10 Times You Didn't Realise Wrestlers Were Saying 'Goodbye'

See above for a snap of Vader's massive arm hugging a happy Harley Race at Starrcade 1994. Together, they'd just swindled Jim Duggan out of the WCW United States Title, and both legends were in the mood to celebrate. They'd have been toasting something else had they known this would be Race's last major appearance.

The incredible thing here is that even Harley didn't know he'd be leaving Vader's side after Starrcade. A car accident in January 1995 forced him to rethink life on the road, and Race wouldn't pop back up until doing a guest ring announcer spot in 1999. That was his only other WCW showing; his WWE cameos were fleeting pre-passing too.

What a lowkey exit for one of the NWA's true greats.

Vader's next pay-per-view bout was against Hulk Hogan at SuperBrawl in February '95. By then, Race was back home healing up from his accident, but it was crystal clear to viewers that the big heel didn't need a manager anymore. Still, nobody knew they were watching Harley's last hurrah at Starrcade.