Whether it's voluntary or forced, retirement from the wrestling industry is something that every wrestler has to face eventually. For a few lucky wrestlers, they retire at the top of their game. For even fewer than that, they retire as a champion. Trish Stratus is one star who retired as champion, after she defeated arch-nemesis Lita for the Women's Championship at Unforgiven 2006. The match had been announced as her last one, and despite her immediate retirement after the match, Trish's capturing of the title is still recognised as a championship reign, allowing her to leave the wrestling business (full-time, at least) on a high. Edge had a more heartbreaking experience of retiring as a champion. He was the reigning World Heavyweight Champion at the time of his retirement, a retirement that came out of the blue. After reporting numbness in his arms, a MRI scan revealed that the condition of Edge's neck and spine would make any more wrestling unsafe, with the worst possibilities being either paralysis, or even death. Edge suddenly retired on an episode of Raw, and then on the following episode of Smackdown, surrended the World Heavyweight title. It was a shock to see Edge's career cut short, but in retrospect, even Edge has admitted retiring as champion wasn't a bad way to go.
