Important WWE names retire all the time, but 2025 and 2026 have witnessed some of the biggest retirements in history. Gunther retired John Cena from in-ring competition last December.
The Ring General also ended the in-ring careers of Goldberg and AJ Styles. Edge, also known as Adam Copeland and Cope in AEW, recently announced that he’d retire next year.
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Seeing legendary names like Cena, Styles, and Edge hanging up their boots truly signals an end of an era. The industry is cyclical as some names end their careers as others start their journeys.
While John Cena’s retirement looms as the biggest of the last year, the next six retirements signal a massive changing of the guard for WWE.
#6. Lita & #5. Trish Stratus
Lita and Trish Stratus are both technically retired from full-time in-ring competition. Lita last appeared at WrestleMania 39, winning the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles with Becky Lynch.
Stratus competed in the 2023 Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Her last appearance was a loss to WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton at the second edition of Evolution last year.
Both women could return for a feud with the right opponent, but their roles have changed the women’s division. Paige and Nikki Bella took the reins as the returning veterans working with everyone on the roster. They won tag team gold and have challenged for singles titles over the last year.
#4. AJ Styles could work with anyone
AJ Styles’ retirement took fans by storm since it happened a month after John Cena’s. He didn’t embark on a farewell tour for the fans, but instead chose to end his in-ring career at the same event where his WWE career began – the Royal Rumble.
Many fans and analysts considered The Phenomenal One the best in-ring talent of his generation. Hanging up the boots means someone else will have to pick up the slack. Another part of Styles’ appeal was his ability to work with everyone.
He had great matches with powerhouses, methodical wrestlers, and high-flyers. Styles helped Dragon Lee get over more when the duo won the World Tag Team Titles. Other big-name veterans will need to fill the same role going forward.
#3. Bruce Prichard is a backstage presence in WWE
Casual fans may not recognize the name Bruce Prichard, but loyal fans who’ve followed WWE for decades know precisely who the man is. Prichard portrayed Brother Love in the early 1990s.
He moved from promotion to promotion before returning to WWE in a backstage capacity. Prichard is currently Triple H‘s right-hand man. He has great influence on booking decisions, who goes over, and which stars are utilized in important matches like the Royal Rumble.
A recent report stated that Prichard would be retiring from his position after WrestleMania 43. That departure is massive for a few reasons. Someone new will have more influence on the product and creative choices. He or she will also have a closer pull on Triple H’s ear.
#2. Brock Lesnar retired this summer
The Beast was the standard part-time performer when he returned to the WWE over a decade ago. He popped up a few times a year for big feuds, and even won major titles during Vince McMahon’s run atop Creative.
His feuds with John Cena, Roman Reigns, the Undertaker, and Oba Femi were among some of the most memorable of the last 15 years. The Beast faced Femi in his final feud. The former NXT Champion squashed Lesnar at WrestleMania 42.
Lesnar got his win back before losing to The Ruler at SummerSlam 2026 inside Hell in a Cell. He retired from in-ring competition after the loss.
Roman Reigns has already assumed the high-profile part-time spot Lesnar used to hold. The Beast put Femi over as the new WWE anomaly. That feud has already shot Femi into the conversation as the man to face Reigns at WrestleMania 43.
#1. There will never be another John Cena
The most notable retirement from WWE is John Cena. While he worked a part-time schedule over the last few years, all he had to do was show up to get fans invested.
He appeared at Money in the Bank in London to announce his retirement tour. He also announced a new tournament to focus on the next generation of WWE stars. That announcement alone shows someone looking to the future of the business.
Reigns and Cody Rhodes have assumed the top star status. Both rarely lose, and when they do, it often takes copious finishers or outside interference. It’d be nice to spread the love around to multiple stars, but both McMahon and Triple H chose a few stars as above the rest.
With Cena hanging up his boots, and Reigns possibly doing the same in a few years, new names will need to fill the void. Bron Breakker, Femi, Trick Williams, and others have been earmarked as the future. The Leader of Cenation appeared at WrestleMania 42 this year. He’ll be at next week’s RAW in Brooklyn.
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Edited by Matthew Serocki
