'The End' - Bubba Ray & Devon Dudley Retire after TNA Bound For Glory Loss vs The Hardys

It was an emotional night at Bound for Glory for many reasons, including Tito Santana defeating Trick Williams to become the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. But there were already tears before the Puerto Rican's historic win as Team 3D bid farewell to pro wrestling after a tables match against longtime rivals The Hardys.

The finish came when The Hardys were able to put Bubba Ray through a table, having worn him down with several chair shots. Jeff inevitably took to the skies during the match, delivering a Swanton Bomb on Devon through multiple tables.

The post-match interaction between the two teams had fans weeping as they embraced before the Dudley Boyz handed their boots to their opponents. Spike Dudley arrived ringside at the start of the match to only further indicate that this was the last hurrah for his brothers.

Bubba Ray took to X following the match and suggested he and Devon had called time on their careers. He wrote: "Thank YOU. The End."

Matt Hardy acknowledged the Dudley Boyz's final bow with a post of his own on X. He wrote: "THANK YOU, (Devon)

& (Bully Ray) .. WE LOVE YOU."

The Dudleys will go down as one of the greatest tag teams in history, with their careers spanning 20 years since their 1996 debut. Their peak came in WWE during one of the most exciting periods in tag team wrestling, when they rivalled The Hardy Boyz and Edge and Christian, culminating in one of the best TLC matches in history at WrestleMania 17.

Bubba Ray, 54, and Devon, 53, became eight-time tag team champions in the WWE and ECW. They also held the TNA tag titles twice. The duo also competed in NJPW, becoming two-time IWGP tag team champions, and then embarked on solo careers.

The height of the Dudleys' exploits as singles stars came in TNA, particularly for Bubba Ray, whose portrayal of Bully Ray achieved widespread acclaim. He became the TNA World Heavyweight Champion and only further cemented their legacy as one of the most talented performers in the business.

Kurt Angle: Dudley Boyz are 'Greatest Tag Team of All Time'

The Dudleys are heralded by pretty much any opponent they have ever faced because they influenced pro wrestling, paving the way for tag teams of this generation. Their characters connected with fans, and they proved they had the charisma and in-ring ability to succeed in singles competition.

Kurt Angle once described Team 3D as the "greatest tag team in history" when recalling La Resistance's impact in WWE. The former six-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion said on The Kurt Angle Show podcast in 2023:

"(La Resistance) had a pretty good run. Yeah. They beat The Dudleys, they, you know, for the World Championship. So yeah, The Dudleys are the greatest tag team of all time. So they did pretty well."

The Dudleys became synonymous with tables during their ECW run in the mid-1990s, and their iconic catchphrase remains a staple of pro wrestling whenever the weapon is used. Bubba Ray may be relieved after such a lengthy career to no longer have to yell 'Devon! Get The Tables!"