'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQf/2gAIAQEAAAAAm5f/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAECEAAAAD//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAEDEAAAAE//xAAjEAABBAEBCQAAAAAAAAAAAAADAQIEBQARBhIUIiMxQ2Jy/9oACAEBAAE/ANkLu0SRbV8mylxn8PIcF0R/kbvl5/XTVEyNaSZMYRykIpCsR7usXuqfef/EABcRAQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAhH/2gAIAQIBAT8ADbJP/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIA/9oACAEDAQE/ALAmXf/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
All good things must come to an end, and that includes the careers of these popular superstars.
It's the news that wrestling fans dread to hear.
The fact that their favourite wrestling superstar is ending their career. Whether due to an unexpected injury, or family planning, or just plain ageing out of the profession, there are myriad reasons why a professional wrestler would voluntarily end their career in the squared circle.
While it's a bittersweet moment for any wrestler, sometimes the news is greeted with dismay, or even out and out panic, among the pro wrestling fandom. With so many of the WWE Attitude Era stars ageing past their prime, it's starting to look like we might lose quite a few beloved wrestlers before the end of 2019.
Without further ado, here are seven wrestling superstars who are getting close to retirement.
#1 Jeff Hardy
Age: 41
Years in the profession: 20+
The reason he might retire: Simple wear and tear on his anatomy.
Say it ain't so, Jeff!
Many wrestling fans in the modern era began watching sports entertainment in the Attitude Era. They can recall when Jeff was a young upstart, punk kid who had the audacity to challenge wily veterans like Undertaker and gigantic stars like Triple H. Thus, it's quite shocking for those same fans to hear Jeff discussing his possible retirement, which in his own words could come at literally any time;
“That’s one thing I don’t know. Because I truly do – especially like the Hell in a Cell match, and even now I have two beautiful daughters, a beautiful wife – but I truly do wrestle every match like it’s my last because even a live event could be my last match.”
While Jeff Hardy's fans will no doubt shed some tears at his words, they should also be grateful for the two decades of solid entertainment Hardy has provided.
#2 The Almighty Christopher Daniels (AKA Fallen Angel, the General)
Age: 48
Years in the profession: 26
The reason he might retire: Age and injuries.
Christopher Daniels began his illustrious career way back in 1993. An independent circuit standout and legend, he was already famous in the wrestling world when he signed a contract with WWE in 1998. However, he was mainly used as enhancement talent, and his biggest role on screen was as Conquistador number two (dos) during the angle where Edge and Christian revived the classic era gimmick.
Daniels was also traded as part of a talent exchange with ECW. He wrestled Rhyno and other stars, usually losing. He also made a brief sojourn into WCW's fading days, though an injury cost him a full-time contract.
Daniels became a big star by virtue of Ring of Honor and TNA (now Impact wrestling.) There, he was able to let his technical wrestling talents shine. Daniels is now wrestling for ROH again, and also makes appearances for indie leagues and NJPW. Daniels is one of the few wrestlers who has wrestled for every major American promotion; ECW, WCW, WWE, TNA, and ROH.
While Daniels has not, as of yet, specifically mentioned a specific point in which he wants to retire, he did mention this in an off-hand interview.
I feel like my career is pretty close to being over. I'm not going to put a timeframe on it, but I know that I'm talking probably in terms of months probably when you think about it."
#3 R-Truth
Age: 46
Years in the wrestling business: 21
The reason he might retire: Accumulated injuries, a new focus on his music career.
Ron Killings, better known to the world as WWE's R-Truth, began his career working for NWA in its post-JC Productions era. But despite being scouted by Jackie Crockett herself, he eschewed a wrestling career to focus on his hip-hop music. After two years of struggling to break into the music industry, he wound up calling Crockett and expressed interest in being a wrestler.
R-Truth was trained and brought into the business by none other than the legendary Manny Fernandez, a major star during pro wrestling's regional era. The Raging Bull taught R-Truth not only how to wrestle, but how to conduct himself in the business.
Truth wound up signing with WWE in 1999 under the name K-Kwik. He had two reigns as Hardcore Champion but otherwise failed to make an impact. He wound up returning to the indies and had a successful run in TNA, where he won the NWA title before the organization split from Jarrett's program.
R-Truth would eventually return to the WWE, where he has become a mainstay. His appearances have been more sporadic, because of many injuries accumulated during his long career. While R-Truth has not said anything specific about retirement, he has stated he would like more time to focus on his music career.
#4 Mickey James
Age: 39
Years in the wrestling business: 19
The reason she might retire: To focus on her music career and family.
