Retirements in wrestling can often be a complex thing. Time after time, wrestlers have announced 'retirements' only to be back wrestling weeks later, so fans never know when to buy into it.
Mark Henry's fake retirement speech is the perfect example. However, every now and then comes a time when fans know it is genuine. When a wrestler pours their heart out and peels back the character, revealing how they really feel.
So, get your tissues at the ready. Because, within this list, we will be ranking the 10 saddest retirements in wrestling from this decade.
10 Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle might have given fans plenty of warning that he was retiring from wrestling, but that didn't mean people wanted to see it happen. Fans had several emotional moments with Angle's retirement.
From the announcement itself to his final match against Baron Corbin, fans had two major times to show their love to him. With Angle competing every week in between then, he really did go out with a bang.
Of course, as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, it was certainly sad to see him hang up the boots. However, the fact Angle did it on his own terms certainly made things better for the audience.
9 Gail Kim
It isn't just WWE Superstars who have been retiring within this decade. Gail Kim also called time on her career in TNA, bowing out in style against Tessa Blanchard at Rebellion.
As one of the greatest women's wrestlers of all time, Kim is someone who fans didn't want to see retire. While she got to do so on her own terms, that didn't make the decision any easier on the fans.
Kim has continued working in the business though, taking up a role backstage at IMPACT to help the female talent.
8 Doug Williams
He might not be a name that everyone knows, but Doug Williams is a British wrestling icon. While the UK might be talked about plenty now thanks to Pete Dunne and Zack Sabre Jr, it was Williams who kept it going in the mid-90s.
Having competed all over the world, across Europe, in TNA, and in Japan, Williams created an amazing legacy. However, last year, he made the decision to hang up his boots for good.
With one final match for Pro Wrestling Noah against Yoshinari Ogawa, Willaims ended on his terms. For British wrestling fans, in particular, this was a heartbreaking decision to accept.
7 Daniel Bryan
When Daniel Bryan made the announcement he was retiring, fans couldn't quite believe it. Bryan finally got to live out his dream at WrestleMania 30, only to have his title reign cut short due to injury.
He then returned to win the Intercontinental Championship, only to have that cut short due to injury. Fans knew there was a chance it was coming, but that didn't make the news any easier.
With Bryan telling the world he was simply grateful, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. His incredible story didn't end there as he has since been cleared and returned to the ring, and that's why he doesn't rank higher on this list.
6 Batista
His actual retirement itself might not have been emotional, but fans were certainly sad to see Batista's career come to an end. After losing to Triple H at WrestleMania 35, Batista was officially forced to retire from wrestling.
While he didn't give an emotional goodbye speech, Batista did put his body on the line in a brutal match. Considering his Hollywood status, that was something that he didn't need to do, making it more impressive.
The Animal is a future WWE Hall Of Famer, and anytime a top legend retires it is always an emotional moment.
5 Nikki Bella
Some fans might not even be aware that Nikki Bella has retired from in-ring competition, but she sadly has. Despite being one of the biggest names ever in the women's division, Nikki never got her goodbye moment in the ring.
Instead, her retirement was revealed on Total Bellas. While it's a shame she didn't get to say goodbye properly, this perhaps made it even more emotional. Fans were able to see the legitimate reaction of the real human, not a television character.
The Bellas were set to return to WWE to compete for the Women's Tag Titles until she was dealt a hammer blow. Nikki was told she had a cyst on her brain, meaning that she can't compete ever again.
4 The Rock
The Rock quietly announced his retirement during an interview to promote a movie, rather than having a big in-ring moment. However, that doesn't make it any less emotional for the fans.
As one of the most popular wrestlers of all time, hearing that he has called time on his career is certainly a sad moment. Most fans hoped he would have one final match at some point, but that isn't going to happen.
While we can enjoy his occasional appearances, the People's Champion won't be electrifying in an official match capacity again.
3 Paige
Paige's retirement broke the hearts of the WWE Universe collectively. Having had a torrid year, she had finally returned to the ring and seemed to be getting not just her career, but her life back on track.
The wrestling fans had been behind Paige through her public struggles and were excited for her wrestling career to continue. However, after an accidental mistake in the ring, Paige suffered a career-ending neck injury.
Paige had been managing Absolution for several weeks, giving fans hope that she would be cleared. However, when she made the retirement announcement, it certainly left many fans teary-eyed.
2 Shawn Michaels
Even though he did compete once after, in Saudi Arabia, Shawn Michaels retired in 2010. It was 'Streak vs Career' at WrestleMania 26 between him and The Undertaker, and the Deadman came out on top.
While they created one of the best wrestling matches of all time, that didn't make this moment easier. Michaels is one of the greatest of all time, and seeing him call time on his career was something nobody was ready for.
The WWE Universe was hoping that it would be a classic 'wrestling' retirement, but sadly he has stayed away. His goodbye speech was an incredibly emotional one that was perfectly done.
1 Edge
Edge's retirement was more emotional due to the fact nobody saw it coming. Edge was the World Heavyweight Champion at the time, having just defeated Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania.
All seemed well, yet then the news was broke. It clearly took him by surprise as tears rolled down his face while he addressed the WWE Universe. The fans were equally as emotional and it created one of wrestling's saddest moments of all time.
Because he was young and still had so much more to give it hurt even more. Anytime injury is the reason it certainly feels worse and this one was a true hammer blow.