While some people have that decision forced due to injuries, others are able to continue wrestling for as long as they like, with some talents choosing to continue way past their prime, and others ending things while they're still on top. This is Lita's first championship victory in more than 16 years. Tucker was the long-term tag partner of Otis in Heavy Machinery, but got lost in the shuffle after the team broke up. WWE has filed a series of trademarks for the names of wrestlers, some of which no longer work for the company. She may just retire out of boredom. In July 2022, Mysterio celebrated his 20th year with the company on a special episode of WWE Raw. That being said, age is catching up with the former WWE Champion, and his days in the ring are running out. One more wrestler. Former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Vince McMahon left the company with a fortune of $3.4 billion after he retired last week amid a sexual harassment scandal that involved millions of dollars . Stone Cold Steve Austin vs The Rock. He also loves both Marvel and DC movies, and wishes every superhero fan could just get along. While most of the wrestlers WWE has released in 2021 earned some measure of surprise and disappointment from fans, the reaction of many to Kona Reeves' release was shock that he had still been employed. In that time, Michael has written over 2000 articles for the site, first working solely as a news writer, then later as a senior writer and associate news editor. Thanks for reading! At some point, the physical issues begin to take their toll and . In the clip, the 46-year-old performer lip-synced to a soundbite . Speaking on his Cafe de Rene podcast, the former World Tag Team Champion gave a less-than-flattering assessment of the star, branding him a "two-faced motherf*cker.". Here, we have five current WWE Superstars who could retire . During a press conference to celebrate his arrival at the new wrestling promotion Kyushu Pro Wrestling, Tajiri revealed that his run with the company will be his last: He decisively defeated Bret Hart in one match, which put him on the lists of the top wrestlers. Can be found on Twitter @MC_Wilkinson1. Enjoy the article folks, lets get started! So HHH's retirement announcement could come at any time. Serving Jennifer Lopez At A Restaurant Seems Like More Of A Curse Than Blessing, The Real Reason For Brendan Fraser's Weight Gain, Despite The Age Gap, Joel Madden And Hilary Duff Don't Have Any Regrets About Their Relationship, ESPN Quickly Cut To A Commercial When David Letterman Was Revealing An Interaction With Roger Goodell, Melissa Rauch Got Emotional During The Night Court Pilot When She Was Surprised By Her Former Big Bang Theory Colleagues On-Set, How Megan Fox Warned Everyone About Ellen DeGeneres 10 Years Ago On Her Own Show. Easily the most surprising WWE firing of 2021 is that of Braun Strowman, "The Monster Among Men," and main event-level star. Speaking of WWE Hall Of Famers who havent retired, Goldberg is nearing the end of his in-ring career. It is believed that Edge recently signed a deal with WWE, one thatll have him step back into the squared circle. Consequently, this happens every year to make room for new signings. What's streaming this week on Peacock and WWE Network WWE NEWS. She has been sidelined with injuries over the past two years and, when healthy, WWE really hasn't had anything for her to do. Arguably the biggest WWE release of 2021 so far is Bray Wyatt, aka The Fiend. Ethan Miller. WWE investigated and said they found no evidence to support these accusations, but Dream has still been mostly off TV or out of major storylines since. His talent is being wasted in WWE and it's hard not to imagine the matches he would have against high-flying AEW talent. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Those watching at the time will . Well have to wait and see. There's not much more he needs to prove in the ring, but would probably want to stick around long enough to have one tag team match with his son. The Demon King, Finn Balor could be the perfect option, given some of the more supernatural elements of his gimmick. However, he was offered an even bigger contract to wrestle in Japan, where he went before retiring for good, at the age of thirty four. When did Scott Hall retire? Prior to signing with WWE in 2016, James was on the verge of retiring from the wrestling business. Hardy had a very rough introduction with AEW where he suffered some serious injury problems during his storyline with Sammy Guevara. It's doubtful Mickie James will be without a home for long following her recent WWE release, as she's one of the most highly regarded female performers in modern wrestling history. 