20 Most Emotional Professional Wrestling Retirements

20- William Regal

William Regal’s in-ring retirement occurred on NXT in 2013 due to a longstanding neck injury. His final match against Cesaro was a masterclass in emotion and storytelling, cementing his legacy as a mentor and technical genius. The Englishman never won a World title in WWE but was one of the most respected technicians in company history, training wrestlers like Daniel Bryan.

19- Terry Funk

Terry Funk’s brief “retirement” at WrestleFest: 50 Years of Funk was an 11-day celebration of his career. Wrestling Bret Hart in the main event and receiving the ECW Lifetime Title, Funk’s farewell was emotional and legendary. However, the original 'Hardcore' legend has returned on several occassions and competed in legendary bouts.

18- Lita

Lita retired at Survivor Series 2006 after years of pioneering women’s wrestling. Her final match against Mickie James ended with a standing ovation, celebrating her impact and trailblazing career. Her retirment came at a time when she lost her love for the wrestling and bowed out of the promotion.

17- Tam Nakano

Tam Nakano retired after losing a “career vs. career” match to Saya Kamitani at Stardom All Star Grand Queendom 2025. The emotionally charged 26-minute match ended with feathers falling and a poignant fade to black, a beautiful send-off.

16- Buddy Rogers

Apart from being the very first WWE champion, Buddy Rogers was also known as the original “Nature Boy." However, the legendary technician had to retire in the 1960s due to a heart attack. He later returned intermittently, eventually passing the torch to Ric Flair. It is safe to say that Rogers’ career remains a foundational part of wrestling history.

15- Trish Stratus

Trish Stratus retired as Women’s Champion after defeating Lita at Unforgiven 2006 in her hometown of Toronto. Her emotional farewell marked the end of an era for women’s wrestling, cementing her as one of WWE’s most influential pioneers. Since then, she has returned for several short stints and legendary matches against the likes of Becky Lynch, Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair.

14- Arn Anderson

Arn Anderson retired after surgeries left his left hand permanently damaged. Known as “The Enforcer” of The Four Horsemen, he gave a heartfelt speech with Ric Flair in tears, leaving a lasting impact on NWA/WCW fans. He made a surprise return at WrestleMania 18 to help Flair against The Undertaker and was with Cody Rhodes during his run in AEW as the TNT champion.

13- Kenta Kobashi

Kobashi retired in 2013 at Budokan Hall after years of injuries and battling cancer. “Final Burning” featured a multi-man match with legends like Keiji Muto, Jun Akiyama, and Kensuke Sasaki, symbolizing heart, courage, and his legendary status in puroresu.

12- Kurt Angle

At WrestleMania 35, Kurt Angle faced Baron Corbin in his final WWE match. Fans filled the arena with chants of “Thank you, Kurt!” The Olympic Hero bowed out with intensity, integrity, and intelligence, marking a heartfelt closure to his career. Many veterans expected John Cena to be his final opponent but creative booking led to a rather underwhelming exit for one of the best ever.

11- Triple H

After a serious cardiac event, Triple H revealed he would never wrestle again. At WrestleMania 38, he left his boots in the ring in a quiet but powerful farewell, symbolizing decades of dominance and passion. The current WWE CCO has had an iconic career with 14 World titles and is currently the head honcho for creative in the company.

10- Keiji Mutoh

Keiji Mutoh retired following an 8-month “Grand Final” tour, concluding at the Tokyo Dome against Tetsuya Naito. A surprise final match with Masahiro Chono symbolically closed Mutoh’s nearly 39-year career. He was later inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2023 by Ric Flair.

9- Sting

Sting retired at AEW Revolution 2024 after a 40-year career. Teaming with Darby Allin for one final match, Sting delivered a performance filled with charisma and passion, closing his journey on his own terms. Moreover, his gimmick of "Surfer Sting" was portrayed by his son, Garrett Borden. The other son, Steven Borden Jr, was dressed as "Wolfpac Sting," creating a tribute to different eras of Sting's career during the match segment leading up to his swansong.

8- Paige

Paige retired at just 25 due to a career-ending neck injury. Her tearful Raw speech stunned fans, showing maturity and deep appreciation for supporters. Though her in-ring career ended early, she later served as SmackDown GM, continuing her legacy as a trailblazer. She later debuted for AEW as Saraya but has been off TV for quite sometime.

7- Mick Foley

Mick Foley retired for the first time after losing to Triple H at No Way Out 2000. Fans wept as the hardcore legend walked away, having given everything physically and emotionally to wrestling. However, the hardcore legend to legitimise the careers of Randy Orton and Edge at Backlash 2004 and WrestleMania 22 respectively in legendary and brutal bouts.

6- Daniel Bryan

Forced into retirement due to repeated concussions, Daniel Bryan’s farewell speech on Raw was heartbreaking. Fans chanted “Thank you, Bryan!” as he thanked the WWE Universe, his family, and Brie Bella. The moment was unforgettable, especially when he returned in 2018. However, 'The American Dragon' returned at WrestleMania 34 to team up with Shane McMahon and then later went onto have a stellar run in AEW, with a World title in his pocket.

5- The Undertaker

After three decades of dominance, The Undertaker officially retired at Survivor Series 2020 after having his final match at WrestleMania 36 against AJ Styles. However, the year end PLE was the same event where he debuted 30 years earlier. Surrounded by legends, he delivered his final words: “My time has come to let The Undertaker rest in peace,” closing a legendary career filled with unmatched mystique and endurance.

4- Stone Cold Steve Austin

At WrestleMania 19, Stone Cold wrestled his "real" final match against The Rock without officially announcing it. Post-match, the subtle acknowledgment from The Rock symbolized mutual respect, as lingering neck injuries forced Austin to step away quietly. However, he did have one final outing 19 years later at WrestleMania 38 against Kevin Owens.

3- Edge

Edge shocked the world by announcing his sudden retirement due to a severe neck injury in 2011. On Raw, the Rated-R Superstar fought back tears while explaining that continuing could leave him paralyzed. His heartfelt honesty left fans in awe of his legacy. However, he shockingly returned to wrestling 9 years later at the Royal Rumble PLE and has had a terrific career in both WWE and AEW in his second run.

Shawn Michaels ended his career at WrestleMania 26 after losing to The Undertaker in a “Streak vs. Career” match. Fans and peers wept as “The Heartbreak Kid” thanked them on Raw for sharing his journey, closing a chapter that defined in-ring excellence and storytelling. This becomes more special considering that HBK initially retired in 1998 after severe back injuries but returned in 2002 and went onto have a second Hall of Fame career.

1- Ric Flair

Ric Flair’s farewell at WrestleMania 24 remains one of WWE’s most emotional moments. After losing to Shawn Michaels in a “Career Threatening Match,” Michaels whispered, “I’m sorry, I love you,” before delivering the final Sweet Chin Music. The next night on Raw, Flair received a standing ovation from legends, peers, and fans, cementing his legacy as “The Nature Boy.”