10 WWE Wrestlers Who Retired In Their Prime
5. Rowdy Roddy Piper
A serial wrestling retiree when as and when he could do good business with the stipulation, Rowdy Roddy Piper's WrestleMania III retirement was an earnest attempt by the 'Hot Scot' to leave wrestling behind and try and break into Hollywood for good. A glorious encounter with Adrian Adonis anchored the classic pay-per-view's midcard with more heft than the 'Adorable' heel had piled on in his later years.
Babyfaced after years as the hottest heel in the territory, Piper left the Pontiac Silverdome as an industry icon, accepting the end his full time career years before he perhaps needed to.
Spending an entire second career as a part time wrestler after his 1989 return, Piper's effort to exit two years prior was earnest in its intention. Early signs were promising too. "They Live" was a bonafide cult classic, with Piper's performance praised in particular. Failed projects such as "Hell Comes To Frogtown" were steps too great in the wrong direction though, and his true calling always giddily called him back on the strength of his original drawing power.