9 Times Wrestling Made You Believe

9. Mark Henry’s Retirement Promo

Big Mark’s sorrowful retirement promo came at a time when Edge’s retirement was still very clear in fans’ minds. The memories of that emotional in-ring heart to heart must have been particularly raw when the living menhir, Mark Henry, walked to the ring in wrestling’s most memorable pink jacket, carrying a pair of wrestling boots he was surely about to hang up.

Mark began in the halting, uncertain tones of someone who is speaking from the heart. He mentioned his beloved family as he seemed close to tears. He even acknowledged the ‘Sexual Chocolate’ chants as he addressed the crowd as if they were close friends and colleagues.

We believed absolutely that Mark Henry’s long career was at an end. We believed it so completely we forgot for the moment that John Cena was in the ring with him.

And then we remembered it as Mark Henry slammed Cena through centre of the Earth and inducted him into the Hall of Pain. Not only did we believe Mark Henry was about to retire, we believed that John Cena believed it, too, and that Mark Henry was a nuclear-strength badass by swerving him along with an arena full of people.