Wide World of Wrestling- Retirony, Part II

Welcome to the Wide World of Wrestling. If you are a new reader, this is where aim to explore the context of the shows seen on and off screen, comparing and contrasting with history to show its flaws and positives. This is about the issues and processes of today and the impact that has on the fans and the business.

Last week we commenced a look at the nature of retirement by looking at Terry Funk’s approach to retirement. In Edition 12, return to the more conventional notion of conclusive retirement and look at the factors which influence when the right time for retirement may be. Next week tackles returning from retirement and what it means, for good and ill.

Health naturally is a big factor. The first reason that pops up to mind for retirement is that the wrestler just physically cannot keep up anymore. In pro wrestling, when health does force retirement, be it due to lumbago or lower back pain as with Stan Hansen for example, or neck injury as in the case of Stone Cold Steve Austin, its impact can sometimes be seen before they retire.

In some cases, the injury gets worse before the decision is made to retire. There comes a point where the balance between a wrestler’s desire and ability to wrestle is in conflict.  When injury reduces a wrestler’s capacity to wrestle, is it high time to retire from active wrestling? There doesn’t appear to be a clear-cut answer, as wrestlers can have different roles. Many of the older wrestlers active nowadays cannot wrestle like they used to, but as they no longer wrestle big matches and often appear for nostalgia, they don’t need to use their full capabilities. Yet, is that the way for a wrestler to bow out?

Terry Funk’s numerous retirements included many big matches as seen last week.  Likewise, Ric Flair’s match against Shawn Michaels was a major affair and proved memorable. Comparing that to years on the independent circuit before fading away on a last show attempting a semblance of grandeur—if not just wrestling one match and then bowing out with no fanfare—makes the first option seem better, as the wrestler, in a reasonable state of health, can wrestle the way they want to be remembered.

On the other hand, other concerns come into play. Wrestlers can still contribute in their own way and they still have value on shows even as they become more limited performers when health is a concern. When they continue to derive pleasure in it and when they also continue to help other wrestlers to make their mark on the business, the choice to retire isn’t so simple.

The Fabulous Moolah’s example must give us pause. She required shoulder replacement surgery, but put it off for years since she knew that once she had the surgery it would mean retirement once and for all, but it also shows that the desire to wrestle can surpass age. That seems a little weird given that most wrestlers her age retired long ago. Retirony, in a grim and dark sense, is evident in the outcome. Though unconfirmed, her daughter alleges that Moolah’s death was related to complications from the surgery.

The desire to wrestle continued right to the very end for The Fabulous Moolah. Image Credit: Associated Press

In noting this and other similar instances, there does seem a point where it can be dangerous to continue wrestling. Perhaps this is most evident with regards to head trauma, as concussions and other head injuries accumulate over time. There does come a point where how health has to be a priority. When health does become such a priority, it can be unlikely for a last great match to come about.

So it seems better for a wrestler to retire, or at least wind-down their activity before they get to that point, but when before?

Losing passion can result in a wrestler leaving; however, it is fortunate that when such passion is lost they still have the motivation for one last match. There comes a point at which wrestlers just don’t feel like it anymore. When wrestlers just lose interest in pro wrestling though, they can summon up the desire for a farewell to the fans. That’s good, because it makes retirement right after losing one’s passion a viable time.

In other cases, such as that of The Rock, wrestlers choose to pursue movies. That makes make things more difficult, as they can get eager to get started since they have a new passion. Other wrestlers have gotten passionate about various other projects they get involved in, which sometimes leads to leaving pro wrestling with little of a farewell, especially when in the independents.

When passion isn’t lost until after they have deteriorated, things get trickier when it comes to considering retirement. It can be hard for some wrestlers to step away from the rush cheers give. If wrestlers are to retire whilst they still have a reasonable amount of skill, how can it be done at a suitable time for them if they still want to wrestle?

Sometimes the timing is such that the decision is easy, as they no longer feel a great need to wrestle as their body starts to lose it. Perhaps more aches or pains contribute to this desire get out of it, or family reasons or being involved in various projects. Depending on where they are at the time, they can retire in a high-profile good quality match.

