Top star to retire after suffering an injury; legend to announce farewell soon? - 5 WWE stars who could retire in 2025 after Goldberg and John Cena
WWE megastars John Cena and Goldberg plan to retire from the ring in 2025. Cena shared his retirement plans a couple of months back, and Goldberg has now revealed he'll also step away from wrestling in 2025.
Cena kicked off his legendary journey in 2002, while Goldberg made a name for himself in WCW. Both greats will conclude a significant career. Which other superstars might be thinking about retirement? Here are five who could potentially call it a day in 2025.
#5. AJ Styles could hang up his boots after recent injury
The Phenomenal One recently returned after a hiatus, but things didn't go well for him. He got injured during his first match back on SmackDown. Given that Styles seems to be in the later stages of his career, his latest injury might lead him to retire from the squared circle.
While Styles remains a formidable presence in the ring, his WWE contract is set to end in 2024, which hints that he might retire by 2025. He recently shared that he plans to hang up his boots once his current WWE deal wraps up. After that, he could focus on training new talent for the company.
#4. Rey Mysterio could call it a career
Rey Mysterio has had an amazing and memorable career. Now in his late 40s, he might be thinking about hanging up his mask. A final match with his son, Dominik Mysterio, could be a touching way to wrap up his journey.
The Master of the 619 has stated that he’s looking to retire in the next couple of years. He said that he doesn’t want to stay around and go out on a low note. What an incredible fan service it would be if he could somehow meet Dominik Mysterio at the Show of Shows, finishing off his renowned career with a father-son angle.
#3. Randy Orton could also retire.
Randy Orton has expressed his wish to keep wrestling until he turns 50 and maybe even longer. Still, his current physical state might affect that goal.
Coming back from an injury that almost ended his career, Orton put on a great show at WWE Survivor Series 2023 but is now faced with the difficult challenge of managing his performance. His level of competition is at a maximum; however, the wear and tear on his body might compel him to consider his future. He would have to reconsider his ambitions, and this might make him hang up his boots sooner rather than later.
His love for wrestling is intense, but his health will be a key factor in his career's longevity.
#2. The Rock could say goodbye due to Hollywood commitments
The Brahma Bull stole the show at WrestleMania 40. Even at 52 and eight years since his last match, he still wowed the crowd. His amazing shape hints that he could keep wrestling for a few more years.
However, with Hollywood demanding a significant chunk of his time and various other obligations beyond WWE, The Rock may be considering retirement sooner than fans hope. However, we can likely anticipate a few exciting bouts against Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns.
#1. WWE legend Brock Lesnar could also announce his farewell
Brock Lesnar’s achievements in sports entertainment speak for themselves; one could say he is one of the greatest.
Now that he is arguably approaching retirement age, it is understandable that he might be thinking of hanging up his boots for good. In 2020, Brock teased this a little. He revealed that he nearly retired that year when he wrestled a match to a very limited audience at WrestleMania thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He last appeared at SummerSlam 2023, where he lost to Cody Rhodes. The Beast Incarnate then went on a hiatus, and it's unclear how much longer he will be away from wrestling. This makes his future choices important. As he approaches his 23rd anniversary with WWE, this could be the perfect time for him to consider retirement.