatest high-flyers of all time. After a loss to Bad News Barrett, Mysterio disappeared from the WWE without a send-off.
Hulk Dominates WWE (1985-1988)
Hulk Hogan joined the WWE and quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with. During the late 80s, Vince McMahon began making a huge push promoting the WWE to mainstream media. During that time Hogan was dominating in the wrestling world, and claimed four consecutive WWE World Heavyweight Championships.
Hogan finally lost the title to Andre the Giant in the 1988-89 season. He came back to win another run of world titles, from 1989-1993. After his match with Yokozuna in August 1993, Hogan chose to sit out the rest of the year, and let his contract expire. For the next nine years Hogan pursued other wrestling opportunities and appeared in films. He also underwent knee surgery.
Return to the WWE (2002)
After knee surgery, Hogan felt healthy enough to accept an offer and return to the WWE. Not too long after, in August, Hogan was knocked unconscious in the ring by by Brock Lesnar. After a short hiatus, Hogan returned fighting, as the masked Mr. America (Hulk in disguise). Finally, Hulk pulled his mask off and revealed himself to the crowd.
Just after Hulk revealed himself as Mr. America, his frustrations with the creative team of the WWE came to a head, and he quit again. Vince McMahon turned the tables on the situation and announced to fans that he had in fact, been fired. McMahon terminated Hogan's contract and The Hulkster was officially left the WWE for the second time in his career.
The Multi-Talented Stacy Keibler
Stacy Keibler, who was a WWE Diva, got her start as a dancer and later became nicknamed “The Legs of WCW” for her long and lithe legs. She not only participated in the sport but managed other wrestlers too.
Stacy disappointed fans when she left the ring in 2006, but luckily for them they still get to see her working as a successful actress and model. She even competed in the second season of ABC's Dancing With The Stars.
Maryse Mizanin: House Of Maryse
Former WWE wrestler Maryse Mizanin, who went by her first name professionally, saw a brighter future for herself in the fashion business. She left wrestling in 2012 to launch a clothing and jewelry line called House Of Maryse.
In an interview with Slam! Wresling, she admitted “I knew in my heart that I wanted to leave WWE for a long time. I'm a business woman. I need to build and grow and I didn't have any interest in the WWE anymore.”
Disappointment in the Industry Caused This Star To Retire
Torrie Wilson, a former WCW wrestler, was left with a sour taste in her mouth after her time in the industry. Although she knew that she was selected for the position based on her attractive physical appearance, she grew tired of being judged based solely on her looks.
Even after her retirement from wrestling, she has stated that she won’t even watch WWE matches on TV anymore because of how women are treated backstage there.
Goldberg
When he was with WCW, Goldberg had the longest winning streak in professional wrestling which he earned from 1997 to 1998 (until he was surpassed in 2017). Within that time, he was a World Heavyweight Champion. One of his most popular rivalries is the one he forged with fellow wrestler, Brock Lesnar.
Since leaving wrestling, Goldberg has taken on a lot of other projects. He has become a sports commentator for mixed martial arts, in addition to sponsoring a truck for Monster Jam. He also appeared on The Celebrity Apprentice in 2010 but was eliminated by the sixth episode. He currently is the co-owner of a Muay Thai and amateur boxing facility in Southern California called Extreme Power Gym.
The Rock
Before he became a big Hollywood star, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was a wrestling phenomenon. The first third-generation wrestler in WWE history, The Rock would go on to have 17 championship reigns in the organization, with ten of those reigns as a world champion. The Rock was a major player in WWE's Attitude Era from 1996 to 2004.
At his peak, the Rock was unquestionably the face of WWE, getting so big that Hollywood came calling; His first major role was as the Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns.
The Rock's Claim To Fame
As The Rock skyrocketed into popularity in his own right through the late '90s, he had numerous opportunities to pair up with other big names. He was part of The Corporation, which was a stable of villains that was led by the McMahons.
After previously feuding with Mankind, he later paired up with him as The Rock 'n' Sock Connection after challenging another tag team consisting of The Undertaker and Big Show. It was one of his more interesting storylines within the promotion.
A 'Sabbatical' From Wrestling
The Rock's acting career began taking off in the early 2000s, which he attributes to his wildly successful appearance on an episode of Saturday Night Live in 2000. Because of his acting roles, The Rock's wrestling appearances became less and less frequent.
His last official match occurred in 2013 at WestleMania 29 against John Cena, after which he hinted at retirement. The Rock has never officially retired, though, and still makes appearances on WWE programs.
The Rock Today
Although he isn't technically reitred from wrestling (he still holds a part-time contract with WWE), The Rock might as well be. With the success of his acting career, it is doubtful that The Rock will make a complete return to the ring anytime in the near future.
He has been making sporadic appearances at wrestling events since 2014, but you can mostly see The Rock as the lead in many Hollywood flicks such as Central Intelligence, Baywatch, and Moana.
The Undertaker
Born Mark William Calaway but known in the wrestling world as The Undertaker, this wrestler is known as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time with the best storyline in WWE history.
The Undertaker holds an unprecedented run of 21 straight victories at WrestleMania and has won the World Heavyweight Championship three times. He never let age bother him either, and still looked as intimidating later in his career as he did during the early years.
The Undertaker's Claim To Fame
The Undertaker's storyline for WWE is quite legendary. The Undertaker was a horror character, who used scare tactics to defeat his enemies. As a part of his storyline, it is said that he also holds links to the supernatural.
According to WWE, he is also the half-brother of Kane, with whom he often feuded, but the two often tag teamed as The Brothers of Destruction. Thanks to his on again, off again relationship with Kane, the Undertaker is one of the most recognizable faces in WWE.
The Streak
The Undertaker's infamous streak began in 1991 after he defeated Jimmy Snuka at WrestleMania VII. With the exception of WrestleMania X in 1994 and WrestleMania 2000, The Undertaker would go on to be undefeated at the event for the next 22 years, defeating a total of 18 men including Triple H, Kane, and Shawn Michaels.
His streak, unfortunately, came to an end in 2013, when he was defeated by CM Punk at WrestleMania 29.
The Retirement
In April 2017, The Undertaker would play his final match. Due to his old age and inability to perform as well as he did in his prime, many wrestling fans suspected that a retirement was imminent.
This was confirmed when after the match (which he lost), The Undertaker left his signature gloves, coat, and hat in the middle of the ring before making his exit. This scene is still one of the most haunting images the WWE has ever produced.
Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon hails from the family that owns the entire WWE organization. Wanting to join the ring, McMahon worked his way from the bottom taking jobs in the warehouse, as referee, and other secondary jobs before he eventually entered the ring in the late '90s.
Both Shane and his sister Stephanie are known for trying to take control of their father's company, although Stephanie is more popular with the fans.
Still A Major Player
Although he officially resigned from WWE in January 2010 to become the CEO of entertainment for YOU On Demand, McMahon returned to WWE in 2016. While his sister Stephanie was receiving the "Vincent J. McMahon Legacy of Excellence" Award, Shane interrupted the ceremony to say that he wanted control of Raw.
The sibling rivalry has helped spark some interesting storylines for WWE, even if they can feel tacked on at certain times just to take advantage of the McMahon name.
