"Never say never" is one of the most common and popular phrases in the wrestling world and that's because of the unpredictable nature of the industry. This phrase is used all the time, whether it comes to certain matches, working for specific companies, or returning for one more match.

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It's very easy in wrestling for someone to say they're retired, but actually sticking with it is another challenge all in itself. Many wrestlers have teased the idea of staying away only to make it back yet again, which is why fans are always skeptical anytime someone says they're retiring.

10 Mick Foley

Mick Foley WrestleMania 2000

When it comes to retirements, Mick Foley really is the king. The Hardcore Legend has called it quits on his career multiple occasions only to return countless times. It was something that became a bit of a tradition, with fans almost expecting him back each time.

Initially retiring in 2000, Foley worked his last match at WrestleMania that year, which didn't end up being the case. He continued wrestling until 2012 when he made his final in-ring appearance.

9 Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan returns from retirement

Daniel Bryan was someone who had a career-ending injury just as he had finally reached the top of the mountain. It was a heartbreaking situation, and over the years, fans accepted that things really were over for him.

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Yet out of nowhere in 2018, Bryan announced he had been medically cleared. It was an incredible moment and he wasted no time in getting straight back to the top of his game with some tremendous performances.

8 Bret Hart

Bret Hart vs VInce McMahon

The Hitman is another amazing wrestler who seemingly had to bring his career to an end due to injuries in 2005. However, in a very unexpected turn of events, not only did he come out of retirement, but he actually returned to WWE.

Bret Hart buried the hatchet with the company and worked a rather lengthy and underwhelming WrestleMania match with Vince McMahon. He also won the United States Championship during a match with The Miz as well, adding another accomplishment to his career.

7 Beth Phoenix

Beth Phoenix and Natalya

Beth Phoenix is one of the greatest women's wrestlers of all time, and she is also someone who has made a return since retirement. She called time on her career in 2012 and went to start a family with Edge.

However, she then made a major return in 2017 and proved that she hadn't missed a single step. Competing in the women's Royal Rumble and then teaming with Natalya at WrestleMania 35, Phoenix enjoyed one final run with WWE.

6 Ricky Steamboat

Ricky Steamboat v Chris Jericho

There was a huge gap between Ricky Steamboat's retirement and his return, and the fact he was so impressive in the ring showcases how good Steamboat is. He originally ended his in-ring career in 1994 and it wasn't until 2009 that he came back.

Steamboat was part of Chris Jericho's WrestleMania match that year when he was feuding with legends. Steamboat was so good in the ring that the company kept him in for a little longer, having a singles feud with Jericho which led to a great match between them.

5 Terry Funk

Wrestling legend Terry Funk

Terry Funk is literally the reason why the phrase "never say never" is used so much in wrestling. The legend has claimed he was retiring so many times that people have begun to forget about each moment.

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He wrestled from 1965 to 2017 (when he finally did retire...it seems) and in-between that point he had multiple retirements that were all very short-lived, with Funk always returning.

4 Ric Flair

Ric Flair TNA

The Nature Boy had arguably the greatest retirement of all time at WrestleMania 24 against Shawn Michaels. WWE gave him the honorable retirement that he deserved, but Ric Flair opted to return to wrestling after that point.

Flair needed money at the time and he decided to join TNA where he continued to wrestle throughout the year. It was seen in a negative light at the time, mainly because of how good his retirement was, and his TNA run certainly didn't heighten his legacy in any way.

3 Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels Saudi Arabia

Shawn Michaels was one man that fans genuinely thought would never return from retirement, and he likely wishes that was the case himself. HBK had always refused to come back, no matter what ideas were floated around until 2018.

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He decided to return and team with Triple H to face the Brothers Of Destruction in what was a very poor match overall. Since that point, Michaels has returned to retirement, where he seems set to stay forever.

2 Edge

Edge Royal Rumble Return

Edge's return at the 2020 Royal Rumble is something that nobody saw coming. The Rated-R Superstar had been gone from the ring since 2011 due to cervical spinal stenosis, and people just presumed that he would never be able to compete again.

However, nine years later, the Hall Of Famer was back. It was a moment that fans absolutely loved and this was one particular retirement speech that audiences didn't care was broken and now he gets to retire on his own terms, whenever that might be.

1 Trish Stratus

Trish Stratus vs Charlotte Flair

She's arguably the best female wrestler in WWE's history and someone who fans really do respect. But she is also someone who returned several times, despite initially retiring as Women's Champion in 2006 at Unforgiven.

Stratus made a few occasional appearances from teaming with John Morrison and Snooki to teaming with John Cena. She then turned up at the first-ever women's Royal Rumble, she worked at Evolution, and then competed in what currently stands as her new retirement match against Charlotte Flair.

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