10 WWE Wrestlers Who Will Retire In 202. Without a doubt Natalya has had an extraordinary career, worthy of her lineage, although perhaps she deserved much more in WWE in terms of titles and prominence. On the flip side, well also speculate which names might be inclined to return for one more match. Other lower card names to recently get the WWE ax include Steve Cutler, Wesley Blake, Kavita Devi, Jessamyn Duke, Marina Shafir, Vanessa Borne, Skyler Story, Ezra Judge, Alexander Wolfe, Santana Garrett, Jake Atlas, Zechariah Smith, Giant Zanjeer, Stephen Smith, Desmond Troy, Arturo Ruas, Curt Stallion, and Tino Sabbatelli, who was actually released and hired back previously. Whilst he has never been a top in-ring performer, and it is impressive he can still wrestle at the age of 59, Billy clearly can't reach the standard expected in AEW anymore. Roberth Prez is a journalist extremely passionate about sports and its stats. She would join him, the aforementioned Andrade, Paul Wight, Mark Henry and Christian Cage as AEW stars who used to be in WWE. VINCE MCMAHON RETIRES. The latest movie news, trailers, reviews, and more. Jan. 29, 2020, 8:49 AM PST. February 17, 2023. BY Thomas Hall - ON February 22, 2023 IN News, Other. RELATED: Daniel Bryan vs CM Punk: 10 Things Fans Missed About Their Rivalry. Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa def. Brock Lesnar joins the MVP Lounge and accepts the challenge from Omos . Alternatively, he could make a move into WWE creative or head out to the indies and work with his brother, Cody Rhodes. WWE Raw results in 90 seconds: Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa (OK, just Jimmy) address the supposed cracks in the Bloodline, which the Street Profits would love to exploit. Many may agree that Shelton Benjamin might retire in 2023. Ruby Riott was another favorite of both the WWE locker room and hardcore wrestling fans, coming to WWE after a great run on the independent scene as Heidi Lovelace. When he did go, it was abrupt and many people didnt see it coming. Taker has carried the torch in the WWE for over 2 decades, and his retirement should present him with the opportunity to pass that torch onto a younger superstar. AJ Styles might be one of the oldest wrestlers on the WWE roster, but there is no denying he is still working at the highest level . The professional wrestling free agent scene is about to heat up. In Wrekkin' fashion, WhatCulture is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. And as expected, Batista lost the bout to Triple H . If it were possible, Chad Gable should have left WWE immediately after the trademark for Shorty G was filed. He recently stated that something big is coming, with some fans thinking that it might be a return to the ring. Wwe Wrestlers Who Are Retiring Soon!Second Channel- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjtb5gc8ExgWebsite -http://wrestleguru.comMobile App-https://goo.gl/yTUCJ. Will it finally be the year he rides off into the sunset? AJ Styles instantly became one of the biggest stars in the business when he made his WWE debut back in 2016. The Beast doesn't need the money and considering how much of a private person he is, the fame and attention don't draw him in either. This could lead to Samoa Joe making the decision to retire in 2022, but hopefully this is not the case and the Samoan Submission Machine will recover and come back stronger. The latest movie news, trailers, reviews, and more. Elektra Lopez. But during WWE's Monday Night Raw on February 8, 2016, Bryan addressed the audience, tearfully admitting, "I've been wrestling since I was 18 years old.And within the first five months of my wrestling career, I'd already had three . We havent heard anything official yet. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. A FL native, Michael is passionate about pop culture, and earned an AS degree in film production in 2012. Other wrestlers seemed to have great poten. Lars Sullivan is another man many feel WWE should've released long ago, as it was previously discovered he had a history of posting racist, sexist, and homophobic remarks online prior to his WWE hiring. There are rumors that he may return to the ring, but it still seems heavily unlikely. Buddy Murphy, later shortened to just Murphy, had a solid run on the main roster, dominating the cruiserweight division for a while, and later having a stint as the muscle for "The Monday Night Messiah" Seth Rollins. Since her injury, WWE is grooming James in a non-wrestling role, working commentary for the Main Event pre-show. There is no organised pension type of scheme. Samoa