The Dudley Boyz Retire at Bound for Glory 2025 After 29 Years of in-Ring Competition

After debuting in 1996 and wrestling in brands like WWE, WCW, and TNA, The Dudley Boyz competed in their swansong against The Hardy Boyz.

The Dudley Boyz Retire at Bound for Glory 2025 After 29 Years of in-Ring Competition

The Dudley Boyz and The Hardy Boyz (via WWE and TNA)

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Wrestling fans will never forget the night of April 1, 2001, when The Dudley Boyz, The Hardy Boyz, and Edge & Christian clashed in the second-ever TLC Match at WrestleMania X-Seven. That unforgettable bout redefined tag team wrestling, setting a new standard for chaos and cementing all three teams as legends of the sport. Now, 24 years later, the time has come to bid farewell to one of those iconic duos. 

After decades of tables, ladders, and unforgettable moments, it’s truly the end of an era for The Dudley Boyz. At TNA Bound for Glory, the legendary teams competed for both the WWE NXT and TNA World Tag Team titles. The atmosphere was electric as the duo made their entrance, bringing a table and calling out their brother, Brother Runt (Spike Dudley), to a huge ovation. 

Moments later, the Hardys arrived after an equally massive reaction, carrying a ladder and a chair for good measure, setting the stage for one last clash of tag team legends. The bell rang to chants of “Holy s–t!” as both teams squared off. Chaos erupted instantly with The Dudleys hitting Matt with a 3D, sending him crashing down early. 

They soon followed up with the “WHAZZUPPPP” headbutt on Jeff and, after a loud “Get the tables!” chant, put Jeff through one. Matt fought back valiantly, using chairs and landing a Twist of Fate on D’Von, but missed a running elbow drop that sent him through a table. Moments later, Jeff climbed a ladder on the stage and hit a Swanton Bomb on D’Von through a table, evening the score.

Back in the ring, it came down to Bully Ray vs. The Hardys. Matt and Jeff battered him with chairs before hitting a Twist of Fate–Swanton Bomb combo. With Bubba dazed, they dropped the chairs and, after Bubba muttered “I’m sorry,” delivered a double uranage through a table to retain their titles.

After the match, both teams embraced to thunderous “Thank you Dudleys!” chants. In a symbolic farewell, The Dudley Boyz removed their boots and handed them to The Hardys, marking the end of an era. As they walked up the ramp one last time, Jeff lightened the mood by finally breaking the stubborn table in the corner, proving that, in wrestling, nothing stays unbroken forever.

The Dudley Boyz have one of the best resumes in wrestling history

For the unversed, D-Von Dudley had already announced that Bound for Glory would be his final match, and it now appears that Bully Ray has joined him in retirement. Facing one of their fiercest rivals in The Hardy Boyz, some skeptics felt this might not be the ideal way for Team 3D to end their in-ring careers, given the age and physical toll on both veterans.

The Dudley Boyz in WWE
The Dudley Boyz in WWE (via WWE)

However, what the Dudleys delivered was nothing short of a masterclass, a thrilling bout that reminded fans why they’re regarded as one of the greatest tag teams of all time. Shortly after the match, Bully Ray confirmed his retirement on social media with a heartfelt message.

The 54-year-old shared a photo of himself walking out of the arena alongside D-Von after The Hardys retained their titles and wrote a one-liner message. 

Thank YOU. The End.

Bully Ray via X

For context, while D-Von had been inactive for quite some time while Ray remained busy on the independent circuit earlier this year. He notably wrestled Zilla Fatu twice, defeating him at House of Glory: High Intensity to win the HOG Crown Jewel Championship, before later dropping the title back to Fatu at HOG Philadelphia.

Few tag teams in wrestling history can boast a resume as decorated as The Dudley Boyz. Over their illustrious career, the duo captured more than 25 tag team championships across major promotions, making them one of the most successful teams of all time. 

In WWE, they became eight-time World Tag Team Champions and also held the WCW Tag Team Titles during the Invasion era. Their legendary run in ECW saw them win the ECW World Tag Team Championship a record eight times, solidifying their place as one of the company’s most dominant forces.

Beyond WWE and ECW, the Dudleys proved their dominance around the world, capturing the IWGP Tag Team Titles in New Japan Pro Wrestling, the TNA World Tag Team Championships, and even the NWA and Hustle Tag Team Titles. 

Their legacy isn’t defined by championships alone; their WWE Hall of Fame induction in 2018 served as a fitting tribute to a team that revolutionized tag team wrestling with their unmatched toughness and signature battle cry of “Get the tables!”

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