5 times professional wrestlers retired unexpectedly

For all the hullabaloo that professional wrestling is actually scripted, a lot of people seem to forget that the wrestlers actual put their bodies through hell in order to provide us with our weekly dose of entertainment. There is nothing scripted about the risks they take with their bodies day in and day out.

So, when tragedy does strike in the form of serious injuries, WWE superstars are often forced into extended rehabilitation periods or even in more serious cases, retirement. With the WWE often packing real injuries as a part of a storyline, it often comes as a complete surprise when these superstars reveal to us that they're actually saying goodbye forever.

So, without any further ado, here is our list of 5 times professional wrestlers retired unexpectedly:

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#5) Sting

When Sting signed with the WWE back in 2014, it left fans around the world in shock as they had never expected to see The Stinger sign with Vince McMahon - especially in his 50s. But, he was still a massive deal and looked to be in top shape showing little signs of slowing down so things were looking good.

Unfortunately, things came to a screeching halt as The Icon was injured by a botched Buckle Bomb from Seth Rollins forcing him into an early retirement less than a year into his WWE run. It came from out of nowhere and left the business saddened.

#4) Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan was just 33 years old in 2014 when he was forced into an early retirement. He was at the peak of his powers and The Yes Movement had established him as one of the top wrestlers in the WWE but unfortunately, a lifetime of concussions caught up to The American Dragon.

He was forced into retirement and though he has been cleared by doctors from outside the WWE, the company's medical staff have kept him away from in-ring work. The current General Manager of Smackdown Live has stated that he wants to return to wrestling on the indies once his contract with the WWE expires.

#3) Bret Hart

Ouch!

When Bret Hart left the WWE amidst a cloud of controversy in order to join up with WCW, it was to be the next step in his already Hall of Fame worthy career. The Hitman was in his prime and was aiming to take it to the next level. Unfortunately, in the year 2000, his career was ended through an innocuous-looking kick.

Goldberg botched said kick and it left Hart with a concussion. This wasn't properly diagnosed at the time though and Bret continued to wrestle making things worse. This eventually led to him having to permanently hang up his boots.

#2) Edge

In 2011, at Wrestlemania 27, Edge successfully defended his World Heavyweight Championship against Alberto del Rio on the Grandest Stage of Them All. Just a few nights later, he was forced into retirement. It was so sudden that somebody on top of the world was done, just like that.

He revealed that he was diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis and he risked permanent paralysis if he continued with his wrestling career. And, just like that, one of the most celebrated WWE careers of all-time was over.

#1) Stone Cold Steve Austin

Austin's last WWE match

When Stone Cold Steve Austin returned from a broken neck, fans would have been forgiven for assuming that there was absolutely nothing that could keep The Texas Rattlesnake down. Unfortunately, that proved to be false as Austin was forced into retirement with absolutely no warning a few years later.

His back and neck were weakening by the day and any sort of a high impact botch could even result in his death. He wrestled his final match at Wrestlemania 19 before he was kayfabe fired from the company the following night on Raw, marking an end to the in-ring career of one of the greatest of all-time.