One of the traditions in wrestling is that when a performer decides to hang up the boots for good, they lose their final match to help create a new superstar that will take their place when they're gone. But some wrestlers have retired without taking taking that one final loss.
Over the years, many legends have finished their careers looking up at the lights as the referee counts three. Not all of these losses have been against young up-and-comers, as some have been the final battle between two warriors who fought countless times. But other superstars have retired with their hands raised in victory and never made come back to the ring to return the favor.
10 Win: Hulk Hogan
While Hulk Hogan's final televised match came at Bound For Glory 2011, where he lost to long-time rival Sting, his last bout happened in Manchester, England, on the Maximum Impact Tour in 2012. Hogan teamed up with Sting and James Storm to face Bobby Roode, Bully Ray, and Kurt Angle. After such an illustrious career, it's a shame that Hogan's retirement match didn't happen on a bigger stage and with a loss to a wrestler who could have benefited from pinning The Hulkster.
9 Loss: Steve Austin
Excluding the Beer Drinking Contest against JBL and the Redneck Triathlon against Eric Bischoff, Stone Cold Steve Austin's final match was at WrestleMania XIX, where he fought with The Rock for one last time. At the time, fans didn't know that Austin wouldn't be returning to the ring. Fans just enjoyed watching The Brahma Bull and The Rattlesnake go at it.
8 Win: The Rock
Three years after passing the torch to John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania 29, The Great One would make a return to the ring after being confronted by The Wyatt Family. The Rock would challenge the faction to a fight, and Erik Rowan would step up to go one on one with The Great One. While the encounter didn't measure up with any of Rock's other classic battles, his final match does hold the record for being the shortest in WrestleMania history lasting a measly six seconds.
7 Loss: Ric Flair
The Nature Boy Ric Flair was lucky enough to have two retirement matches, and he lost both of them. The first was the classic encounter with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXIV, where HBK super-kicked Flair after telling the Nature Boy that he loved him.
But Flair wasn't ready to hang up the boots and headed to TNA for a few more matches. His final battle happened on a September 2011 episode of Impact where he faced his long-time foe, Sting. After some classic back-and-forth action, The Stinger forced the Nature Boy to tap out in the match and on his in-ring career.
6 Win: Randy Savage
After WCW closed its doors, the Macho Man Randy Savage took some time off wrestling but would make a triumphant return to the ring at the 2004 edition of TNA Turning Point. Savage would only have one match with the company by teaming up with Jeff Hardy and AJ Styles to take on the familiar faces of Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and Jeff Jarrett. The Macho Man almost didn't make it to the ring as he was taken out before the contest. But Savage would muster up the strength to come to the ring and deliver his patented elbow drop to secure the victory.
5 Loss: Kurt Angle
It was recently reported that Kurt Angle wanted to have his final match against one of his favorite opponents, John Cena. But Vince McMahon had other ideas and put the Olympic gold medalist in a rivalry with Baron Corbin. Unfortunately, the match had to follow Triple H and Batista, but Angle and Corbin managed to put on a decent show. Angle would lose the contest after being knocked out with the End Of Days. The multi-time world champion would then deliver a short retirement speech to the fans in attendance.
4 Win: Ultimate Warrior
The Ultimate Warrior has one of the best records in the history of professional wrestling, losing only 16 times in his entire career. So, it was unlikely that his final battle would result in defeat.
After the terrible Halloween Havoc encounter with Hulk Hogan, Warrior would wait ten years before returning to the squared circle. His final battle would be at the NWE Summer Tour 2008, where he competed for their World Heavyweight Championship against Orlando Jordan. But instead of putting over the younger Jordan, Warrior would become their new champion.
3 Loss: Batista
After spending five years away from competing in the squared circle, Batista would make a return to the ring at WrestleMania 35 to do battle with former friend and foe, Triple H. The stipulation was that if The Game lost that he would have to retire from in-ring competition. Despite tripping as he entered the ring, The Animal didn't seem to have lost a step, and both men put on an amazing, brutal performance. Batista would come up short and announce his retirement after the contest, which left fans wondering who will be the one to retire Triple H.
2 Win: The Undertaker
Many people thought that The Undertaker had called it a day after losing to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 33, but The Deadman wasn't done yet. He would go on to have some great encounters with Triple H and John Cena, and one not so great battle with Goldberg. But at WrestleMania 36, Undertaker and AJ Styles stole the show with the Boneyard Match. It was a cinematic experience that provided a perfect ending for the Deadman that included him riding off into the night on his bike.
1 Loss: Sting
No wrestler wants to have to retire due to an injury, but that's what happened with Sting. The former WCW legend surprised everyone by returning to WWE and inserting himself into the title picture with Seth Rollins. The two would do battle at an event that Sting was more than familiar with, Night Of Champions. However, after a Buckle Bomb didn't go right, Sting would lose control of his legs and collapse. He managed to finish the match and put over Rollins, but the impacts from the move forced him into retirement.