Mickey James wasn't a failed model or cheerleader who took up wrestling as a last resort. Rather, she was a lifelong fan of the business and often watched pro wrestling with her parents.
Athletic, James had already engaged in several sports like horseback riding before she made the jump to pro wrestling. She worked the independent scene for several years and wound up on WWE's radar in 2003. James worked in Ohio Valley Wrestling to hone her skills and made her main roster debut in 2005 as a fangirl of Trish Stratus.
The angle was rife with controversy, as James displayed a high level of romantic interest in Stratus despite the fact that the feelings were not returned. Their rivalry may have rubbed some folks the wrong way, but it was wrestling gold in the ring. James was one of the early pioneers of the Women's Revolution and worked hard to make her wrestling the emphasis rather than skimpy outfits.
James spent some time in TNA/Impact as well, before making her return to the WWE where she took on Asuka in a dream match for the NXT title. A locker room leader, WWE hired her as much for her mentorship of the younger talent as her star status.
James is married to former NWA champion Nick Aldis (Magnus in TNA) and has said that her wrestling career will be winding down, and she intends to retire as a WWE superstar.
#5 John Cena
Age: 41
Years in the wrestling business: 19 years
The reason he might retire: To focus on his acting career, make room for younger talent.
Big Match John has been dropping the five knuckle shuffle for nearly twenty years. He got his start during the Attitude Era, where he was simply billed as John Cena. The 'just John' gimmick flopped, and despite a strong initial push and feud with Kurt Angle the fans didn't respond to him.
But then, as fate would have it, Smackdown featured a Halloween episode. Cena portrayed Vanilla Ice, and his improvised raps were so impressive that it became his gimmick. Rather than the clean-cut, decent bodybuilder John Cena, he was now the Doctor of Thuganomics. His insulting, misogynistic and risque raps would never go over today, but at the time they catapulted him right into the main event and babyface status. Over time, he stopped rapping but kept driving opponents into the mat with his Attitude Adjustment finisher.
These days John is a part-time wrestler, splitting his efforts between reality TV, wrestling, and acting in films and television. He had great success in Trainwreck with Amy Schumer and starred in the animated film Ferdinand. John has enjoyed a great wrestling career, but it's obvious that it's winding down in favour of other projects.
#6 Jushin Thunder Liger
Age: 54
Years in the wrestling business: 34
The reason he might retire: Aging and accumulated injuries
Jushin Thunder Liger is a man who every cruiserweight wrestler should thank for his service. Liger single-handedly changed the perception of smaller wrestlers from enhancement talent to major potential superstars. He incorporated major elements of Lucha Libre into his act and blended strong style with technical wrestling to create the most imitated move set of all time in sports entertainment.
Liger has had his ups and downs. There have been several periods of his career where it seemed that he was done, only to come back and start dazzling fans all over again. Fans have noticed in the last several years that Liger truly seems to be enjoying himself in the ring for the first time in quite a while. He loves working with younger talent like ROH's Cheeseburger, whom he bequeathed his palm strike manoeuvre upon.
Despite his enthusiasm, it's obvious to longtime fans that he has lost a step or two. Liger no longer uses his running Liger bomb and seldom comes off the top rope like he used to. Still, many fans will be tearing up when he finally does hang up the boots and mask for good.
#7 Matt Hardy
Age: 44
Years in the wrestling business: 26 (though he did backyard wrestling before his pro debut)
The reason he might retire: Accumulated injuries
Matt Hardy has had one of the most tumultuous career paths of any superstar in the wrestling business. He and his brother initially wrestled each other in their parent's backyard and even ran their own promotion for a time.
But most people know him from his WWE and TNA runs. A vital part of the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras, he and brother Jeff revitalized the flagging WWE tag team division with their seamless teamwork and smooth execution of moves. When the brothers split, Matt was relegated to the mid-card while brother Jeff was groomed as a world champion.
Matt had personal issues which affected his career. His well-known break up with Lita got him fired at one point, though WWE fans petitioned relentlessly until he was rehired. Then he suffered a disease of his intestines, which led to a great deal of swelling and earned him the unfortunate nickname "Fat Hardy."
When Matt went to TNA/Impact, no one figured he would accomplish much. However, he wound up creating the Broken Matt Hardy character, and not only revitalized his own career but heavily influenced the way wrestling is presented and scripted on television. Recently he has some spinal fusion issues which have made him think he may not have much time left in the ring but has not officially stated he would be retiring.
There you have it; Seven wrestlers who might be retiring soon. Questions or comments? Please leave them below the article and thanks for reading.
Follow Sportskeeda for all the latest professional wrestling and WWE news!
