5 WWE legends who should have retired at WrestleMania
With WrestleMania resting at the pinnacle of pro wrestling, the WWE legends have always dreamed of ending their exalted careers here.
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Goldberg and Triple H (via Pinterest)
WrestleMania is known as the Greatest Spectacle in Sports Entertainment. It’s the place where legends rise and legacies are immortalized. Over the years, WWE’s grandest event has emerged as a global phenomenon. As a result, the wrestler dreams of being a part of this monumental event. While the superstars aspire to headline this spectacular event, the WWE legends desire to end their exalted careers here.
Over the years, WWE has seen many icons and legends close their last chapter at the Showcase of the Immortals. Some ended their venerated careers on a high note at The Grandest Stage of Them All. However, others failed to cash in on their WrestleMania moments to bid adieu to their wrestling journey. Besides, there have also been some legends who did not receive a proper farewell match.
WWE has a long list of legends and Hall of Famers who have had an illustrious career. Therefore, there could not have been a better place for them to close the last chapter of their acclaimed career than WrestleMania. Take a look at five WWE legends who should have retired at WrestleMania.
Also Read: 10 Wrestlers who made their WWE debut at WrestleMania
5. Shane McMahon
One of the most iconic names in WWE’s history is Shane McMahon. The 53-year-old has had an incredible career in the industry, giving some of the most breathtaking matches in the past. However, Shane McMahon faced AJ Styles at WrestleMania 33 in a truly spectacular match, leaving the fans in awe. It could have been the perfect WrestleMania match for the WWE legend to bid adieu to his wrestling career.
Despite Shane-O-Mac losing the match, it was one of the best matches of his WWE career. However, with not much fuel left in his tank, the 53-year-old continued to wrestle. With the WWE legend aging up, it looks like he is just stretching his iconic career redundantly. Therefore, WrestleMania 33 was the perfect stage for Shane McMahon to close the last chapter of his venerated career.
4. Kane
Kane is one of the eminent figures who left an unparalleled legacy in the world of pro wrestling. However, the WWE legend never received a proper farewell match before ending his iconic career. WrestleMania 30 was the perfect place for Kane to retire from the pro wrestling world. The Big Red Monster faced The Shield in a tag team match which was perhaps his last best in-ring match in WWE.
Besides, it would have been befitting for the WWE legend to retire on the same night when his brother The Undertaker’s streak came to an end. It was also a monumental night as Kane’s former tag partner, Daniel Bryan, won the championship the same night. Therefore, in terms of storyline, WrestleMania 30 would have been the perfect farewell stage for the WWE legend.
3. Goldberg
When it comes to legends, Goldberg is definitely somewhere near the top of the list. The Hall of Famer returned to WWE in 2016 after twelve long years. He went on to face Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series 2016, proclaiming his comeback to the wrestling scene. However, the HOF’er signed with WWE for limited matches and kept on wrestling sporadically every year in superfluous matches.
Even though Goldberg wrestled only a handful of matches, he surely has lost his spark. WrestleMania 33 could have been the ideal place for the WWE legend to hang up his boots. Despite, Brock Lesnar defeating him in the match, it was truly a remarkable match for Goldberg. The long build-up and storyline would have made perfect sense with the WWE legend bidding adieu to his iconic career at the hands of Lesnar.
2. The Rock
Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a. The Rock, is one of the most electrifying names in sports entertainment. However, he is one of those WWE legends who never got a farewell match. He made sporadic appearances at the company before announcing his retirement in 2019. The Rock returned to WWE in 2011 and had an incredible feud with John Cena. The storyline transcended time and stood as the epitome of long-term storytelling.
Therefore, the iconic feud between the two greats saw its first wave at WrestleMania 28. However, it reached its apotheosis the following year at WrestleMania 29. It truly defined a monumental feud between the two greatest superstars in WWE history. Therefore, WrestleMania 29 was the perfect place where The Rock should have retired, ending his exalted WWE career against John Cena.
1. Triple H
Triple H is one of the most decorated superstars in the history of WWE. Despite his illustrious career, the WWE legend had to retire in 2022 due to heart surgery. As a result, he never had a proper farewell match before hanging up his boots. However, WrestleMania 35 was the perfect place for The Game to retire. He competed against Batista in a no-holds-barred match with his career at stake.
Triple H won the match, and as a result, Batista retired. However, the two superstars have a long history and have been part of the iconic faction, The Evolution. Therefore, the two WWE legends closing the last chapter of their pro wrestling careers together in the same match would have been a monumental moment. Thus, WrestleMania 35 was the perfect place for Triple H to bid adieu to his illustrious wrestling career.
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Subhasish Deb
(863 Articles Published)