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There may be many arguments about WWE being classified as a sport or not because of it being scripted. Nonetheless, the connection that each and every ardent fan has with their favorite wrestler or for the product is something that cannot be put into words.
Each wrestler along with his move set and skills has a story to tell. This story is what keeps the fans coming back for more. These Superstars have the ability to inspire and get emotions churning in every member of the WWE Universe.
The saddest day for viewers around the globe comes when that very wrestler whose name they have chanted and whose matches they never missed to watch finally retires. After taking his fans on an emotional rollercoaster ride along with, there always comes a day that is dreaded by that Superstar's major fan base, the day that hero hangs up his boots.
With WrestleMania just a few days away, we look at four such Superstars that retired right after their match at WrestleMania.
#4 Stone Cold Steve Austin
There can never be another Stone Cold Steve Austin. The WWE can try pushing any of the Superstars on today's roster they way they pushed 'The Texas Rattlesnake', but nobody would even come close to his persona. Maybe it was the timing and the Attitude Era that made Austin what he is today, but this man was a definite crowd puller.
Even now if you hear that glass chatter, you know there's all hell going to break loose in the next ten minutes or so. Austin still looks to be in really good shape and fans all around the world would love to see him wrestle one more match.
While the fans were enjoying his third WrestleMania battle with The Rock at WrestleMania XIX, little did they know that this was the last time they would be watching Austin's last in-ring match.
Put into retirement early due to his neck injuries, Stone Cold officially announced his retirement the night after his match with 'The Great One' and this announcement shocked and shattered people all over the globe.
Austin still makes appearances in the WWE and is always welcomed by the fans in attendance with huge pops and cheers. He is one of the few wrestlers of the business that don't need to say a word and still get one of the loudest roars from the audience.
#3 Ric Flair
'The Nature Boy', Ric Flair is probably the greatest wrestler of all time. Not only was he amazing in the ring but also brought with him his charisma and showmanship that not many can match. Even during the latter part of his career, he delivered matches and promos with the same, if not more, enthusiasm and grace.
The 16-time World Champion has mentored and helped many Superstars in developing into better wrestlers as well as human beings. The stables that he has been a part of have always succeeded and have always had a story to tell.
Ric Flair made a return to WWE after an injury and stated that he would never retire. Vince McMahon came down and announced that the next match that Flair lost, that match would be his last.
Flair beat many opponents after this and later decided that if he was ever going to retire, it would have to be at the hands of Shawn Michaels. After a little bit of convincing, Michaels agreed and they had their match at WrestleMania 24.
With the stage set and two of the biggest names read to do battle in front of a sold-out arena, Michaels and Flair put up one of the best matches in the history of WWE.
Towards the end of the match, you could feel that the end was near for Flair and so did Shawn Michaels as he told Flair that he loved him and that he was sorry before hitting him with The Sweet Chin Music.
That night marked the end of an illustrious career and the entire crowd was in tears as Flair said his goodbyes. Flair makes sporadic appearances on WWE television and also has his daughter, Charlotte Flair wrestling in the business who is making him proud whenever she sets foot into the squared circle.
#2 Edge
'The Rated R Superstar' had a career like none other. Edge was a hard worker and a wrestler who started from the bottom and made his way up to the main event. He knew how to keep his character fresh and never shied away from trying out new segments, matches or spots.
Two of his most memorable spots are when he speared a hanging Jeff Hardy off a ladder and the time he speared Mick Foley into a burning table.
Edge is the only wrestler to have wrestled The Undertaker in a streak vs streak match at WrestleMania. Up until WrestleMania XXIV, Edge was undefeated in singles competition at WrestleMania. A feat quite to that of 'The Phenom'.
At WrestleMania XXVII, Edge defended his World Heavyweight Championship against Alberto Del Rio. At that time, nobody, not even Edge himself or the people backstage knew that this would be Edge's last match.
In what was a good match, we saw Edge coming out the winner and retaining his championship. But his neck and spine injuries caught up with him and he was forced to retire early from wrestling.
His retirement would come at the worst time possible, Edge was at the pinnacle of his career as a face and the crowd was so into him that bit didn't really matter whether he was a face or heel. His injuries truly did rob the WWE of a talented Superstar and he is one wrestler who is truly missed in the ring.
#1 Shawn Michaels
'The Show Stopper' is probably the most entertaining Superstar to have set foot into the ring. He always knew his way around the crowd and never came up short when it came to showmanship.
Shawn Michaels was a competitor that would attract people all over the world. His WrestleMania XII entrance in which he ziplined halfway across the arena to the ring is easily one of the best WrestleMania entrances.
After facing off against The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXV and coming up short, The Heart Break Kid wouldn't take no for an answer to have one more go at The Deadman's WrestleMania streak.
Michaels interfered in Taker's Elimination Chamber match to get his attention and Taker agreed to fight HBK one more time at WrestleMania XXVI only if Michaels would put his career on the line.
With a jam-packed arena waiting for the main event of the show, Michaels left no stone unturned in trying to defeat The Undertaker. Even when 'The Phenom' told him to stay down, HBK fought back valiantly and slapped Taker in the face to which Taker replied with a vicious version of the Tombstone, putting an end to Michaels' in-ring career.
Michaels makes occasional appearances on WWE television and it is always entertaining to watch 'The Show Stopper' gather the crowd and tune up the band.
