10 Worst Ever Wrestling Retirements

2. Bret Hart (WCW Nitro)

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WWE Network

The legendary Bret Hart would work his last 'proper' match during the main event of a January 2000 edition of Nitro, but was unaware at the time it would mark his actual retirement from the art-form he was a master of.

Less than a month after taking the kick to the head from Bill Goldberg that would signal the end of his career, Hart continued to work, attempting to shake off the post-concussion syndrome he wasn't aware he had.

Having already taken a beating from WCW commissioner Terry Funk in a hardcore match the previous week on Thunder, World Champion Hart was made to face nWo comrade Kevin Nash as part of 'The Funker's efforts to divide and conquer the unit.

The match was predictably dire, with Hart looking visibly punch drunk for reasons that would become obvious when his condition were confirmed.

The match went to a non-finish as things broke down with typical Nitro main event hullabaloo, and 'The Hitman' would vacate his World Title shortly before the January Souled Out pay-per-view event when the severity of the injury became apparent.

Unable even once more to be 'The Best There Is, Best There Was and Best There Ever Will Be', it marked just about the saddest possible end to his abysmal WCW run.

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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett