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Professional wrestling isn't exactly a sport, and it isn't just entertainment; hence, WWE's constant use of the term sports entertainment. They're right to do so as well because that is essentially the nature of their business.
Due to that exact conundrum of being caught between two worlds, it often means that the athletes competing within it can go on a lot longer than your average sports star. Its predetermined nature means that you can pick and choose what you do in the ring, to an extent, in order to mask your pitfalls and weaknesses. It's why the likes of The Undertaker, Sting, and Ric Flair all wrestled into their 50s.
However, despite what Jerry Lawler and Terry Funk might say, a wrestler can't go on forever. Even the greatest WWE Superstars have to retire some time, although they may come back and retire again a few times after that. Some Superstars on the current WWE roster have been around for an awfully long time and maybe considering riding off into the sunset relatively soon.
#5 Big Show
Fans have been wondering when exactly the Big Show is going to retire for quite a while now. Up until his recent run of good form, a particularly mean-spirited section of the WWE Universe used to chant that the World's Largest Athlete time in the squared circle was coming to an end.
The Big Show had a pretty unique pro wrestling debut, beating Hulk Hogan for the WCW Championship in his first ever match. That was over 20 years ago now, and for the past 18 years, he has wrestled with WWE.
There are certain rumours claiming that Show's recent steel cage match with Braun Strowman may have been his last. If that turns out to be true, it would be perfect in a number of ways. Most importantly, it was a terrific match and a great one to go out on. It was also fitting because Show's WWE debut involved him being thrown through the side of a steel cage. For that to be the last thing that happens to him before he retires would be almost poetic.
#4 Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler has been under contract with WWE for 13 years now. However, for the last three or four of those, he has really been treading water. His gimmick on SmackDown Live right now is likely the actual manifestation of his real gripe with his current placement on the card.
Sooner or later Dolph is going to snap and realize that there really is nothing left for him in WWE. When the fans had his back not being pushed by WWE was probably bearable. Without their support what is there for him to stay for?
He could follow in the footsteps of Cody Rhodes and Jack Swagger, but that really seems unlikely at this point. Dolph likes attention and he'll rarely get that from more than a few hundred people at a time on the independent circuit. He might give it a go but soon after he'll realize that if it isn't WWE, it's not worth his time.
#3 Kane
Kane has changed an awful lot since the character debuted on WWE television all the way back in 1997. So much so that at one point it really did feel like WWE had hired someone new to play the role, especially after he first removed his mask in 2003.
That was not the case, of course, and the man once behind the mask, Glenn Jacobs, is always the person who has portrayed the Big Red Machine. Nowadays though, Glenn's career path has begun to take a different route.
Jacobs is currently running for mayor of Knox County, Tennessee. With all of his time being taken up by the campaign it has been quite a while since we've seen The Devil's Favourite Demon on WWE television. His retirement hasn't been officially announced, but with Kane's foray into the political world, you can rest assured that announcement is coming.
#2 John Cena
John Cena may very well be the biggest Superstar WWE has ever created. Yes, there are certainly arguments to be made for the likes of Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, and The Rock, but even those megastars didn't carry the company for the length of time that Cena has, and he's still not done!
As much as WWE may not want to acknowledge it, his incredible professional wrestling career is winding down. The Franchise Player is delving deeper and deeper into the world of Hollywood and spending less time competing in the ring.
It's ironic because what Cena is doing now is exactly what he criticised The Rock for doing during their feud a few years ago. Credit to John he is trying to do it all, but sooner or later, something has got to give and that something is likely to be pro wrestling.
#1 Brock Lesnar
As much as WWE don't want to lose John Cena, they'll equally not want to lose their current Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar. The Beast is currently one of the biggest draws in the business, and any segment or match involving Brock is guaranteed to get fans excited.
What WWE, Lesnar, and Paul Heyman don't want to do is run with The Beast Incarnate for too long. Unlike The Deadman, Brock can't wrestle well into his 50s. It just wouldn't be right, and the mystique surrounding him would be long gone.
It's pretty clear that Lesnar has no intention of doing that anyway. When he was a guest on Steve Austin's podcast, he revealed that he had his career and his retirement all planned out. His current WWE contract comes to an end after WrestleMania 34 and don't be surprised if that's the last time you see Lesnar in a WWE ring.
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