Bruce Prichard Voices Opposition To Wrestlers Coming Out Of Retirement

In a recent episode of the Something To Wrestle podcast, WWE executive Bruce Prichard shared his candid views on the trend of retired wrestlers seeking to make a comeback for ‘one more match’.

Bruce Prichard’s remarks, made in the context of former WWE Champion Mick Foley’s career, shed light on the contentious issue of retired wrestlers attempting to recapture their former glory and expressed relief upon learning that Mick Foley had cancelled his plans to emerge from retirement.

Thank god, I think that’s a smart move. I don’t know what it is about this business, but everyone thinks they’ve got one more match, and there have been people that have these incredible send-offs only to completely crap all over them by having one more match years later.

Bruce Prichard emphasised the audience’s desire to remember their wrestling heroes at the peak of their careers, rather than witnessing a diminished version of them years later. He stressed that fans prefer to see their favourites retire on a high note, preserving the image of their prime rather than witnessing a potentially lacklustre return.

The audience wants to remember their favourites as they were and they wanna see them go out on top, and usually when you’re going out you’re not what you were when you were younger but hopefully you are at a point where you’re comfortable going out and you have something still left in the tank. But when you come back 10, 15, 20 years later and you do ‘One More Match’ and people look at you and they feel sad. And I know that is not how most wanna be remembered, they want you to remember them in their prime.

Addressing Mick Foley’s decision, Bruce Prichard commended the WWE Hall of Famer for choosing to remain retired, acknowledging that attempting to recapture former glory after years of retirement could lead to disappointment for both the wrestlers and the fans. He highlighted the importance of retired wrestlers finding alternative ways to contribute to the wrestling world outside of in-ring performances.

You take that away from the audience when you’re not in the shape you were 20 years ago, and you can’t do the things you used to do. So I’m happy that Mick has decided against it because Mick Foley can’t do the things he used to do 20 years ago. It’s a disappointment to see guys come back out and say ‘I’ve got one more left in me’ and the people see them and go ‘ugh’. Let them remember what it was. It’s ok to ride off into the sunset and still be around doing something else but not trying to relive your glory days and being in the ring and doing all the things you used to do.

Mick Foley, after his final match at the 2012 WWE Royal Rumble, has remained active in the wrestling industry through cameo appearances, podcasting, and a stint as the on-screen Raw General Manager, demonstrating that retired wrestlers can continue to contribute meaningfully without attempting a comeback.

Bruce Prichard On Why A Hall Of Famer Never Wrestled In WWE

Bruce Prichard has also recently discussed why WWE Hall of Famer The Great Muta never wrestled for WWE in his career, mainly due to issues with Muta’s manager Gary Hart.

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