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Welcome to the English version of Solowrestling Read more
Welcome to the English version of Solowrestling Read more
Madison Rayne has put an end to her professional wrestling career. After more than two decades in the ring, the veteran officially announced her retirement after competing in her last match on the January 1 episode of ROH TV.
Rayne teamed up with Deonna Purrazzo in a loss against Billie Starkz and Diamante, a match that, without prior announcement, ended up being the definitive closure of an extensive and deeply influential career in women's wrestling.
After the match, Rayne appeared in a backstage recorded segment to address the moment directly. She acknowledged that the decision was not easy, but that she had known for some time that this day would come. "I knew this moment was going to come. This happens in everyone's career," she commented.
The wrestler explained that the process that led her here is deeply personal. The loss of her father marked a before and after in her life, affecting both her identity and her understanding of her place within wrestling.
Rayne admitted that this loss took away a part of herself, but it also pushed her to discover a new vocation outside the ring, one that she now feels as her own. "I lost a part of myself when I lost my father, but I am rediscovering myself as a coach."
That role is already a consolidated reality. Rayne continues to work behind the scenes with AEW and ROH, focused on talent development and making it clear that, although her time as a competitor has ended, her connection to the industry remains intact.
She also had special words for her last match, highlighting that sharing that moment with Deonna Purrazzo was the ideal way to close the circle. "Teaming up with Deonna was the perfect way to end my 20-year career."
Madison Rayne's career began in 2005 under the name Lexi Lane. Over the years, she became one of the most respected figures in women's wrestling, especially during her time in TNA, where she was a five-time Knockouts Champion and a three-time Knockouts Tag Team Champion, helping to define an era in the division.
Her career also included stints in Ring of Honor and All Elite Wrestling, as well as her participation in the 2018 Mae Young Classic. In August 2022, she signed with AEW in a dual role as a coach and wrestler, a natural transition that ultimately paved the way for this outcome.