Joe, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Mickie James, Chelsea Green, Tucker, Kalisto, Bo Dallas, Mojo . Some might consider it invalid for Lance Storm to be on this list, since he is technically only semi-retired. It seems strange to think given she can still put on decent matches, but Natalya's in-ring career is coming to an end. The sports entertainment empire let go another 18 Superstars to kick off the month, adding to an already dismal year that has seen more than 70 wrestlers in total released from the company, including major cuts like "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman. He kicked off his career as an Octagon announcer at UFC 8 in 1996. The last time Hart did return to the ring, he lost decisively, but it could have just been a stroke of bad luck. Related: Why WWE Should Keep WrestleMania A Two-Night Event Permanently. Theres something so wrong about Angles last match being against Baron Corbin, which also leads fans to believe that hell return at some point for a farewell match. Dain was most recently part of a tag team with Drake Maverick that seemed to be getting over with the crowd, but his release abruptly kiboshed that storyline. He also discussed the possibility of getting in there one more time alongside The Undertaker, given how poorly their final match together was received in Saudi Arabia. The brand's two World Champions have been former WWE wrestlers and some of its top draws - and employees - have worked for WWE in the past. I like wrestling a lot and writing about it is fun. She can still go in the ring and in fact, weve seen her challenge multiple current roster members via social media in the past. One of the WWE 's most popular and successful in-ring performers, Triple H, has . The chances of him returning to any wrestling organization appear to be very, very slim. Despite retiring in 2020, he appeared in the Monday Night Raw 30th Anniversary special. Although he has expressed a desire not to retire anytime soon, his career has been on a decline for a long time. I also think Brock retired too young. Brock Lesnar is a very smart businessman and someone who knows when enough is enough. While it's always hard to say goodbye in the wrestling world, it's possible the following WWE wrestlers could retire in 2022. The 31 year old has the physique and in-ring abilities to give the AEW women's division a significant boost. 7 Dean Malenko. While Joe had been out of the ring with a reported head injury since February 2020, he'd transitioned successfully into a color commentary role on WWE Raw. Some wrestlers will opt to end their careers while they are still at their best, but others will undoubtedly push it past that point. Whether Triple H has a retirement match or not, he will surely retire in 2022. Orton was written off with a heinous post-match assault by The Bloodline after The Usos . It needs to continue developing its own talent, but a few more ex-WWE stars wouldn't hurt its case in becoming the premier professional wrestling promotion. She's a believable badass with capable in-ring skills. Since then, he has been a multi-time world champion and also a Grand Slam Champion in WWE. While the promotion struggled to a degree out of the gate, it has since picked up steam and appears poised to take a substantial lead over NXT in the Wednesday Night Wars. A respected veteran of the mat wars, Mercedes Martinez competed in the Mae Young Classic tournament, before finally landing a full-time gig in NXT. Tamina will turn 44 in January, so sooner rather than later she will be retiring from wrestling. Another WWE retirement that could happen in 2022 is that of Shane McMahon. Randy Orton is a beloved professional wrestler and he's nowhere near the point of having to retire. In the right situation, he could be at least a mid-card talent in the Intercontinental Title picture, but he hasn't been able to win over Vince McMahon. Street Profits by pinfall, with a post-match beating prevented by Kevin Owens. