The way Matt Hardy departed a WWE live event on Sunday night has added fuel to the rumors that he will be retiring soon.
A professional wrestler's career can sometimes end in the blink of an eye. Even though most of the men and women in the industry compete hundreds of times a year, there's no telling which one of those times could be their last match. An accident in the ring or a botched spot could bring the curtain down on a wrestler's career just like that.
Sometimes it isn't even one freak accident. Wrestlers compete so often for so long that eventually what they do is going to take its toll on their body. Someone who is starting to learn all about that is Matt Hardy. The Raw Superstar recently revealed that a lifetime in the ring has caused his lower back so start fusing with his pelvis and it may very well spell the end of his in-ring career.
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Even though Hardy has admitted to his health issues, there has been no confirmation one way or the other about a potential retirement. It was confirmed in the last few days, however, that Hardy took up the role of a producer for a match at SummerSlam. That suggests WWE is already grooming him for a role once he is forced to call it quits between the ropes.
On Sunday night we got yet another indicator that Hardy's time in the ring is almost over. A fan in attendance at the WWE live event in Rochester revealed on Twitter that Bray Wyatt raised Hardy's arm after their match and the two of them stayed in the ring while the audience gave them a standing ovation. You can see the moment in the photo above and some fans believe that it could have been a sign that Sunday night was Hardy's last match.
Whether it was Hardy's last match or not, it is a pretty sad situation. There are a couple of silver linings, though. The tag team veteran has been competing in the ring for well over two decades which is more time than many in the business are afforded. It also seems as if he already has a guaranteed job when he does finally hang up his boots. Someone with a mind as creative as Hardy's needs to be kept around and clearly, WWE realizes that.