It isn't easy to become a WWE Legend. It takes years of dedication to the craft, ensuring that you are at the top of your game throughout your entire career, connecting with an audience and earning their respect.
Legendary status isn't bought or asked for, it is given once it has been earned, from the fans. Because there are constant top stars coming and going in WWE, earning a legend status isn't as easy as it might seem.
Then once you become a legend, it is easy to not want to leave, hogging the limelight and staying on top, which some do. But thankfully, many choose to walk away and allow their careers to be what they were, and within this article, we will look at 5 legends who crave the spotlight, and 5 who have no interest.
10 Love The Spotlight: Triple H
Triple H might not have retired from wrestling yet, but that doesn't mean he needs to be heavily featured at every single WrestleMania from now until the point when he does hang up his boots.
The Game is doing incredible work behind the scenes with WWE, after all, his work with NXT is totally groundbreaking and has changed the entire company, but he still does crave the spotlight for himself
Triple H popping up on Raw or SmackDown isn't an irregular thing and every year at 'Mania he takes a major match spot, normally being the longest on the card, away from a current talent who could likely use it better.
9 Have Moved On: Kane
Kane wrestled regularly for an incredible amount of time, being one of WWE's longest servants, managing to sustain his career at the very top level, and while he wasn't a major WWE Champion, he is still a huge legend.
Kane could very easily return whenever he wanted to WWE and the company would likely create a story or a match for him, but instead of continuing to appear in a WWE ring, Kane has moved on in his life.
He now focuses on politics and his role in that world and while there is no doubt that at some stage we will see him return, certainly to earn a Hall Of Fame induction, for the most part, he smartly stays away.
8 Love The Spotlight: The Undertaker
While many people might not want to admit it, the fact is that The Undertaker really should have called time on his career by now as he can no longer perform at the same level fans are used to.
Of course, whenever he appears he earns a massive reaction from the fans which is more than deserved, and seeing him pop back every now and then is something that most fans would welcome with open arms.
But he continues to appear several times a year, wrestling multiple matches some years which isn't needed anymore. Hopefully, WWE can create a compelling retirement story and allow Undertaker to finish things up in the near future.
7 Have Moved On: CM Punk
Some might not class CM Punk as a WWE legend, but there is no doubt that he changed the game for professional wrestling, ushering in a new era of Superstar in WWE helping to allow smaller wrestlers earn a main event slot.
When Punk left WWE, he was the most talked-about wrestler in the entire world, and many expected him to milk that for all it was worth, yet he did the total opposite because outside of his UFC fights, Punk has actually done very little in the limelight.
In terms of wrestling, Punk has very much stayed away and kept quiet, not getting involved in issues and as it seems like he will not wrestle again, Punk really has kept himself to himself.
6 Love The Spotlight: Hulk Hogan
The only reason you haven't seen much of Hulk Hogan in WWE lately is that the company is scared of the negative backlash that they will receive from many wrestling fans, but that hasn't stopped them from using him completely.
The Hulkster has always been known as a guy who loves the limelight and attention, with that being one of his problems throughout his career, refusing to put others over and often booking himself in better positions.
Even now, Hogan still wants to be out in the ring as often as he can, and even though he is a huge name, the fact is that he has had his time and the controversies around him mean that many don't want to remember all that much of it.
5 Has Moved On: Edge
The career of Edge is often greatly overlooked by many because he didn't wrestle late into his life due to injuries, but the fact is that nobody in the history of WWE has held more championships than the Rated R Superstar.
Granted, the reason he stays away from WWE could be because of the fact he has been injured, only hitting one spear since his retirement at SummerSlam this year to an unbelievable pop.
But Edge has quietly sat in the background, built up his acting career, and kept in touch with wrestling through his podcast with Christian, only making returns to WWE when it actually helps the business.
4 Love The Spotlight: Trish Stratus
Over the past couple of years, the women's division of WWE has completely taken off, with the female talents being treated as megastars, going from bathroom breaks to the main event of WrestleMania.
During that time, several WWE Legends have made their way back to the company in order to be a part of it, none more so than Trish Stratus. From being in the women's Royal Rumble to appearing at Evolution to her most recent match with Charlotte Flair, Stratus has been back a lot lately.
Whether it is simply wanting to be part of history or not wanting to stay away from the spotlight is unknown, but Stratus can definitely still work, so she hasn't looked out of place.
3 Has Moved On: John Cena
At this point in time, it is fair to call John Cena a WWE legend, as his days of active in-ring competition are very much behind him, and that isn't a bad thing, as he gave more than most people have to the wrestling business.
Cena makes his returns to the squared circle when it makes sense when the moment is right and he can be used to benefit other talents, rather than simply outstaying his welcome as many legends do.
He will certainly have one more small run with the company to retire properly, after all, he loves wrestling far too much to not do that, but that will likely be welcomed by fans.
2 Love The Spotlight: Ric Flair
You just know that anytime WWE needs a legend to appear for some reason, Ric Flair is always down to do it as the two-time Hall Of Famer is someone who cannot get enough of the spotlight.
Flair's career has been built on that fact, with the Nature Boy often returning to WWE for segments, while he also brings his wrestling career into other lines of work, from rap videos to shoe sponsorships.
Fortunately for the Nature Boy, he is so beloved by wrestling fans that they really do not care that he is obsessed with the spotlight, with the WWE Universe actually embracing that fact each time he appears.
1 Has Moved On: Stone Cold Steve Austin
Although the WWE Hall Of Famer has returned to WWE a few times in recent memory, if you look back at the number of appearances Stone Cold Steve Austin has actually made since leaving WWE, it isn't that many.
Austin is very aware of his value and the fact is he could appear every week on Raw and get the biggest reactions of the night, earn some good money, and only hit a Stunner and drink a few beers.
However, the Texas Rattlesnake is smart about when he returns, choosing moments that actually mean something as opposed to forcing himself upon the fans for the sake of it, which makes his returns feel even more special.