Bowing Out Gracefully

[Guest]

Now let me start by saying that I totally marked out when HBK came out, since I basically thought he would be every mystery partner, surprise guest, special referee, stalker or Higher Power since 1998. But that being said, I'm not sure this is the best move, because as he said last week, he's not the same guy.

 

So it's going to end up dissapointing people, as we expect four star matches every time out, which likely is impossible. I compare it a lot to when Michael Jordan came back last year. He actually played rather well, but not when compared to his prior legacy.

 

The question I get after all this is does any wrestler ever leave on top and stay gone. Michaels did for a while, but he got sucked in, just like every other guy who "retired" and then returned as a shadow of his former self. The only guy even close was Foley, and even he came back for WM2000 and looked bad doing it.

 

I honestly can't think of any wrestler who knew when to get out, and left before all his talent did, like Jim Brown in football.

 

Anyone?

 

http://www.americasguest.cjb.net

[Guest Cataclysm911]

Terry Funk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

hahahahahahahhahaaha

[Guest red_file]

You could probably make a case for Steamboat bowing out gracefully.  True, he was forced out by injuries, but for the most part he was near the top of his game until he left.

[Guest]

Someone who left before all his talent did....Ummmm....

 

Mick Foley?

[Guest]

I think we can say Bret Hart in this convo also.

[Guest Goodear]

Someone who left before all his talent did....Ummmm....

 

Mick Foley?

Ehh, Foley could still bring it for the big time Pay-Per-Views, but his day in, day out TV wrestling had gotten progressively worse until he was almost completely unwatchable unless he was falling from something high.

[Guest Ravenbomb]

Sting?

[Guest Dangerous A]

It's hard to pinpoint someone in North America who has bowed out gracefully.

 

In Japan however, there is usually a grand ceremony and the wrestlers are treated more respectfully when they leave, although they usually do the right thing and job their last match. Only men right now I can think of that wanted to job their last match were Mick Foley and Terry Funk.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

Ric Flair lost to Austin on Raw last night....a decade after he was originally suppose to.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

Goldberg.

 

So far he has stayed retired.

[Guest bob_barron]

I say Sting- that match on Nitro was awesome.

[Guest Just call me Dan]

I truly believe Hogan will do just that in the next few months because he has accomplished everything, even coming back to the WWF, and winning its title one more time with all of the new blood. A few more big money "dream" matches and he'll go out like a true sportsman.  Should have done it years ago, but still.

[Guest El Satanico]

HBK should stay retired from ring action. The ONLY thing he will do if he wrestles again is tarnish his career. Only the HBK fans that put on blinders actually believe that he will ever be able to perform at the level that the fans EXPECT from him.

 

I think Austin will stay retired when he decides to retire. Undertaker needs to retire soon before he looks like a joke to even his fans that still support him. Hogan will retire from WWeee(even if they have to force him out) in a few months, but rather or not he will truly retire remains to be seen. I fear that The Immortal Hulk Hogan is a true statement and that Hogan will never go away and will live forever.