If there’s one thing as certain as death and taxes, it’s that wrestling retirements rarely last with WWE Hall of Famers Terry Funk, Ric Flair and even Shawn Michaels, all wrestling again after previously calling it quits on their careers.
While these are some of the most notable examples, there are many other names who could do the same.
Who from WWE’s past could be next? Here are five retired WWE stars to potentially return.
5. Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin retired from pro wrestling in 2003, following his bout with The Rock at WWE’s WrestleMania 19.
For the longest time it seemed like that was the end, but 19 years later, at WrestleMania 38, he shocked the world by returning for a No Holds Barred match against Kevin Owens.
And he may not be done yet. Fightful Select reported that over WrestleMania weekend this year, Austin admitted he “might have one more match left in him.”
Could the 60-year-old step out of retirement one more time for a blockbuster match, perhaps against CM Punk, at next year’s WrestleMania?
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4. Jack Swagger
Jake Hager — the former Jack Swagger — recently appeared on Saraya’s podcast Rulebreakers, where he revealed that he has “pretty much retired.”
Since being released from AEW, Hager has stepped away from wrestling to focus on running his own trucking company, with his last independent match taking place last November.
However, his choice of words — “pretty much” — suggests the 43-year-old may be leaving the door slightly ajar for a return.
If WWE came calling, could we see the return of Jack Swagger to the company where he once held the World Heavyweight Championship?
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3. JBL
On a recent episode of Conrad Thompson’s Something to Wrestle, WWE Hall of Famer JBL discussed his brief stint in TNA.
The retired star revealed he had been scheduled to appear at July’s Slammiversary PPV, but his part was ultimately nixed.
He claimed that “people wouldn’t have believed how big it was” and admitted he had been training for the role — hinting that an in-ring return may have been on the cards.
While that may no longer be happening in TNA, could we see the 58-year-old come out of retirement in WWE for his first singles match in 16 years?
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2. Wade Barrett
One of pro wrestling’s feel-good stories over the past year has been Nigel McGuinness’ return to the ring in AEW, ending a near 13-year hiatus.
Could we soon see his fellow British commentator Wade Barrett follow suit in WWE?
The former five-time Intercontinental Champion has not wrestled since 2016, but a return should not be ruled out.
The question is what storyline could bring the 45-year-old from behind the commentary desk back between the ropes.
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1. The Undertaker
The Undertaker retired in 2020, following his Boneyard Match at WWE WrestleMania 36 against AJ Styles.
In the years since, he has been repeatedly asked whether he has “one more match” left in him.
Speaking last year on Logan Paul’s podcast, he admitted there’s “something in my mind that tells me, you still got one in you somewhere,” but also confessed, “I took my body to the limits of what it could do.”
While perhaps unlikely, it would be foolish to completely rule out the 60-year-old attempting to wrestle one final time.
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