Exact Moments 10 Wrestlers Knew They Were Done With WWE

5. Steve Austin's Farewell

In his autobiography, Steve Austin detailed the panic he felt one night before wrestling his final match at WrestleMania XIX. 'Stone Cold' thought he was having a heart attack, and ended up hospitalised rather than preparing for another 'Mania classic with The Rock. It was a scary time, but he thankfully came through it.

XIX's continuation of an old rivalry arguably didn't live up to past efforts at 'Manias XV and X-Seven. Maybe it was never going to, and this was about more than star ratings or the fans anyway. This was Austin's last march down the ramp as his old self, and he was all too aware that his career was coming to an end.

Shortly after the show, Austin announced on WWE.com that he was officially retiring.

Wrestling fans haven't stopped badgering him about a return since. He's spoken on his podcast about how much looking across the ring at Rocky meant to him, and how he views putting over an old foe as fitting closure on his run. Austin knew what few did during that staredown.