Time is undefeated, and some wrestlers know when it's time to ride into the sunset. Whether it be injuries mounting up or interest outside of the squared circle becoming more important, WWE has been notorious for producing retirement matches. In WWE, retirement matches simply don't mean that a loser retires, it can be a stipulation where a wrestler leaves WWE and returns months or weeks later.

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Even Shawn Michaels seemed content to retire after WrestleMania XXVI but he returned eight years later for a dreadful match at Crown Jewel 2018. He may have regretted coming out of retirement but wouldn't have regretted the paycheque he received. Nevertheless, retirement matches still gather pace with huge interest generated, and some lived up to the billing with others woeful.

10 Best: Steve Austin Vs. The Rock - WrestleMania XIX

At WrestleMania XIX, Steve Austin faced off with The Rock in their third WrestleMania meeting in five years. Austin and Rock were two of the biggest stars in the Attitude Era, and this was their final encounter. Unfortunately, the Bionic Redneck's neck issues shortened his career after Owen Hart botched a Tombstone on Austin at SummerSlam 1997.

Stone Cold and Rock put on an instant classic and Austin was looking to register a third WrestleMania victory over Rock. Both resorted to using each other's respective finishing maneuvers. Ultimately, the Great One finally beat Austin at WrestleMania, and Austin went out in style with a respectable performance in the final match of a remarkable career.

9 Worst: Goldberg Vs. Triple H - Unforgiven 2003

If Goldberg did not leave Unforgiven 2003 as the new World Heavyweight Champion he would have had to leave WWE. However, there was another big caveat in his favor as Triple H could lose the World Heavyweight Championship if he got himself intentionally disqualified or counted out.

This was a dreadful title match, and the Game was far from 100% as he was nursing a groin injury, and he wore those biker shorts. Goldberg was barely troubled, and he ended Triple H's 280-day stranglehold with the World Heavyweight Championship for his first piece of silverware in WWE.

8 Best: Ric Flair Vs. Shawn Michaels - WrestleMania XXIV

Retirement was looming in the back of Ric Flair's head as the next match that he would lose, he would be forced into retirement. Naitch collided with Shawn Michaels in a marquee match at WrestleMania XXIV with fans captivated at what they were witnessing.

The storytelling was great, and Flair did a great job to keep up with Michaels. HBK uttered the words "sorry I love you" before he kicked Flair's teeth down his throat with a vicious Sweet Chin Music will always be a great moment. A teary Flair embraced his children at ringside after the match, and whilst he did come out of retirement in TNA, this match still holds up to this present day.

7 Worst: Kurt Angle Vs. Baron Corbin - WrestleMania 35

Kurt Angle competed in a singles match at WrestleMania for the first time in 14 years but it would be the final time as he clashed with Baron Corbin in his retirement match at WrestleMania 35. Sadly, this was disappointing, and whilst, the former six-time WWE world champion was no longer functioning at the peak of his powers, he deserved to go out on a high.

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Fans were disinterested in this bout as Triple H put Batista into retirement in a brutal No Holds Barred match in the match prior. The bout plodded on, and Angle managed to execute the Angle Lock and Angle Slam but it wasn't enough with Corbin earning the win over the WWE Hall of Famer.

6 Best: Cactus Jack Vs. Triple H - No Way Out 2000

The McMahon-Helmsley era had made Cactus Jack's life uncomfortable, and Cactus Jack challenged Triple H for the WWE Championship inside Hell in a Cell at No Way Out 2000. Cactus had to take home the WWE Title otherwise he had to retire.

They knocked it out of the park in an excellent Hell in a Cell match. Cactus and Triple H battled at the top of the cell, and Cactus crashed and burned through the top of the cell and he landed into the ring. Mrs. Foley's Baby Boy gave it his all but Triple H planted him with a Pedigree to retain the WWE Title. As with wrestling, Cactus wasn't out of the game for long as he headlined WrestleMania 2000.

5 Worst: Michelle McCool Vs. Layla - Extreme Rules 2011

Former co-WWE Women's and Divas Champions Michelle McCool and Layla settled the score in their rivalry in a loser leaves WWE match at Extreme Rules 2011. McCool is the superior wrestler out of the two but it was underwhelming for McCool's standards.

McCool did get the upper hand in the early proceedings of the match, and it became evenly matched. McCool's Faith Breaker couldn't keep Layla down, and Layla performed a crucifix pin for the win. Both cried after the match, and McCool was attacked by the debuting Kharma with McCool retiring at the age of just 31.

4 Best: Randy Savage Vs. The Ultimate Warrior - WrestleMania VII

The stakes were high in "Macho Man" Randy Savage and The Ultimate Warrior's showdown at WrestleMania VII with the loser being forced into retirement. Macho Man is one of the all-time greats, and he carried Warrior into one of the finest outings in his career.

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Queen Sherri accompanied Savage to the ring, and Miss Elizabeth watched on. Savage and Warrior tore the house down in unquestionably the match of the night. Whilst, Warrior got the win, Savage and Elizabeth's reunion was a tear-jerking moment with fans bawling their eyes out in a great WrestleMania moment.

3 Worst: Mankind Vs. The Rock - Raw 12/27/99

Triple H and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley began to flex their muscles by calling the shots in WWE. On the December 27, 1999, edition of Raw, former three-time World Tag Team Champions The Rock and Mankind competed in a pink slip-on-the-pole match with the loser forced into retirement.

It was obvious that Rock was never going to lose this bout. He prevailed but since Mick Foley has his three faces of Foley, he returned into his Cactus Jack gimmick and clashed with Triple H over the WWE Championship for the next three months.

2 Best: Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker - WrestleMania XXVI

Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker should have main evented WrestleMania XXV but WWE did not make the same mistake twice with the pair closing out WrestleMania XXVI. Undertaker's 17-0 WrestleMania unbeaten streak wasn't the only thing on the line, Shawn Michaels' career was also at stake.

This was a phenomenal match with several near-falls. Michaels gave it his best shot, and he came tantalizingly close to becoming the first man to break the streak. A vicious jumping Tombstone from Undertaker put HBK out of his misery in a perfectly executed retirement match.

1 Worst: JBL Vs. Rey Mysterio - WrestleMania XXV

At WrestleMania XXV, JBL put his Intercontinental Championship on the line against Rey Mysterio. Before the match even began, JBL trashed-talked his native Texans. Rey Mysterio came down the aisle in style with the fans on his side.

Since JBL was carrying an injury, this match did not last long. It only lasted 21 seconds in one of the shortest matches in the history of WrestleMania. Ultimately, Mysterio humiliated JBL to become the new Intercontinental Champion, and Layfield retired for the second and final time after the embarrassment he endured.