5 WWE superstars who could be close to retirement

The life of a WWE superstar is a stressful one, and while independent wrestlers also experience many trials and tribulations on the road, it pales in comparison to what the main roster stars in WWE have to endure.

Obviously, they enjoy the experience for the most part, given how hard they’ve worked to get there, but as fans, we all need to remember that these guys and girls put their bodies on the line night in and night out.

So then, it can’t come as much of a surprise that a handful of Raw and SmackDown Live stars could be on the verge of retirement.

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We can’t know for sure whether or not they’re thinking about hanging up their boots, but when you consider the variables at play, they’re probably at the top of the list when it comes to the likelihood of it happening.

With that being said, here are five WWE superstars who could be close to retirement.

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#1 Mickie James

Mickie James has been great

Mickie James has been in the spotlight for well over a decade now, dating back to when she won the Women’s Championship from Trish Stratus.

Over time, James has developed into one of the most well-rounded competitors we’ve ever seen in the women’s division, and she’s been a welcome member of the recent revolution on both Raw and SmackDown Live. However, recently, she hasn’t exactly had the best booking.

While she’s still being featured in high profile matches, it doesn’t feel like WWE is utilising her all too well from a storyline perspective.

There’s every chance that we’re being overdramatic here, but we’d just like to see her being given a little more creative freedom.

When it comes to her future, it seems as if she’s done pretty much everything she could’ve wanted to in WWE, and given that she’s moving towards 40 and is a mother, her retirement could come sooner rather than later.

#2 Sheamus

Sheamus has been doing great as part of the Bar

While The Celtic Warrior may not have always been featured as a main event star, he’s still been around on the main roster for almost a decade now.

In that time he’s won mid-card titles, world titles, and recently he’s become a prominent member of the tag team division.

All in all, Sheamus has had the definition of a successful run with the company, and that may start to wind down in the next few months or years.

The Irishman has suffered a handful of injuries as of late, with recent revelations suggesting that he could be working on borrowed time due to a neck problem.

While Sheamus is still one of the toughest guys on the roster, the likes of Edge and Daniel Bryan are examples that neck issues are no joke.

So as we look ahead to the future, you may want to take in his work and celebrate everything that he’s done up to this point.

#3 Brock Lesnar

Brock has been unbelievably dominant

It’s fair to say that Brock Lesnar is one of the most intimidating superstars in the history of professional wrestling, and we don’t think many fans would argue with that.

The guy has been a force to be reckoned with during both his first and second runs with the company, and after everything he’s done, The Beast Incarnate continues to surprise us alongside his advocate Paul Heyman.

One such surprise that few were expecting came at WrestleMania 34 when Lesnar defeated Roman Reigns to retain the Universal Championship. It seemed like the stage was set for Brock to lose the belt and return to the UFC, but they managed to swerve us.

However, we can’t help but feel like that’s only a momentary issue - and that he will eventually switch back to MMA. After it happens, we aren’t expecting to see Lesnar back in the squared circle again.

#4 Rhyno

Gore! Gore! Gore!

The Gore Machine Rhyno has been a consistent threat throughout his many, many years in pro wrestling, and now, he’s even making the switch over to the world of politics.

His work both in and outside the ring deserves to be recognised, and while some would argue that he hasn’t done much in this latest run with WWE, his tag team title win alongside Heath Slater will go down in history.

At the age of 42 it’s not exactly hard to see that his career is winding down, and while he’s been a great servant for the company, we aren’t sure how much value he holds in his current position.

If they built him up over a few weeks only to be fed to a bigger star, then maybe we’d be slightly more invested again - but you have to question whether or not they care enough to put him in that kind of position.

#5 Goldust

The Bizzare doesn't seem to be aging at all

For some bizarre reason, Goldust doesn’t appear to be ageing. With each and every passing year it feels like the clock is continually ticking as his career comes to an end, and yet, he’s still one of the most consistent performers on the main roster.

He may not be able to hold a candle to some of the more athletic guys, but given that he’s going to be 50 next year, he’s not exactly in and shape.

He seems to have been transitioning into a full-time backstage role for quite some time now, and it feels like late-2018 or even WrestleMania 35 could be a good target for his retirement date.

We’d love to see him have one last run with a mid-card title, but when you look at the sheer wealth of talent WWE currently possesses, it doesn’t feel like Goldy is too much of a priority.