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Professional wrestling is a funny business. Yes, it's all scripted but you find some of the most passionate fans anywhere in the world investing their time, money, and emotions into what is on offer week in and week out without fail. One of the key reasons for that is just how attached fans get to their favourite professional wrestlers.
After all, these men and women put their bodies on the line for years on end with little to no breaks in order to entertain the masses. That's why when the time finally comes for them to hang up their boots, it's such a celebrated affair.
Who can forget the amazing retirement matches that Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, and The Undertaker have all had? But, that's not always the case, though. There have been instances of some pretty terrible retirement matches.
So, without any further ado, here is our list of the 5 worst retirement matches in WWE history:
Note: We have included all matches with a retirement stipulation regardless of the outcome of the match.
#5) Ric Flair's run of retirement matches
When Vince McMahon made the announcement that Ric Flair would be forced to retire the next time he lost, people really got behind The Nature Boy. After all, no one wanted to see the end of a legendary career.
We all know how that ended with Flair's career being put to rest in a superb Wrestlemania encounter against Shawn Michaels. But, prior to that, the 16-time World Champion had a number of matches against mid-card talent where everyone knew he was going to win.
These bouts held very little in the way of drama or excitement because the outcome was obvious to all who were watching.
#4) Triple H vs Goldberg - Title vs Career
This whole feud between Triple H and Goldberg was an absolute mess in terms of booking decisions - and that was exemplified in this Title vs Career match the two men had at Unforgiven 2003.
After Trips unfathomably won the Elimination Chamber match earlier that year to retain his World Heavyweight Championship, everyone knew what was coming this time around. The stipulation just further drained any sense of anticipation.
After all, there was no way the WWE was going to force Goldberg into retirement so soon after his debut with the company.
#3) Hulk Hogan vs Billy Kidman
That's right, don't adjust your screens, this match actually featured Hulk Hogan vs Billy Kidman, of all people. The stipulation was that the winner got a shot at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and if Hogan lost, he would retire.
It's a testament to the torrid state of affairs at WCW back in 2000 that this match was seriously booked for The Great American Bash that year. Who in their right minds would ever believe that not only would Kidman be given a World Title Shot, but also that he would be the man to retire the legendary Hulkster?
#2) Hulk Hogan vs Kevin Nash
I think I'm sensing a pattern here involving Hulk Hogan and retirement matches. One year prior to the fiasco with Billy Kidman, The Hulkster was involved in yet another underwhelming retirement match - this time with Kevin Nash.
The WCW World Heavyweight Championship was on the line with the loser also being forced into retirement. The two men worked a boring encounter which was predictably won by Hogan. What made matters worse, though, was that Nash returned barely a month later to the active roster.
#1) The Rock vs Mankind
This. This is by far the worst retirement match in the history of the WWE, in my opinion. The Rock and Mankind went head to head in 1999 in a Pink Slip on a Pole match. I always rant about "X thing on a Pole" matches and with very good reason. They are all absolutely terrible.
This time around, it involved retrieving a pink slip which would result in the termination of your opponent's employment with the WWE. This was really dumb for a number of reasons. One, no one really believed that The Great One could lose this match and there was no tension at all surrounding the result.
Secondly, the aftermath felt cheap as Foley was restored to the active roster just two weeks after this sham of a match.
