Retirement matches are emotional for fans who grew up idolizing wrestlers now stepping away from in-ring competition. John Cena’s upcoming retirement shows fans how deeply wrestlers impact them when they’re gone. Usually, the wrestler retiring would lose their final match as a form of giving back to the business.
Sometimes, the retiring wrestlers win in the case of certain storylines. Here are some big wrestling stars who won in their retirement match.
Ultimate Warrior
If there is a wrestler who turned out to be one of Vince McMahon’s biggest creations during the Golden Era of wrestling, it’s the Ultimate Warrior. Warrior was one of the most decorated superstars throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. His charisma was up there at the same level as Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage.
Although Warrior made his retirement from wrestling in 1998, he came back to the squared circle one final time in 2008. Warrior wrestling one final time in 2008 held significant meaning not only for fans but also for him.
Things have changed for Warrior throughout his time away from wrestling. Warrior went on to become a family man, married with children. He was a different man than he once was, as he was more professional and ethical.
Warrior competed at Nu-Wrestling Evolution in Barcelona, Spain, as he wrestled against Orlando Jordan. Being a family man was important to him; he wanted his wife and daughters to see him wrestle just one time, as they didn’t get to be there when Warrior was in his prime.
With Jordan knowing that Warrior wasn’t able to wrestle like he once could, Jordan carried the match, pulling audibles while easing Warrior into working with him.
Warrior’s comeback showed how big a star he once was, pulling such a well-performed performance for his age and health. The match resulted in Warrior defeating Jordan to become the Nu-Wrestling Evolution World Heavyweight Champion, which he vacated shortly.
