Although professional wrestling is an industry in which it feels like no one is ever really retired until they are wheelchair bound or worse, there are still many who have stepped foot out of the ring and entered into a “retirement”.
When looking ahead to 2025, fans know already that they will be saying goodbye to John Cena, who is embarking on a retirement run – but who else will join him in hanging up the boots and moving onto other things? The following are wrestlers from the likes of AEW and WWE who are either at the right age to call it a day, or have hinted that retirement is on the horizon.
Billy Gunn Is The Oldest Competitor On AEW’s Roster
He Has Had A Surge In Popularity In AEW
Billy Gunn might’ve retired already had it not been for huge growth in popularity he experienced when joining up with The Acclaimed in AEW, but with that act firmly running its course, it could well be time soon for Billy Gunn to step away from the ring for good, especially since he is now in his 60s.
Will Ospreay has teased retiring Billy Gunn, and the man himself even noted when speaking to A2TheK that he wanted to face Ospreay instead of his sons. (H/T Fightful)
“(Austin & Colten) say I have to wrestle them, that’s my retirement match. I tell them Will Ospreay is my retirement match. They get so mad about that.”
R-Truth Is WWE’s Oldest Active Wrestler Today
Truth’s Age Is Not Slowing Down
R-Truth doesn’t seem to age, but he is now 52 years old and perhaps nearing the end of his wrestling career. At the back end of 2023 and start of 2024, Truth experienced perhaps his last big push in WWE as he went on to win the tag titles, but he is now on a downward slope again with others stepping up on the roster.
2025 could be the year in which we finally see Truth take his leave considering he is the oldest active wrestler in WWE today.
Jeff Jarrett Feels Like He Is Approaching One Last Big Run In AEW
His Popularity Has Grown In 2024
No one thought Jeff Jarrett would draw the biggest pops in AEW in 2024, but he is currently among the most popular names in the company thanks to a successful babyface turn and consistent good work ever since coming into the company.
He might be in his 50s, but Jarrett is still working at a good level. However, that won’t be for long, and if he is to have a successful retirement run, it needs to be capitalized upon soon given that fans are so responsive to him, meaning 2025 could be the end of his career.
AJ Styles Has Teased That A Retirement Is Coming
His Style Of In-Ring Work Will Not Continue As He Gets Older
As proven by his work in 2024, AJ Styles is still a world class in-ring performer. However, given his in-ring style, his longevity, and his focus on ensuring his legacy remains strong, he is likely to walk away sooner than many would like. Speaking to The Ringer, he revealed his retirement is coming soon. (H/T Cageside Seats)
“I’m done. I’m going to retire. I’m getting to that point where I am worried about embarrassing myself. My brain says, ‘We can do this.’ My body is like, ‘You’re stupid. We cannot do this. We’re hurting every day when we roll out of bed.’ At some point, this has to come to an end.”
Adam Copeland’s AEW Run Will Be His Last In Wrestling
He Is In AEW To Have Fun Before Hanging It Up On His Own Terms
When Adam Copeland came to AEW in 2023, it was clear that this was set to be a retirement run. He performed great in matches, had a strong feud with Christian Cage, and even got his hands on championship gold once again. An ill-timed injury halted things though, putting him on the shelf for months.
This might be the only reason Copeland continues his stay in AEW beyond 2025, but there is still a strong chance that he wraps things up after another year competing in first-time matches and ticking off bucket list opponents.
Dustin Rhodes Has Defied Age, But He Will Likely Retire Soon
Rhodes Is One Of The Oldest Names In AEW
For a long time, it was said that Dustin Rhodes was simply getting better with age. However, there are signs that he is slowing down now, and perhaps not at the same high level he was at a few years ago. He is still a good hand in AEW & ROH, but 2025 may be his last year.
Rhodes seems like someone who is happy to keep going as long as he is good in the ring, so with him now on the other side of the slope, he might decide enough is enough next year.
Bryan Danielson Is Stepping Back From Full-Time Wrestling, But He Might Retire For Good
Life At Home Might Be Too Good For Danielson To Risk
Bryan Danielson has been open about the fact that 2024 is the end of his full-time run as a professional wrestler, prioritizing the wishes of his children to stay at home. This of course means that we could still see him wrestle from time to time, but that might not necessarily be the case.
Life as a stay-at-home father might end up being too much of a pull for Danielson to ever risk his body again, and this could mean that he even announces his retirement from professional wrestling full stop next year.
Paul Wight Wants One Last Run In The Ring
It Is Surprising That Wight Hasn’t Retired Yet
Paul Wight’s few matches in AEW haven’t impressed, with it clear that Wight is well past it now and cannot move like he used to. Speaking to Downunder The Ring, he noted that does want to get back into the ring soon, but in truth this will likely be one last run before retiring. (H/T F4WOnline)
“I kind of want to go out like Sting did. Have a nice little run, have some great matches, work with some of this amazing young talent we have in AEW, and then slide out.”
Chris Jericho Needs To Retire To Protect His Legacy
Jericho’s Status In AEW Has Rapidly Dropped
Chris Jericho has been very open about the fact that he does not want to retire any time soon, but in truth, if he wants to protect his legacy then he may not have a choice.
Jericho’s work both as a character and in the ring is not bad, but it has decreased in quality a lot since AEW began, and his standing amongst fans is at an all-time low. Jericho should have arguably retired a couple years back when he was on a roll, but it might be too late to get a satisfying retirement run or match out of him now.
Rey Mysterio Will Retire In 2025, Losing To Dominik Mysterio
Mysterio Is Still Competing At A Very High Level Despite His Age
If it weren’t for the fact that Rey Mysterio continues managing to maintain a high level of performance, and the prospect of a big retirement match with Dominik Mysterio, then the Hall Of Famer would have likely been long gone by now.
He cannot continue going on like this forever though, and with his son on the precipice of becoming an even bigger star, a retirement match in 2025 feels like the absolute perfect time for him to finally put his son over and bow out on his legendary career.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
