10 Shortest Retirements In WWE History

Leave the memories alone....you're back? Okay, never mind.

Mick Foley
WWE

Retirements in professional wrestling are fragile things. While they may seem natural for a sport that puts body and soul on the line on a nightly basis, many can't seem to give up the ring or, even sadder, have no choice but to carry on.

This isn't always the case. For superstars like Edge, Steve Austin - and until very recently - Shawn Michaels, retirement appears to have suited them well, making only the odd appearance but rarely getting physical, if at all.

But the call of the ring is all too tempting for some, with many carrying on well past their prime, or some coming back many years after their supposed final bout. In WWE however, retirement is a bit more fickle, with stars hanging up the boots but returning only a couple of years, months, sometimes even weeks later (usually for another company), making you wonder why they even bothered.

This list will look at the men and women who appeared to have legitimately retired from a WWE ring but returned to at least a part-time role a short time later. This discounts kayfabe retirements, so John Cena's week-long absence absolutely does not count.

These are men and women who have openly said they are done, but as history has obviously shown, they weren't...

10. Daniel Bryan - 790 Days

Mick Foley
WWE.com

Retired from February 8, 2016 to April 8, 2018

This is without a doubt the saddest retirement on this list. A world class performer cut down in the prime of his career, it was an absolute joy when he was cleared by WWE's doctors in March this year.

Daniel Bryan had just won the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 31 when he was forced out of action because of issues brought on by concussions. Everyone assumed that Bryan would eventually return to the ring. He continued to make appearances, including crowning Ryback the new Intercontinental champ and we all waited with baited breath for the announcement of his return.

Then the bomb was dropped on February 8th 2016 that because of concussive seizures and a lesion on his brain that he would have to retire from in-ring competition - a decision that hit fans hard but none harder than Bryan himself, who was visibly crushed that his dream job was done.

He took on the role of SmackDown General Manager but all could see his heart was in the sport. He worked day in and day out, earning clearance from multiple doctors and eventually, WWE themselves, announcing he was fit and healthy on March 20th 2018. He made his official competitive return at WrestleMania 34 alongside Shane McMahon against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Daniel Bryan was home, and we couldn't have been happier for him.

Contributor
Contributor

A connoisseur of Star Wars, WWE, Sonic the Hedgehog, musical theatre and mature cave-aged cheddar cheese. Can't say that I have limited taste!