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. Goldberg, who will be featured in the latest "Biography: WWE Legends" episode on Sunday (8 p.m., A&E), revealed before facing Reigns that his shoulder was injured and would likely need surgery . His wife Stephanie - WWE chief brand officer and former wrestling valet - owns about 2.5 per cent of the WWE. Your login session has expired. Because of his role in the company and the fact that he has genuine star power, Triple H will likely hang on too long before retiring. Known for being one of the most creative performers in the business, one assumes Wyatt will land on his feet, likely in AEW. In-ring competition has never been a strong suit of Goldberg's, as he is not one of the best wrestlers of all time. One of the greatest legends in wrestling history, the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair seemed like a WWE lifer, especially since his daughter Charlotte is one of WWE's top female stars, and he's very close friends with top executive Triple H. However, according to reports, a difference of opinion concerning how Flair should be used as an on-air character, including a tasteless pregnancy storyline last year with the much younger Lacey Evans, led Flair to ask for his release, and WWE to grant it. Throughout the years, it's been a privilege to help WWE bring you joy, inspire you, thrill you, surprise you, and always entertain you. Also wwe has not official retirement age. Fans have seen him become a Tag Team Champion alongside Cedric Alexander as members of The Hurt Business. Like his usual tag team partner Tyler Breeze, Fandango (aka Johnny Curtis) was another long-tenured WWE performer that managed to excel in whatever role he was given, despite spending most of his time in the mid-card. Rather than building him as the next Kurt Angle, he was given a garbage gimmick. Black's wife Thea Trinidad (known onscreen as Zelina Vega) was also fired by WWE in late 2020, although she recently returned. The difficult thing about being a pro wrestler for the WWE, is that it's the entertainment business. 27. Even though his career was just warming up, he still retired in his late thirties. Whether it be through one . During her return at the Royal Rumble, McCool looked like a natural in the ring hardly missing a step. Elektra Lopez was part of Legado del Fantasma, but Santos Escobar, Cruz del Toro and Joaquin Wilde got the call-up to the main roster, and she stayed on NXT because she wasn't . Others are booked to have a final match they aren't especially interested in for story purposes (sorry, Kurt). This may be obvious given both Nikki and Brie are pregnant right now, but they wouldn't be the first mothers to compete in the WWE. That could come as early as this year. Related: WWE SummerSlam 2021: Every Major Rumor Explained. However, one has to retire early to avoid the risk of excessive physical exhaustion and injuries. 1 March, 2023 12:00 PM. Reports currently claim that the return can take shape as early as the Royal Rumble, with Edge entering as a surprise entrant. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Rene Dupree had everything going for him that WWE looked for in a wrestler. Yet, once the Sanity stable was pointlessly called up to the main roster and then separated, nothing was done with Dain, leading him to spend time on NXT UK then return to stateside NXT. Ultimately, the fans saw more in certain wrestlers than WWE, or in anyone in the professional wrestling world saw. He did admit in an interview that if WWE needed him, hed be ready to go without hesitation. Stars like AJ Lee, Paige, and Tyson Kidd retired at a younger age while stars like The Undertaker and Triple H retired after turning 50. She is reportedly set to make a return to the wrestling ring soon. Magnum TA was a star in the NWA-WCW era of the early 1980s. Steve Austin and The Rock had their third and final match from their historic WrestleMania trilogy at WrestleMania 19. In an odd move, Joe even did commentary for WrestleMania 37 on April 10 and 11, before being fired a few days later. Thankfully, he doesn't plan to leave the business and wants to help with creativity after retirement. This makes it clear that when John Cena retires from wrestling, it will be one of the saddest moments in the history of sports entertainment. Billie Kay and Peyton Royce were clearly well-liked within the WWE locker room, as their firings drew saddened responses from many still employed by the company. Joe may be frustrated, as he can still put on good shows, but his body just doesnt let him. But with age slowly getting the better of him, and after going through a double-knee surgery earlier this year, the veteran might be forced to bring an end to his in-ring career pretty soon. Below are 10 WWE retirements that could happen in 2022. Pro wrestling doesn't have an age limit. Many fans were upset to see Low Ki leave the WWE, but on financial terms, it was the right move. It would be wise if he called it a day soon in order to protect what's left of his legacy, but Goldberg is likely to hang on for a little too long. Some wrestlers need to retire suddenly due to injuries. Retirement is something that has been discussed a lot as of late in relation to Chris Jericho, which is due to the storyline he put together with MJF. 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