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Throughout WWE history, several WWE Superstars have placed major pressure on themselves to win a big-time main event match.
In addition to the pressure of attempting to win a major match, several WWE Superstars have been willing to sacrifice their career for it.
This includes adding a stipulation to the match stating that if they lose they will leave WWE or retire from professional wrestling completely.
While this added pressure may sometimes be a little over the top, it is necessary on other occasions. It forces the WWE Superstar in question to push themselves to the level required to achieve success in the world of sports entertainment.
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at five times WWE Superstars said they would leave the company or retire if they lose a match.
#5. Roman Reigns (WWE SummerSlam 2021)
Roman Reigns successfully defended the Universal Championship against John Cena this past weekend at SummerSlam. The match was billed as a clash of generations as John Cena attempted to claim his record 17th WWE World Championship.
Adding to the trash talk between the two WWE Superstars, Roman Reigns heaped extra pressure on himself ahead of his gigantic showdown with Cena. On the final episode of Friday Night SmackDown before the biggest event of the summer, Reigns declared that if he didn't beat John Cena, he would leave WWE.
Despite a valiant effort by John Cena, Roman Reigns successfully retained his Universal Championship in an excellent main event showdown. However, his celebrations were shortlived when Brock Lesnar shockingly returned to WWE, confronting Reigns and Paul Heyman to close the event.
#4. Triple H (WWE WrestleMania 35)
WWE COO Triple H put his career on the line when he faced off against former Evolution teammate Batista at WrestleMania 35.
The Animal made his shocking WWE return earlier that year. He attacked Ric Flair during The Nature Boy's 70th birthday celebration on Monday Night RAW.
This led to Triple H giving Batista what he wanted, which was a match at WrestleMania 35. Due to the intense personal rivalry, it was announced that the match would be contested with No Holds Barred. Furthermore, Batista demanded that Triple H retire if he lost the match on the grandest stage of them all, to which The Game agreed.
However, Triple H was the one successful as he defeated Batista, thanks to assistance from Ric Flair. Ironically, the match marked Batista's final professional wrestling match, as he retired from professional wrestling shortly after the event.
#3. Brock Lesnar (WWE SummerSlam 2017)
The July 10, 2017 edition of Monday Night RAW saw Roman Reigns and Samoa Joe square off in a Universal Championship number one contender's match.
When Braun Strowman caused the match to result in a no contest, RAW General Manager Kurt Angle had a change of plan. He announced that Brock Lesnar would defend the Universal Championship against all four men in a Fatal 4-Way match at that year's SummerSlam event.
Outraged at the decision, Brock Lenar's advocate Paul Heyman announced that if Brock Lesnar were to lose the match, he and Heyman would leave WWE.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Brock Lesnar retained the Universal Championship at the biggest event of the summer. In turn, he saved his WWE career as well.
#2. Triple H (WWE WrestleMania 29)
Triple H certainly has a history of putting his WWE career on the line at WrestleMania events throughout the years. The first time The Game wagered his career in a WrestleMania match was against Brock Lesnar in 2013.
Brock Lesnar viciously attacked Triple H in May 2012 on Monday Night RAW, breaking the arm of the Cerebral Assassin in the process. This led to a No Disqualification match at SummerSlam, which Lesnar won via submission, once again breaking Triple H's arm with the Kimura lock.
A rematch was set between Lesnar and Triple H for WWE WrestleMania 29 the following year in a No Holds Barred match. Paul Heyman requested that Triple H must retire if he lost the match, to which The Game accepted.
Triple H saved his career by successfully defeating The Beast on the grandest stage of them all.
#1. Shawn Michaels (WWE WrestleMania XXVI)
After Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker had arguably the greatest match in WrestleMania history at WrestleMania XXV, The Heartbreak Kid became obsessed.
Michaels had been within seconds of ending The Undertaker's legendary WrestleMania streak and wanted another shot at immortality.
After months of getting under The Phenom's skin, The Undertaker finally accepted Shawn Michaels' challenge to a WrestleMania rematch, under one condition. The Undertaker stated that if he was to put the streak on the line, Shawn Michaels must put his career on the line.
Michaels responded "if I can't beat you, I have no career" and accepted The Deadman's proposal.
The Streak vs Career match main evented WrestleMania XXVI. The Undertaker extended his undefeated streak by ending Shawn Michaels' legendary professional wrestling career.
