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Being a WWE Superstar can take a toll on an athlete's body. The physicality required to become a competent pro-wrestler can be taxing for the performers.
After dedicating their lives for the sake of their fans' entertainment, the Superstars come to a stage when they realize their time in the ring is winding down. Over the years, there have been countless great stars in the business whose careers came to an abrupt end due to unforeseen injuries and health conditions.
WWE Superstars like Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret Hart retired at a point when fans were clamoring to see more of them. However, unchecked medical issues and injuries forced them to hang up their boots way too early than expected. Today's WWE landscape is much different, though. The Superstars wrestle a much safer in-ring style, and as a result, they have more longevity.
It has become much more convenient for the performers to set a timeframe for themselves regarding their plans to quit the business. Several current WWE Superstars have already laid out their retirement plans and are determined to quit being an in-ring performer on their own terms.
Here in this slideshow, we will look at five WWE Superstars and their thoughts on possibly retiring from in-ring competition. Do share your thoughts in the comments section below.
#5 WWE RAW Superstar Goldberg does not see himself wrestling when he enters his 60s
Regarded as one of the most dominant performers in WWE history, Goldberg has proven time and time again that age is just a number. Though his matches these days are far from perfect and are often riddled with botches, he still elicits a positive reaction from the fans whenever he gets into the squared circle.
Even at the age of 54, Goldberg recently wrestled a short yet highly-entertaining bout with WWE Champion Drew McIntyre at Royal Rumble 2021.
While some are critical of his performances and say he should have stopped wrestling long ago, the WCW legend is well aware of when he wants to say goodbye to the business. Though there isn't an exact timeframe in his mind, he said he doesn't see himself wrestling at the age of 60 and putting his body at risk. In an interview back in December 2020, Goldberg opened up about his retirement plans.
"There are a lot of things that come into consideration, and at the end of the day, I'm a businessman. I do what I got to do to stay afloat and stay out there. I don't see myself hanging it up any time soon, but then again, I also don't see myself wrestling until I'm 60."
Considering there are six years to go before he turns 60, we can still see a lot more of Goldberg, though there's always the chance that the WCW icon could retire before he reaches the aforementioned age range.
#4 WWE SmackDown Superstar Rey Mysterio may not wrestle after he turns 50 years old
One of the greatest babyfaces in WWE history, Rey Mysterio hasn't lost a foot in the ring and can wrestle at the same pace he did during the prime of his career.
A decorated three-time WWE World Champion, Mysterio departed the company in 2015, though he came back in 2018 and is currently a mainstay on WWE SmackDown.
Considering he recently turned 46 years old, Mysterio has already laid out his retirement plan and knows exactly until when he sees himself performing in the ring. On WWE's Chasing Glory podcast, hosted by Lillian Garcia, the luchador opened up about his retirement plans.
“I don’t see myself going past 50, that’s for sure. My body feels great right now. I’ve been doing new methods of therapy - STEM cells, hyperbaric chambers, cryo chambers, CBD’s, you know, a lot of things that benefit me. I think that has given me more longevity.”
Going by this revelation, Mysterio still has around four years in the tank, and his immediate future on WWE SmackDown looks intriguing due to his feud with Baron Corbin.
Though he's currently on his son Dominik's side, it wouldn't come as a surprise if WWE decides to have the father-son feud at least once before Mysterio retires. Most importantly, with his son having a bright future in WWE, the Lucha Libre legend can retire peacefully and see his son take forward his legacy in the ring.
#3 WWE SmackDown Superstar Daniel Bryan does not plan to fully retire anytime soon
Former five-time WWE Champion Daniel Bryan is inarguably one of the greatest in-ring wizards of this generation. His technical abilities in the ring are unparalleled, and his character is utterly convincing.
To go from the most sympathetic babyface in the company in 2014 to become the most loathed heel in 2019, Bryan has proven that he's a maestro of this business.
In recent months, Bryan has decided to take a backseat on WWE SmackDown to let the younger star shine and to focus on his growing family. He has made it clear that being a father is now his full-time job, and wrestling is a part-time endeavor.
Daniel Bryan revealed a few years ago that he wants to wrestle well until he turns 70 years old. More recently, Bryan said in an interview that he finds the idea of a full-time retirement quite boring.
“I still have this deep down passion for this, like it’s hard for me to accept this idea of ‘I’m never gonna do that again.’ WHY?! WHY?! Even if it’s a VFW Hall with seventy-five people I’d go out there and do it for fun. It’s something that I really love. So, the idea of a full-time retirement is something that is completely boring to me.”
While Bryan wrestling till his 70s may sound like a slight exaggeration, the WWE SmackDown Superstar is firm on being involved in the wrestling business in some way or the other for the rest of his life.
#2 WWE RAW Superstar AJ Styles' retirement plans change constantly
AJ Styles made his WWE debut in 2016 and has never slowed down since then. Despite making his way to the global juggernaut in his late 30s, Styles has rarely shown any signs of age catching up with him.
After becoming a two-time WWE Champion and performing in the main event of WrestleMania 36 Night One, The Phenomenal One has undeniably become one of the most popular full-time performers in WWE right now.
However, in recent months, Styles has been actively contemplating his retirement and is figuring out when he would like to bid adieu to the business. He spoke about the same in an interview last month.
“It's really whenever it feels right. Some days, I feel like I can go five, six more years; and then some years I'm like, 'Oh, man, I can be done this year.' As you get older, it's just changing. You have to listen to your body and figure out what it can do next.
It has truly been a blessing for fans to be able to see Styles work in WWE. No matter how many more years he has under his belt, the respect and adoration he has earned may never diminish.
#1 WWE Royal Rumble 2021 winner Edge does not want to overstay his welcome as an in-ring performer
Edge's comeback story trail is the closest WWE has gotten in recent memory to present a babyface so sympathetic and relatable that he's almost universally beloved.
After making his triumphant return from retirement at WWE Royal Rumble 2020, the Rated-R Superstar won the following year's Men's Royal Rumble match and is heading to the main event of WrestleMania 37. He has made it clear that he'll be working a full-time schedule rather than showing up intermittently on TV.
However, Edge also knows that his time in the ring is limited and wants to contribute as much as he can during his current run. In a recent global WWE teleconference, he opened up about his retirement plans.
"I don't want to overstay my welcome and I want this run to help. I don't want it to hinder. I don't want to take away from the business, the industry, from a talent... I want to add. While I can do that, that's what I want to do. I have to be honest with myself, and I know that, but I also have my inner circle. My inner circle is brutally honest with me. I've had the discussion with Beth (Phoenix), she's gonna tell me, 'It's time. You're embarrassing yourself now.' And I don't want to get there. So, it'll be before that, but I don't know what that is."
Edge's contract reportedly lasts till 2023, which means he'll certainly be around in some capacity even if he isn't wrestling.
Most importantly, WWE and Edge have successfully given The Rated-R Superstar's comeback story a distinctly rousing appeal, and it doesn't at all come across as a nostalgic run that has arrived on discounted time.
