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It looks like another legend is calling it a career. In a year that’s already seen John Cena’s seemingly endless farewell tour, another iconic WWE name has decided to step away from the squared circle. Bubba Ray Dudley, one-half of the legendary Dudley Boyz, has officially confirmed his retirement after a storied 34-year career. I know, I know, wrestlers “retire” all the time, but this one feels a bit more real. For those of you who might have been living under a rock—or maybe just weren’t around for the glory days of hardcore wrestling—Bubba Ray and his partner D-Von were the architects of mayhem. As Team 3D, they defined an entire era of tag team wrestling, smashing opponents through tables and leaving a trail of splinters and defeated foes in their wake. They were the guys you either loved or loved to hate, and their impact on the business is undeniable. The Final Showdown The final chapter for Team 3D unfolded at TNA Bound for Glory on October 12. In what was billed as the “One Final Tables Match,” they faced off against their career-long rivals, Matt and Jeff Hardy. It was poetic, really. Two of the greatest tag teams in history, battling it out one last time with their signature weapon of choice. Unfortunately for the Dudleyz, they didn’t walk away with the gold. Instead, they delivered a symbolic passing of the torch. After the match, in a moment dripping with emotion and respect, Bubba and D-Von handed their wrestling boots to the Hardy Boyz. This wasn’t the typical, dramatic “leaving the boots in the ring” cliché we’ve seen a million times. This was different. This was personal. While D-Von had already made it clear this was his last match, a cloud of uncertainty still lingered around Bubba’s future, especially since he’d been popping up on the indie scene. Bubba Ray Sets the WWE Record Straight Well, speculate no more. Bubba Ray took to X (the platform formerly known as Twitter, for those still adjusting) to clear the air. Responding to a backstage photo shared by Matt Hardy, the ECW icon explained the gravity of their final gesture. “Some wrestlers leave their boots in the middle of the ring to symbolize retirement. In retirement, we decided to hand the Hardys our boots in the ultimate sign of respect for the history WE created together. Emotional moment that will never be forgotten.
