7 Emotional Goodbyes Wrestling Fans Aren't Ready For (& 7 That Are Overdue)

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It's always hard to say goodbye, especially when it comes to saying goodbye to those iconic wrestlers who left an indelible mark on the industry. Some of these wrestlers mean a lot to us, because they were part of our childhood, or our lives. But they are old now, about to retire, and the fans are not ready for that farewell. John Cena is currently having a little run in WWE while the Hollywood actors are on strike, but this is likely one of his final runs.

Part of the journey is the end, that's how life works, and wrestling is no exception. Obviously, fans want to see their favorite superstars wrestle forever, but that's unfortunately impossible. And like it or not, there always comes a time for a wrestler to say goodbye.

Currently, there are several wrestlers across WWE, AEW and NJPW, who are approaching retirement and will say goodbye sooner rather than later. Some may be long overdue for retirement, as they have given all they can give to the industry, and others may still have gas left in the tank, and fans still want to see them compete. Here are five emotional goodbyes wrestling fans aren't ready for, and five that are overdue.

UPDATE: 2023/10/14 07:30 EST BY ROBERTH PEREZ

It's always hard to say goodbye, especially when it comes to saying goodbye to those iconic wrestlers who left an indelible mark on the industry. Some of these wrestlers mean a lot to us, because they were part of our childhood, or our lives. But they are old now, about to retire, and the fans are not ready for that farewell. John Cena is currently having a little run in WWE while the Hollywood actors are on strike, but this is likely one of his final runs.

On the other hand, there are other wrestlers who should have retired long ago, as most fans have already accepted that their contribution to the industry is minimal these days. So, without further ado, let's take a look at seven wrestling farewells that fans are not ready for and five that are overdue.

14 Wrestling Fans Aren't Ready For: John Cena

The last few weeks of WWE programming have been amazing simply because John Cena has been on a regular basis in WWE. He has elevated SmackDown and even had a great match teaming with LA Knight to defeat Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa at Fastlane. However, Cena has said, on more than one occasion, that his time is running out, hinting at retirement, and every time he says it, it's impossible not to get sentimental. Cena is one of the greatest wrestlers in WWE history, and fans are not ready for his farewell.

13 Overdue: Tamina

Somehow, Tamina survived another batch of releases. It's hard to believe because many wrestlers more talented and useful than her are no longer in the company. WWE doesn't even justify her presence on the roster, because she hasn't done anything relevant for a long time and her last main roster appearance was at the 2023 Royal Rumble match. Tamina is already 45 years old and her contribution to the industry seems to be little or nothing. With that said, this goodbye is overdue.

12 Wrestling Fans Aren't Ready For: CM Punk

cm punk holding his hand to his ear, hulk hogan-style

CM Punk is no longer working for AEW, and his retirement for good is a possibility. But are the fans ready to say goodbye to CM Punk? Not at all. Certainly some fans say Punk is too toxic and is better for him to stay home, but it seems like most fans want to see him back in the ring, more specifically, in a WWE ring. Countless fans want to see one last WWE run for CM Punk. The latest reports however is that WWE isn't too interested in bringing Punk back at this present time, but the door may be open in the future.

11 Overdue: The Hardys

Brothers Jeff and Matt Hardy have earned a special place in the hearts of millions of fans. They formed one of the best tag teams in wrestling history, and starred in several memorable moments over the years, mostly in WWE and TNA. However, that they are already close to 50 years old, and it's plain for everybody to see that their wrestling skills are very deteriorated. In fact, some of their matches in AEW have been painful to watch. That's precisely why this farewell is overdue.

10 Wrestling Fans Aren't Ready For: Rey Mysterio

Rey Mysterio will be 49 years old in December, so one assumes that his retirement is near, but fans are not ready for his farewell. Rey Mysterio has had a legendary career, he is a true wrestling icon, and when the time comes for his retirement, many fans will surely shed tears.

Rey Mysterio's retirement may be closer than fans think, but right now he is having a great time as the United States Champion and as a member of LWO. Either way, fans are not ready for Rey Mysterio's goodbye, and that is noticeable every time Rey is in the ring, as fans love him.

