I got this idea from the thread "A New Era" which lists many veterans/those who are aging. On the list is: HHH, HBK, JBL, Kane, Big Show, Jericho, Mysterio, The Undertaker, and Batista. If you had to predict, what do you think the order is for these to retire, starting with the soonest retirement?
1. Undertaker - He just seems so much weaker and so much older than ever before. He has severe knee problems and is taking a much reduced schedule. I honestly believe that he will retire within a year.
2. JBL - He has stated that he will soon retire for good. He is just past his prime and has nothing exciting to look forward to in the business. He is basically a jobber to the stars and is aging.
3. HBK - Like Undertaker, HBK is aging extremely quickly. He is seemingly always injured and takes a very reduced schedule. He is also taking the Ric Flair path, of using more chops and punches in most of his matches rather than technical moves. I love HBK, but his time is coming up.
4. Kane - He is in the JBL category, of guys who have nothing left ahead of them in the company. He was a world champion for a day, and has since been a jobber to the stars. I see him leaving within a couple years, before he turns 45.
5. Batista - Based upon his attitude recently (like needing to win over Cena to be pleased), I think he will only stay with the WWE if he gets to be at the top. Yet, the WWE seems far more interested in Cena, Orton, Edge, and Hardy than Big Dave. His gimmick is bland, and he is no longer going to be utilized. He'll retire out of frustration.
So that gives us four left: Triple H, Big Show, Jericho, and Mysterio. These guys don't seem nearly as close to retirement as the other five. Mysterio could go quickly due to contract disagreements, but I see that as being unlikely. I see Jericho retiring within 5 years. I can't base that with fact, but he just seems like he'll tire of the business and leave. The same is true for Big Show, though I think he'll retire even sooner, maybe even 2010 or before. I see Triple H and Mysterio as the only ones on this list who will be in the WWE in 2015. Yes, I realize that that is a very far date to predict. I see Mysterio as gradually transforming from a main eventer to a Super Crazy-type jobber, who gets pops still but isn't utilized as much. He will get slower and more out of shape, and will be gone in maybe 7 years.
As for Triple H, he will obviously stick around until he can beat Flair's 16 world championships. I see that happening by maybe 2012. After that, I think he will be like HBK is now - still in the main event, but not winning titles. I think he'll be satisfied working a reduced schedule and being in high-profile matches every once in a while. I see him finally hanging up the boots around 2020, or around age 50.
What do you all think?
1. Undertaker - He just seems so much weaker and so much older than ever before. He has severe knee problems and is taking a much reduced schedule. I honestly believe that he will retire within a year.
2. JBL - He has stated that he will soon retire for good. He is just past his prime and has nothing exciting to look forward to in the business. He is basically a jobber to the stars and is aging.
3. HBK - Like Undertaker, HBK is aging extremely quickly. He is seemingly always injured and takes a very reduced schedule. He is also taking the Ric Flair path, of using more chops and punches in most of his matches rather than technical moves. I love HBK, but his time is coming up.
4. Kane - He is in the JBL category, of guys who have nothing left ahead of them in the company. He was a world champion for a day, and has since been a jobber to the stars. I see him leaving within a couple years, before he turns 45.
5. Batista - Based upon his attitude recently (like needing to win over Cena to be pleased), I think he will only stay with the WWE if he gets to be at the top. Yet, the WWE seems far more interested in Cena, Orton, Edge, and Hardy than Big Dave. His gimmick is bland, and he is no longer going to be utilized. He'll retire out of frustration.
So that gives us four left: Triple H, Big Show, Jericho, and Mysterio. These guys don't seem nearly as close to retirement as the other five. Mysterio could go quickly due to contract disagreements, but I see that as being unlikely. I see Jericho retiring within 5 years. I can't base that with fact, but he just seems like he'll tire of the business and leave. The same is true for Big Show, though I think he'll retire even sooner, maybe even 2010 or before. I see Triple H and Mysterio as the only ones on this list who will be in the WWE in 2015. Yes, I realize that that is a very far date to predict. I see Mysterio as gradually transforming from a main eventer to a Super Crazy-type jobber, who gets pops still but isn't utilized as much. He will get slower and more out of shape, and will be gone in maybe 7 years.
As for Triple H, he will obviously stick around until he can beat Flair's 16 world championships. I see that happening by maybe 2012. After that, I think he will be like HBK is now - still in the main event, but not winning titles. I think he'll be satisfied working a reduced schedule and being in high-profile matches every once in a while. I see him finally hanging up the boots around 2020, or around age 50.
What do you all think?