Guest Redhawk Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 If Kurt Angle were to retire after this latest neck surgery, some people might say, "At least he went out on top." And they're almost right, since -- while he lost his last match -- Kurt was in a World title match at the biggest show of 'em all, he is at the top of his skills right now, and he's still pretty young for a wrestler. However, I would say Kurt didn't go out on top, since basically it would have been a serious injury that forced him out. Does any popular pro wrestler ever go out "on top?" I don't mean wins and losses, but who was the last guy who really walked out on his own terms, at the top of his game, and never came back for that "one last run" and hurt his legacy? (a la what we thought Michael Jordan had done when he retired after hitting the championship-winning shot.) I would say it hardly ever happens. Steve Austin, Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Sid Vicious, Bret Hart, British Bulldog, Scott Steiner, DDP, the Road Warriors, Randy Savage, Jake Roberts, Scott Hall, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair....the list goes on and on and on of guys (and gals; think Sable, Sunny, Missy Hyatt) who stuck around a little too long and limped away from the business -- either forced out by injuries, pushed out by politics or old age, or even if they did walk away, they did so as shadows of their former selfs. Or even if they did maybe stick around too long, does anyone ever have the storybook ending? Does anyone ever go out perfectly? I thought Mick Foley should have retired and stayed retired after the No Way Out HIAC match, but he came back for that WM match and then for that little run as commish. Or if Sting's last match had have been the one he had on the last Nitro; that'd be a perfect sendoff, for him AND Ric Flair. But Flair came back to WWE, and I hear Sting is coming back to do something with Ted DiBiase or Lex Luger or somebody. The only person who looks like they might go out on top? The Rock. I've never been one to say, "So-and-so should retire", in sports or in wrestling, because I understand that these guys love what they do and I know if I was 43 years old and someone still wanted to pay me $2 million to do what I loved (like Patrick Ewing), I'd do it. I just noticed that wrestlers never go out on top, while at least athletes do it every now and then. What do you all think?
Guest IB2BLACK Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 I say why retire, if you can still do it. Look at Hogan, he's 49 and slow as hell, but he's Hulk Hogan. That's all he's ever gonna be. Why not go out there and let the fans see you and get standing ovations, every night. I live in DC, and since Jordan came to the Wizards, it's been a dream come true for me. I actually went and purchased a 10 game ticket package, just to see him. Although he's not the MJ of old, he's still Michael Jordan, and he still can compete. I saw him drop 51 on the Nets a year, ago. Lately, the media has been dogging MJ, cause the Wizards have collapsed and won't make the playoffs, kind of blaming MJ. But, hey if he wasn't there, the Wizards would have sucked more, at least with MJ, they are competitive. I take that back, MJ is competitive, the younger guys, don't care. What a shame.
Guest webmasterofwrestlegame Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 What about the Rock? He hasn't retired, but he is not considered a wrestler by many any more...
Guest eiker_ir Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 i would say Foley went out on top, he had some amazing matches to end his run, and him coming back for WM 2000 didn't bother me a bit. his commisioner run is another thing, he didn't wrestle while he was there so he never really came back u know.....
Guest Army Eye Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 I think Foley still qualifies. I wish he hadn't wrestled at Wrestlemania though.
Guest TheArchiteck Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 If Hogan were to retire tommorow, he would go out on top. He constantly get standing ovations and is still loved by many. I'm not to sure about Flair though.........Although he will apart of ANY match that has a chop in it.
TheOriginalOrangeGoblin Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 Ricky Steamboat He went out puttign over the next big thing(Austin) in **** matches and he had not overstayed his welcome.
Guest bob_barron Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 What about Sting? No one really saw his WWA work so the guy went out wrestling the last match in WCW history
Guest Brian Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 No one ever goes out on top, because the business doesn't allow it. You either put someone over while your still good for something or you fade back as you stay long past you're prime, because the money and live crowds are too alluring.
Guest Dynamite Kido Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 I would have to say that Ricky Steamboat definately went out on top. He never was stale anywhere he wrestled and that says a lot because he never changed from face/heel. He was the face his entire career.
Guest Fook_Hing_Ho Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 But Steamboat didn't exactly walk out on his own terms, he was forced out due to a freak injury.
Guest Jobber of the Week Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 Does any popular pro wrestler ever go out "on top?" I don't mean wins and losses, but who was the last guy who really walked out on his own terms, at the top of his game, and never came back for that "one last run" and hurt his legacy? I highly suspect that, once he DOES retire, the Undertaker will have such a departure.
Mrnoitaull Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 i would say Foley went out on top, he had some amazing matches to end his run, and him coming back for WM 2000 didn't bother me a bit. his commisioner run is another thing, he didn't wrestle while he was there so he never really came back u know..... totally agree. Think he was the only one.
Guest Choken One Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 I would Say Undertaker will make certain he gets to Walk away with That "MJ Hitting the Final Shot" type of thing... By Hitting the Tombstone for His 13TH straight and final WM Win.
Guest Aero Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 Wasn't "Going out on Top" the definition of Randy Savage at Wrestlemania VII? Had he not made a comeback in late 1991, Savage would've definitely gone out on top. He loses the career match to the Warrior, and afterwards, he's mocked by Sherri, only to be saved by his former love interest, Elizabeth. Then of course, in one of the most emotional moments ever in the WWF, he reunites with Liz after a 2+ year separation (storyline-wise). The fans, particuarly the women, loved it.
Guest Redhawk Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 Does any popular pro wrestler ever go out "on top?" I don't mean wins and losses, but who was the last guy who really walked out on his own terms, at the top of his game, and never came back for that "one last run" and hurt his legacy? I highly suspect that, once he DOES retire, the Undertaker will have such a departure. He might go out with a storybook last match, but you can't say that he hasn't overstayed his welcome to begin with. Then again, the fans still love him, but it's getting to the point where they pop for his entrance and his finisher, and sit on their hands for anything in between.
Guest El Satanico Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 Well they shouldn't win their last match if it's against a young up and comer. Also losing the match shouldn't mean that they didn't go out on top.
TheOriginalOrangeGoblin Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 If Sting dioesn't come back again he will have gone out on top. Plus he NEVER lost popularity from day one. Sting, Foley are the only ones I think. Hogan still might and so might Taker. I can only think of one guy who retired while being the top guy in the company AND still be in his prime: Rick Rude.
Guest FeArHaVoC Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 Bret Hart's last match was as WcW Champion. I wouldn't call the end of his career as "going out on top" though.
TheOriginalOrangeGoblin Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 His last match, It was against Nahs on Nitro and it was decent for a Nash match but then Funk, Sid and Arn all ran in and Bret had to take 2 powerbombs form Sid while Funk beat onNash with a flaming brandign iron.
Guest Jobber of the Week Posted April 5, 2003 Report Posted April 5, 2003 He might go out with a storybook last match, but you can't say that he hasn't overstayed his welcome to begin with. There's a difference between going out on top and leaving them wanting more.
HurriShane Posted April 6, 2003 Report Posted April 6, 2003 Before he came back last year, I would have said that HBK went out on top main eventing WrestleMania against Austin
Guest Redhawk Posted April 6, 2003 Report Posted April 6, 2003 Shawn Michaels could still go out on top. Although he's not the performer he once was, he's still pretty good, and as we saw at Wrestlemania, can pull out great matches every few months. If he wrestles sporadically until WM 20 and hangs it up then he would have gone out on top.
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