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It is often a topic of debate when a big WWE pay-per-view comes around and the marquee matches on the card involve part-time Superstars.
Looking back at the last decade of WrestleManias, eight of the last 10 main events included a part-time Superstar, with WWE choosing to showcase the likes of The Rock, Brock Lesnar, Triple H and The Undertaker ahead of the next generation of Superstars.
As we have seen in the last year, there has been a lot of talk about veteran Superstars and when they could potentially retire, especially after the disappointing match between The Undertaker and Goldberg at Super ShowDown 2019.
The Undertaker, 55, all but confirmed his retirement in the final episode of his ‘Undertaker: The Last Ride’ series, but did you know that there are Superstars even older than Mark Calaway who have indicated that they want to return?
In this article, let’s take a look at three veterans aged 60+ who want to return, as well as two who have made it clear that they are not looking for one more match.
#5 Wants WWE in-ring return: Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan last competed in a match in January 2012 when he teamed with James Storm and Sting to defeat Bobby Roode, Bully Ray and Kurt Angle during a TNA Maximum IMPACT tour in the United Kingdom.
Now aged 66, the WWE Hall of Famer revealed in October 2019 that he is hoping to have one final match in WWE because he “doesn’t know if he could live with himself” knowing that he retired in Impact Wrestling.
“I told Vince [McMahon], ‘When I get through this back surgery, I’m going to get in the best shape of my life and we’re going to talk about me having one last retirement match.'” [H/T Los Angeles Times]
Hogan went on to tease a possible match against Vince McMahon at WrestleMania 36, but WWE reportedly discussed a different – and perhaps even more spectacular – role for the iconic Superstar at the event.
According to Wrestling News Co’s Paul Davis, an idea was pitched that would have seen Hogan win the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. However, the two sides reportedly failed to agree financial terms, and the deal would have fallen through anyway because social distancing regulations forced the Battle Royals to be canceled.
#4 Does not want in-ring return: WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash
Kevin Nash’s most recent WWE match came in January 2014 when he lasted two minutes in the Royal Rumble before being eliminated by Roman Reigns. He was also involved at WrestleMania 31 in 2015 when he joined forces with the nWo to brawl with D-Generation X during Triple H vs. Sting.
“Big Daddy Cool” wrestled sporadically for independent promotions, notably Big Time Wrestling, in 2015 and 2016, while he even won the company’s Heavyweight Championship in 2018.
Earlier in 2020, the 60-year-old former WWE Champion replied to a fan on Twitter to confirm that father time has caught up with him and he is now officially retired as an in-ring competitor.
“The reason I retired was I was deformed and basically crippled. This knee replacement and 2 years of rehab and training has been brutal. Just get my hips to realign was incredibly painful. To the haters f*** off To those that have championed my recovery I send my thanks and love.”
Nash had previously spoken about being open to a WWE return, possibly in a storyline with Dolph Ziggler, but that alliance looks like it will never come to fruition.
#3 Wants WWE in-ring return: Gillberg
Former WWE Light Heavyweight Champion Duane Gill (aka Gillberg) competed in what was supposed to be the final match of his career against James Ellsworth at an Adrenaline Wrestling event in February 2020. But, as we know in wrestling, the word “retirement” should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Two months after the match, the 60-year-old reflected on his wrestling career during an interview with Lewis Nicholls and revealed that he is prepared to reverse his retirement decision if WWE wants to book him in a match against the man he mocked throughout the Attitude Era, Goldberg.
“It’s Goldberg, I’ve been making fun of him for twenty-something years! And, to be honest with you, it would be WrestleMania-worthy. It really, really would. People would love to see that match. Believe me, I could really make the match look good. I’m still in great shape. I could still do everything I could do before. Maybe a little slower!”
Gillberg said he has spoken to Goldberg about the two men possibly facing each other one day, but the WWE Hall of Famer “never took it any further”.
#2 Does not want in-ring return: WWE Hall of Famer DDP
First of all - yes, DDP is over 60 years old! The WWE Hall of Famer might not look it, but he turned 64 in April 2020, which means he is one of the oldest in-ring competitors on television this year.
Like Kevin Nash, DDP is another WWE/WCW legend who has been brought back to WWE television in recent years to make cameo appearances in Royal Rumbles and Battle Royals.
He lasted almost three minutes in the Royal Rumble in 2015 before being eliminated by Rusev, while he appeared in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal the following year at WrestleMania 32.
Prior to his six-man tag team match on AEW Dynamite earlier this year, the former World Heavyweight Champion made it clear on Lilian Garcia’s Chasing Glory podcast that he planned to make it his final match as a wrestler.
“I can’t imagine [competing again]. Just by playing around the other night, you leave a little piece of your body in that ring every time. People get it’s pre-determined now and all that, but a lot of times there’s nothing fake about it.”
You can hear DDP’s thoughts on MJF, Chris Jericho and the state of WWE and AEW in the interview above with Sportskeeda’s Gary Cassidy.
#1 Wants WWE in-ring return: Sting
Sting has repeatedly said in recent years that he will only compete in another match if he can go one-on-one with WWE icon The Undertaker.
In December 2019, the WCW legend admitted during an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso that he thinks his career is done, but he would still be open to returning if WWE ever approached him about a match against "The Deadman".
Sting, 61, has not competed since he suffered a serious neck injury in his WWE Championship match against Seth Rollins at Night of Champions 2015.
Earlier this year, it was reported by PW Insider’s Mike Johnson that WWE considered using Sting at the Super ShowDown event in Saudi Arabia in February 2020, but the talks died down and he did not end up appearing on the show.
Three months later, Pro Wrestling Sheet’s Ryan Satin broke the news that Sting is no longer under contract with WWE, prompting speculation that he could join AEW.
For now, WWE fans will have to settle for Sting teasing a match that may never happen against The Undertaker.
