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WWE retirements are rarely maintained and wrestlers often come back for another run.
However, retirement matches and ceremonies remain a ritual loved by fans. The gold standard of retirement ceremonies in WWE is that of Ric Flair, who returned to the ring a couple of years later.
Not all wrestlers are fated to have grand retirement ceremonies or, at the very least, a retirement match where they put over younger talent. Many such examples can be found in WWE, where numerous veterans retire without fanfare.
Many WWE stars left the in-ring competition without receiving a grand farewell. Here's a list of 5 WWE superstars who retired quietly.
#5 Former WWE Superstar Dean Malenko
A wrestler's wrestler, Dean Malenko was a second-generation performer whose talents in the ring were next to none. He provided classic after classic in WCW and ECW before arriving in WWE with a memorable segment.
But, in WWE, Malenko was seen as a charismatic vacuum whose apparent inability to deliver promos and radiate the aura of a superstar far outweighed his mastery of in-ring art. Gimmicks such as Double Ho Seven failed to attract the audience and he faded into obscurity.
He quietly retired in 2001 and evolved into a road agent for the company. The relationship between WWE and Malenko continued for 18 years. He suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease during the period.
Malenko left WWE in 2019 and was signed by AEW as a senior producer. Although he stopped being an active wrestler without much fanfare, the former horseman remains an inspiration for hordes of current and aspiring performers, including the likes of Bryan Danielson.
#4 Former WWE Superstar Summer Rae
Summer Rae debuted in WWE as Fandango's valet and became an integral part of the latter's presentation. After initial success, the gimmick flopped, and Rae's association with the future Fashion Police ended.
Rae formed a tag team with Layla over their mutual hatred of Fandango. Her final notable storyline was a manager-client relationship with Tyler Breeze. As an in-ring competitor, she couldn't find much success and was released by WWE.
Rae sporadically wrestled on the independent circuit but has since revealed she has no intention of wrestling again. She's currently keeping herself busy with modeling assignments.
#3 Former WWE Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella
Santino Marella evolved from a surprise WWE Intercontinental Champion to a comic wrestler. Fortunately, Marella was able to make his ridiculous gimmick work, and the invincibility of the similarly ridiculous Cobra finisher was maintained by WWE.
Presently, he's considered one of the best comic wrestlers of the 21st century. Marella receives considerable pops on his occasional return in backstage skits.
Marella quietly retired in 2016 due to an injury. He has returned to the ring on two occasions, including the Women's Royal Rumble. An ambassador for Judo in Canada, Marella trains potential judokas at the Battle Arts Academy.
#2 WWE Hall of Famer D-Von Dudley
Part of a tag team known and loved for their destruction of tables and opponents, D-Von Dudley mostly found success as part of The Dudley Boyz although, during their final run in WWE, they didn't win the tag team titles.
D-Von Dudley briefly pursued a solo career as Reverend D-Von. The gimmick was a failure, although his storyline assistant Deacon Batista went on to become a top WWE and Hollywood star.
Dudley quietly retired in 2016 and was rehired by WWE as a producer. Dudley Boyz was inducted into the company's Hall of Fame in 2018.
#1 Former WWE Women's Champion Gail Kim
Gail Kim didn't find much success in WWE despite winning their women's title. She was dissatisfied by the way the promotion treated their female wrestlers. Kim gradually evolved into one of the greatest female wrestlers in the history of pro-wrestling.
Kim quietly retired in 2018 but returned to battle Tessa Blanchard in another match. She transitioned to a production job at IMPACT Wrestling and recently appeared at the NWA's first-ever women's pay-per-view event.
