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The rumor mill has been very busy lately, with Daniel Bryan getting injured and Vince McMahon losing 842 million dollars, but something happened day before yesterday that has sent the wrestling fans into frenzy. The dirt sheets have been buzzing about one of the biggest superstars walking away from professional wrestling and the WWE for good, and although he hasnt been seen for a quite a while, all the fans were quietly hoping that he would return to the WWE sooner or later. But with CM Punk announcing his retirement from professional wrestling at the age of 35, it might finally put an end to one of the most talked about sagas in recent memory.After CM Punk walked out after the Royal Rumble PPV, his career has been analyzed, and everyone started to wonder when the Second City Saint would make his return to the WWE. With Punk himself acknowledging that he has retired from professional wrestling, that puts an end to the career of one of the most famous WWE superstars in recent memory, who transcended the business after his infamous pipe bomb promo on RAW in 2011. That being said, there have been various instances when WWE superstars and wrestlers had announced their retirement, but eventually returned to carry from where they left.In this article, I take a look at five such people, who after announcing their retirement, got back into the squared circle. All of them have had illustrious careers in the WWE, and after telling everyone that they would be hanging up their boots for good, got back into the ring either in the WWE or in some other promotion, either for just one more match or more.
#1 Hulk Hogan
It wouldnt shock anyone to see Hulk Hogans name topping the list. The Hulkster was one of the most popular figures during the 80s and early 90s, and broke barriers and transcended the wrestling business. Every kid around the world knew who Hulk Hogan was, and every kid became a fan of the immortal one. Although Hulk Hogan didnt receive high praises from the smart wrestling fans for his inability to put on great matches and taking things lightly, he was still the most famous professional wrestler in the then WWF till the time he left the company.
When Hogan and WCW were riding high, it was glory days again for Hogan, but when WCW started doing bad numbers and was sinking fast, Hogan quickly made an appearance on Jay Lenos show and announced that he was retiring from professional wrestling, although it turned out to be a publicity stunt. Hogan came out of retirement and won the WCW heavyweight title, but left WCW because of a dispute with Vince Russo. Hogan came out retirement to face Shawn Michaels and after making cameos now and again, he signed with TNA wrestling, and started taking all the limelight. In the end, Hogan did more damage than good for TNA, and eventually left the company. Hogan then signed a legends deal with the WWE and came back to the organization.
#2 Ric Flair
At number 2 is one of the most famous wrestlers in the history of the industry, and someone who is widely considered to be the greatest professional wrestler of all time. When Ric Flair jumped ships to the then WWF from WCW, many saw it as the greatest acquisition of the company, although they had the likes of Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage and The Ultimate Warrior. Ric Flairs presence was enough for a company to draw record numbers, and he was responsible for NWA becoming the organization that we all know it to be. In short, Ric Flair was the Superman of professional wrestling.
Flairs love for women and alcohol is legendary, and he held nothing back in getting whatever he wanted, no matter how much it cost. The fast life also made Flair push himself to wrestle at an age when every other wrestler would contemplate retirement, and after WCW folded, he came to the WWE once again and became an active performer. Ric Flairs retirement match against Shawn Michaels was one of the most well choreographed matches of all time, and everyone in the wrestling business shed tears when Flair slowly got up on his feet after the loss.
Flair was also given one of the greatest send offs any professional wrestler could ask for, and deservedly so. But all that was of little significance when Flair came out of retirement due to financial issues, and started wrestling again, at an age when the fans were hoping Flair would finally call it a day. TNA wrestling signed Flair, and he performed on their show, which received flak from fans all over the world. With Flair missing dates and causing havoc on international tours, TNA finally let him go, and he signed a legends deal with the WWE. Flairs story is one of the saddest in professional wrestling, but it was his own fault that life went south for the Nature Boy.
#3 Terry Funk
The Funker is considered be one of the greatest names in professional wrestling, with stories about his hardcore style of wrestling becoming a stuff of legends. The Funk brothers are also known for opening one of the most famous wrestling schools in the world. Terry Funk went on to have one of the greatest careers in professional wrestling, and is respected by the fans and legends alike. Although Terry Funk isnt as known to the WWE fans as much as the other legends like Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan, one cannot deny the fact that he belongs in the list of the elites in the business.
Terry Funk is also known to be one the very few legends to have retired on multiple occasions. Funk has had many retirement matches, but financial constraints have always made him rethink his decision and return to professional wrestling. In the documentary Beyond the mat, we also got to see a glimpse of Terry Funk like weve never seen before, and understand the hardships professional wrestlers face while walking away from the limelight.
#4 Bret Hart
The last memory of Bret Hart in the WWE before 2005 was not a pretty picture, as Bret was seen dismantling the WWE equipment, breaking everything in his path. Bret Hart was screwed by Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels in Montreal, Canada and Bret retired from professional wrestling after suffering a severe concussion at the hands of Bill Goldberg in WCW. As fate would have it, he suffered even further when he had a stroke, and was admitted into the hospital. Before 2005, no one wouldve imagined Bret Hart even considering a return to the WWE.
All that changed when Bret worked with WWE on a project, and was later inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. With Bret Hart not being in any condition to wrestle, everybody rubbished the possibility of Bret coming out of retirement. However, Bret did make his return by beating Vince McMahon at WrestleMania 26, and then defeated Miz to win the WWE United States championship, thus changing the final moments of Bret Hart performing in a WWE ring. Although Bret won the title, he vacated the championship, but not before correcting the wrongs with his first retirement. He was then involved in a couple of matches, before Bret once again left in ring competition for good.
#5 Victoria
Victoria has been one of the best female wrestlers in the WWE. She is a former WWE womens champion, and has had various great matches and feuds against the likes of Trish Stratus and Lita. She was also known for her aggressive nature, and constituted the golden era of womens wrestling in the WWE, along with other womens wrestlers such as Lita, Gail Kim and Trish Stratus. With WWE not giving Victoria her due, she finally had enough and decided to call it quits, and after losing a bout on Smackdown!, she announced to the fans that she was retiring from the WWE and professional wrestling.
But as it is often seen in professional wrestling, the proverbial itch made Victoria reconsider her decision, and when TNA wrestling approached her to sign a deal with them, thus bringing her to the company which was, at that point, receiving rave reviews for having the best womens division in the world, she agreed and signed a contract with them. She returned to professional wrestling and hung around for a few more years before leaving TNA. She also held the TNA knockouts title on five separate occasions.