Tribute shows provide an interesting possibility. Be it Abdullah The Butcher’s tribute by WWC, or Bryan Danielson’s “Final Countdown” Tour in ROH, tribute shows have provided an element of closure without the finality of a conclusive retirement.  Last week’s look at Terry Funk showed a similar approach with his successful method. Tribute shows have allowed for a farewell to an audience, or remembrance of a wrestler’s long-time involvement, that, depending on the promotion, is relatively high-profile. These tribute shows, as in Abdullah’s case, shows that the audience will have something to remember him by, regardless of where he actually retires and how much he has in him at that point.

Given that many wrestlers go forth into semi-retirement where they remain up until their passing on, if the current concept of retirement is to be maintained, the timing appears difficult. A wrestler’s true final match may not feature them at their best.

Rather than ask them to retire when they still feel like they can wrestle and still want to wrestle, which if nothing else can lead to wrestlers finding themselves with little to do and prevent future contributions in a more nostalgic sense, tribute shows do seem like a good alternative. At least, they seem something useful to keep in mind in determining the timing of retirement, as they can be used to provide one aspect of retirement before they actually retire.

Part of retirement is a final showing for the fans and history has shown the fans react best when retirement is a big one. Logically, people cannot benefit from a retirement they don’t see. In the major promotions, the tribute shows have been used as they move to a new stage of their career, but so far not so much as a transition into semi-retirement. As raised before, the big retirements are more memorable for the fans. Beyond the wrestler’s ability and desire to wrestle and how that factors into whatever they do, they also need to look at what the fans want and where their fans are.

The independents do raise a question; is a big farewell possible in the independents? Sometimes it is, as some of Terry Funk’s retirements and that of wrestlers including Japanese legend Devil Masami, which brought together several promotions, have shown in the past. The key to these retirements, which are big affairs but outside of the major promotions, is that they are provided in front of their audience. Having retired in Canada, Japan and the United States, many of Funk’s fans have had the opportunity to see one of his retirements.

In order to give a proper farewell to one’s fans, there is an advantage of doing it on an independent retirement show than as part of a major promotion’s show. Perhaps you recall Lita’s farewell to the WWE. She lost to Mickie James in a reasonably high-profile match and her fans were in attendance on that night, but the storyline concerns gave it a very different feel to other retirements.

Lita was not feeling too comfortable with her position as she retired. Image Credit: World Wrestling Entertainment

Contrast that with Ric Flair’s match against Shawn Michaels. It also had storyline elements, but it was a storyline that encouraged the atmosphere of fan gratitude. It was emotional in a way that meant one wanted to see him stay retired because it seemed the perfect send-off. Watching the match, fans reflected on his career and what he had provided on, not dwelling on storyline concerns that focus on a miniscule portion of their career.

Lita’s on the other hand encouraged the exact opposite. Even with Lita’s fans being there in attendance, the match featured the chants that made Lita uncomfortable and caused her retirement. The storyline reasons for a wrestler leaving are sometimes made ‘dramatic’ for the promotion in keeping with their character, or else tone the retirement down because of the other matches on the night.

The problem with this is that such characterisation makes the memory of the retirement a different one. Fans still recognise what Lita did, but one that night, her character prevented the match from really driving home what she had done and appreciating her during a match that allows a release of emotion.

The retirements that strike a chord with fans are the ones the big ones that truly put the exclamation point to a career. The ones that really remind you that of their talent and showcase the appeal they had over the years, rather than the ones where they seem so different to what they had been. The retirements that have proven to be considered among the better ones, are those that have retirony in them, due to the bittersweet quality. The better retirements are those where you don’t quite want to see the wrestler go because even if you thought the wrestler to old, on that night they prove you wrong.

The best retirement matches are those where both the fans and the wrestler are satisfied. Since wrestlers often have desire to wrestle continuing past their prime, the alternative of tribute shows and last big matches that give fans what a retirement would hope to provide seems to be the way to go, at least for the big stars, when health and desire are not in agreement as to when a wrestler should retire. Some wrestlers prefer to bow out quietly, but a big show somewhere helps the fans remember them the way they want to be—at their peak, without preventing them from further contributions.

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