In the world of professional wrestling, there’s a long-standing tradition where veterans often put over rising talent in their final matches, allowing the newer stars to shine while showing their respect for the industry they’ve dedicated their lives to.
However, a select few legendary wrestlers would defy this convention, whether by making a surprise comeback for one last showdown or departing for another wrestling organization as they left WWE victorious, their heads held high as they took their final bows.
Edge
After an incredible journey spanning over 25 years in WWE, Edge sent shockwaves through the wrestling world by making his debut in AEW during the WrestleDream pay-per-view. Given this unexpected move, the chances of the 50-year-old Adam Copeland returning for one last in-ring run seem rather slim. The Rated R Superstar capped off his storied WWE career in his hometown of Toronto, where he secured a memorable victory in a unique first-time-ever showdown against his close friend, Sheamus.
Steve Austin
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin, a true legend of WWE, might not have made this exceptional list had his final match taken place at WrestleMania 19, where he was defeated by The Rock. However, 19 years down the road, the iconic Rattlesnake returned to Texas for his last bout, taking on Kevin Owens in a thrilling No Holds Barred main event. Astonishingly, The Rattlesnake displayed no signs of rust despite nearly two decades away from the ring, and he celebrated his triumphant return with his trademark Texas-sized beer bash.
The Undertaker
The Phenom had been seeking the ideal farewell since his original final match at WrestleMania 33 where he lost to Roman Reigns. In 2020, after an incredible three-decade career, he found his moment to close the chapter against AJ Styles. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing pandemic, fans couldn’t be in attendance, so Taker and Styles had to get innovative in their approach. What unfolded was the birth of the thrilling Boneyard match at WrestleMania 36, where the Undertaker triumphed over Styles and symbolically rode off into the night, delivering a memorable and unique send-off.
Hulk Hogan
Ironically, despite a career as iconic as Hulk Hogan’s, the legend of Hulkamania never had its ultimate moment in WWE. However, there was a significant chapter in 2006 when he made his last WWE appearance at SummerSlam. One year after the infamous showdown with Shawn Michaels, Hogan’s final opponent in WWE turned out to be Randy Orton. While this wasn’t intended to be Hogan’s ultimate farewell match, it marked the last page of his storied WWE career.
Shawn Michaels
Just like Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels appeared to have retired for good after his emotional loss to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26. It seemed like The Heartbreak Kid had gracefully ended his illustrious career. However, there was one more surprising bout in store for this Hall of Famer. Teaming up once more with his longtime friend Triple H, Michaels, and “The Game” took on Kane and The Undertaker at Crown Jewel in 2018. Sadly, this particular match turned out to be an outing that all four participants would probably prefer to erase from their wrestling legacies.
Paige
The narrative is so renowned that it was even brought to life on the silver screen. Paige, an unlikely superstar who was unwavering in her pursuit of joining WWE, achieved her dream by clinching the Divas Championship on the Raw following WrestleMania 30. Her ascent propelled the women’s division to new heights. In a surprising twist, Paige’s last televised match before her astonishing debut in AEW featured her teaming up with Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville to secure a victory against Bayley, Mickey James, and Sasha Banks on an episode of Raw.
Vince McMahon
Despite primarily being recognized as the influential chairman of the board and the occasional maniacal boss in the WWE, Vince McMahon couldn’t resist the allure of stepping into the ring on occasion. A full 12 years after his infamously criticized match against Bret Hart at WrestleMania 26, McMahon found himself drawn to one last contest he simply couldn’t pass up. The stage was set, as he faced off against Pat McAfee, who had previously defeated Austin Theory. McMahon made quick work of the former SmackDown announcer, but his victory celebration was short-lived, as he was on the receiving end of one of the worst Stone Cold Stunners in history.
Jerry Lawler
Another iconic figure in the wrestling world who hasn’t officially retired from in-ring competition, Lawler made sporadic appearances in Raw matches in the 2010s. His last match in WWE took place when The King teamed up with Randy Orton, resulting in a victory over CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler.
Lita
In a thrilling return to the WWE for one more run, the high-flying Lita secured Women’s Tag Team Championship gold alongside Becky Lynch. However, Lita hasn’t been spotted in WWE since a mysterious assailant ambushed her. Her last match saw her join forces with Trish Stratus and Becky Lynch to conquer the formidable faction known as Damage CTRL.
Rikishi
The Attitude Era star concluded his legendary full-time tenure with WWE back in 2004, a fitting end marked by a victorious performance as Rikishi and Scotty 2 Hotty teamed up to overcome The Dudley Boyz. The leader of Too Cool enjoyed two more memorable one-off matches in WWE, both culminating in triumphant moments.
In 2012, the former Intercontinental Champion was part of a collective of legends who took turns squashing Heath Slater in a series of entertaining bouts. Then, in 2014, Rikishi, Scotty 2 Hotty, and Grandmaster Sexay came together for one last Too Cool reunion, thrilling fans as they outshone 3MB on an episode of Raw.
Images obtained from WWE.com
