5 WWE Superstars who lost their jobs in a retirement match
The retirement match is one of the most famous stipulations in WWE. It lets an outgoing legend put over a rising star and secure the future of the promotion. A retirement match can be a graceful swansong for a performer, but wrestlers are notorious for not abiding by the stipulation and returning to the ring.
After an emotional farewell match with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24, Ric Flair came out of retirement to work for Impact Wrestling. Michaels himself retired after losing to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26, but he accepted a generous offer to join forces with Triple H to face The Brothers of Destruction at Crown Jewel 2018.
With that being said, here are five WWE Superstars who lost their jobs in a retirement match:
#5 Mick Foley vs Triple H (WWE No Way Out 2000)
While Mick Foley is known for his violent matches and excellent character work, an integral part of his legacy is helping to establish stars such as Triple H, The Rock, Randy Orton and Edge.
Triple H won the WWE Championship for the first time in 1999 and was presented as one of the company's top heels. However, the audience didn't take to him for a long time despite WWE's best efforts. Even after the elaborate angle where The Game married Stephanie McMahon and defeated Vince McMahon in a violent no-holds-barred match at Armageddon 1999, something just wasn't clicking.
It was only after his feud with Mick Foley that Triple H became a legitimate box-office attraction. Foley took on his legendary "Cactus Jack" persona and challenged Triple H for the WWE Championship in a street fight at Royal Rumble 2000. The two stars pushed each other to the limit and put on a match that received universal acclaim.
The feud came to an end after Foley lost a rematch at No Way Out 2000 with his career on the line. Although the Hardcore Legend eventually returned to in-ring competition, this retirement match massively benefited WWE as it elevated Triple H to a new level.
#4 Kevin Nash vs Hulk Hogan (WCW Road Wild 1999)
While WWE was reaching new heights of popularity in 1999, WCW was producing some underwhelming television. The nWo's run as the hottest act in the industry had fizzled out, and Goldberg's appeal had diminished following his loss at Starrcade 1998.
Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash, two cornerstones of the nWo, wrestled each other for the first time since the Fingerpoke of Doom in a retirement match at Road Wild 1999. Hogan, performing in his signature red and yellow, sent Nash packing after a classic comeback.
In typical WCW fashion, Nash returned after a few weeks as a member of the new nWo.
#3 Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker (WWE WrestleMania 26)
At WrestleMania 25, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker stole the show with one of the greatest matches in WWE history. Michaels succumbed to defeat and was determined to end The Streak the following year. He was ultimately forced to put his career on the line to earn another crack at The Deadman.
The Undertaker emerged victorious yet again after an epic tussle, sending Michaels into retirement. The Heartbreak Kid tried to stay true to his word and even turned down offers to wrestle the likes of AJ Styles and Bryan Danielson. However, he was eventually enticed to return to the ring and partner Triple H in a tag-team match against The Brothers of Destruction.
#2 "Macho King" Randy Savage vs The Ultimate Warrior (WWE WrestleMania 7)
"Macho King" Randy Savage faced The Ultimate Warrior in a retirement match at WWE WrestleMania 7. The bout was set to take place after Savage and Queen Sherri cost Warrior the WWE Championship in retribution for not receiving a shot at the title.
Warrior eventually prevailed after taking five elbow drops, sending Savage into retirement. Sherri assaulted the Macho King after the match but she was thwarted by Miss Elizabeth, who was watching from the stands. The reunion between Savage and Elizabeth remains one of the most touching moments in WrestleMania history.
After a brief stint as a commentator, Savage returned to in-ring competition. He went on to win the WWE Championship from Ric Flair at WrestleMania 8 before eventually signing with WCW in December 1994.
#1 Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels (WWE WrestleMania 24)
Ric Flair's final WWE match against Shawn Michaels brought tears to the eyes of even the most hardened wrestling fans. Several months earlier, Vince McMahon had declared that Flair's next loss would result in a forced retirement. The Nature Boy defied the odds and managed to save his career against opponents such as Randy Orton, Triple H and Umaga.
He eventually bowed out after an emotional match against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24, which even won PWI's "Match of the Year" award. The following night on RAW a number of legends gathered to pay tribute to Flair and congratulate him on an outstanding career.
While Flair never wrestled for WWE again, he returned to the ring during an Australian tour with Hulk Hogan. He later signed with Impact Wrestling and had a two-year run with the promotion.
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Arvind Sriram