Madison Rayne Explains Why She Retired After 20 Years

Madison Rayne is officially done in the ring — and for the first time, she sounds completely at peace with that decision.

During her appearance on Boots to Boots, the AEW women’s coach opened up in detail about why she chose to step away from wrestling after two decades, explaining that trying to balance wrestling with coaching and producing eventually forced her to confront a hard truth. She explained that both roles demanded everything from her, and that splitting her energy started to feel unsustainable.

“It’s been really hard over the last few years to balance agenting, producing, coaching with wrestling because in my opinion, you have to love them both. You have to give a hundred percent of yourself to both of them. And giving a hundred percent of myself to two separate things in one day was challenging.”

That internal struggle had been building for years, and she admitted she’d been quietly telling herself that she needed to recognize when the time was right.

“But also, I’ve always had in the back of my mind this little voice telling me: get out and retire and know when enough is enough. People do it all the time — they outstay their welcome in the wrestling business, and I just… I didn’t want to be somebody that did that.”

Rather than feeling like she was walking away from something unfinished, Rayne said she reached a point where she genuinely felt complete.

“I think I did a really good job over 20 years of moving with the ebbs and flows and the different dynamics of wrestling… It forced me out of my comfort zone. It forced me to get better, do better, reinvent myself. And I did that so many times that at this point, when my full-time job is coach, producer, and I love it so much… it was like these two things both telling me: it’s time to celebrate your career instead of trying to prolong it past what is necessary.”

Her retirement wasn’t her first attempt at stepping away. She revealed she actually tried leaving the business during the pandemic, believing she had reached a natural end point — only to realize it wasn’t truly time yet.

“I’ve done everything that for me I needed to do to fill my cup and feel fulfilled. And I just… I semi-retired a few years ago because I thought it was the right thing during COVID. I got my business degree. I got a job selling mortgages. I thought, ‘Okay, this is my career path now.’ And it didn’t feel right. It wasn’t the right time.”

This time, she says the feeling is completely different.

“Now, having done that, I feel so accomplished and so ready to continue moving on within the wrestling industry — just in a different space. And I feel really fortunate to be able to do that.”

It’s rare to hear a veteran wrestler speak about retirement without bitterness, frustration, or unfinished business. Rayne’s perspective instead feels like someone who truly chose the moment rather than being forced into it.

What do you think about Madison Rayne stepping away while she still feels fulfilled — did she time it perfectly, or do you wish fans had gotten more time to see her in the ring? Drop your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation.

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