Best WWE Retirement Matches Ranked

In any sport, a retirement is always a unique experience to witness. There’s something special about watching a legendary athlete compete one last time. While it is bittersweet knowing you’re seeing a legend for the final time, it’s equally essential for an athlete to time their farewell properly, to preserve their legacy and leave fans with good memories.

In the world of professional wrestling, retirements work very differently. They’re often a disappointment, as wrestlers frequently come out of retirement, rendering those special moments meaningless. More often than not, wrestlers are also well past their peak by the time they hang up their boots, thus not being able to deliver a memorable performance.

As we all know, John Cena, who is one of the most popular wrestlers ever, will be wrestling his final match on December 13th, 2025. Cena has shown that he’s still capable of delivering quality performances, so fans are hopeful his farewell will be a great one. As we await Cena’s final match, let’s take a look at the 10 best retirement matches in WWE history.

10. Goldberg Vs. Gunther (Saturday Night’s Main Event – 07/12/2025)

This is the most recent retirement match on the list. Goldberg was an insanely popular figure during the late 1990s in WCW and is widely regarded as one of the most iconic stars in that company’s history. However, his WWE tenure has been largely controversial, particularly his second run since his return in 2016.

He’s had meaningless title reigns and been involved in some truly awful matches. Despite the controversies, Goldberg absolutely deserved a proper sendoff given his legendary status and popularity.

His final match took place at Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12th, 2025, in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. He challenged Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship. Gunther was the perfect choice as his final opponent, as he was one of the very few wrestlers capable of carrying Goldberg to a decent match.

Surprisingly, the bout went well over 14 minutes, a rarity for a Goldberg match. The match did have its flaws, but Goldberg delivered a respectable performance that made for a solid send-off.

Even though Goldberg had some complaints about this retirement match, it was actually a fitting farewell, especially in his hometown. Goldberg seems to be done with wrestling, and it seems highly unlikely he’ll ever step foot in the ring again.

9. William Regal Vs. Antonio Cesaro (NXT – 12/25/2013)

William Regal was a notable name in WWE during the 2000s. He was a brilliant in-ring technician who also excelled in various non-wrestling roles throughout his career. It’s a shame Regal never won a World Title in WWE, as he would have made an excellent champion

By 2010, the 2008 King of the Ring winner had transitioned away from working important matches and eventually became a commentator for NXT. In late 2013, Regal found himself in a feud with Antonio Cesaro, culminating in a match on the NXT Rewind episode that aired on December 25th, 2013.

The match was an incredible display of technical wrestling, featuring excellent psychology. Both men did a tremendous job, with great selling and in-ring work. Cesaro would pick up the win after hitting Regal with the Neutralizer.

The match remains Regal’s last wrestling match, and it was the perfect way for the man to retire, elevating Cesaro on his way out. Since then, Regal has continued working non-wrestling roles in both WWE and AEW, which he has excelled at.