9 Overdue: Goldberg

Many fans agree that Goldberg's farewell is long overdue. He has certainly helped WWE sell tickets, as he is a legend of sports entertainment, but he has brought nothing special to the product in his second WWE run.

In fact, it's quite the opposite, Goldberg has perhaps hurt his own legacy, and WWE's product, by burying younger talent, such as when he squashed Kevin Owens or The Fiend. With all due respect, Goldberg should have retired by now. However, he still wants to go back to the ring and have, at least, one more match.

8 Wrestling Fans Aren't Ready For: Hiroshi Tanahashi

Although Hiroshi Tanahashi never worked full-time for an American wrestling promotion, he earned the love of American fans, which is not surprising since he is an authentic babyface.

Hiroshi Tanahashi is one of the best Japanese wrestlers of all time, he has delivered countless extraordinary matches, and has been the protagonist of many memorable moments. However, Tanahashi's skills have been deteriorating, and he is about to turn 46 years old. His retirement is getting closer and closer, but fans are not ready for his farewell.

7 Overdue: Billy Gunn

Billy Gunn has had a good wrestling career, but his goodbye is long overdue. He was WWE Tag Team Champion 11 times, Hardcore Champion twice and was also Intercontinental Champion once.

Now he is in AEW, where it has become clear that his skills are not as good as they used to be to say the least, and that at 58 years old he should consider retirement from in-ring action.

6 Wrestling Fans Aren't Ready For: Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho may be one of the greatest heels in AEW, but fans still love him. Fans are definitely not ready to stop singing Chris Jericho’s theme song. Jericho is 52 years old, and he lost his agility, but his technique is still top-notch, and he’s still a terrific storyteller.

Somehow, this guy has been wrestling for 30 years, he has been healthy, and he never gets boring, because he knows when he has to reinvent himself, and that’s why wrestling fans aren’t ready for Chris Jericho’s goodbye.

5 Overdue: Dustin Rhodes

Dustin Rhodes is one of the most important men behind the scenes in AEW, as he helps develop talent, and several wrestlers, both male and female, have expressed how grateful they are to Dustin.

However, it is time for him to retire from in-ring action before he hurts his legacy, certainly he can still put on decent shows, but he does not have to wait until he embarrasses himself in the ring to say goodbye.

4 Wrestling Fans Aren't Ready For: AJ Styles

The Phenomenal One has had an illustrious career, being arguably the greatest wrestler in TNA history, and making his mark in NJPW and WWE as well.

AJ Styles has made it clear that he will continue to wrestle as long as he feels good, but when he feels his skills deteriorated considerably, then he will not hesitate to say goodbye. Hopefully Styles will feel good for several more years because the fans are definitely not ready for AJ Styles to say goodbye.

3 Overdue: Paul Wight

Paul Wight recently hinted that he is working on an in-ring return, which is fine, as long as it is his last storyline and leads to his farewell. Paul Wight is undefeated in AEW, and perhaps this is a golden opportunity for him to put over a young talent. Wight is already 51 years old, and obviously he struggles to wrestle, and frankly it's surprising that he hasn't retired yet.

2 Wrestling Fans Aren't Ready For: Edge

Edge hinted that he might retire soon, which was certainly a blow to his fans. Edge had a tremendous WWE comeback, no one ever imagined he would wrestle again, let alone do so well. Edge wis already 49 years old, but he has shown that he’s still got it, and has put on several terrific performances. And now, in AEW, he can add a lot to the product. A final feud with Christian Cage will likely be how this incredible career will end. Edge is a legendary wrestler, and fans are not ready for his farewell.

1 Overdue: Sting

Maybe some fans are not ready for Sting's goodbye, but admittedly it is overdue. Sting has been active for much longer than expected, and he has had an amazing AEW run, but time does not pass in vain, and it would be better if Sting says goodbye before it's too late.

Sting is still in shape to deliver a singles match, and that should be his retirement match, perhaps against Darby Allin himself. Putting over young talent, but having an admirable performance in the process, would be the ideal way to say goodbye.