Very similar to Slammiversary within the Summer, TNA Sure for Glory this past weekend drew a variety of headlines, some good, like Mike Santana winning the TNA World Heavyweight Title back from Trick Williams, and a few not so good, just like the finish to Leon Slater vs. JeVon Evans that reportedly was influenced by WWE. Then there was the Hardys vs. The Dudleys tables match, which ended with the Hardys picking up one last win over their rivals, followed by the Dudleys handing over their boots to the Hardys after the match.
That final gesture was taken by many individuals to be an indication that the Dudleys were officially retiring from wrestling, and at the least in a single case it appears to be confirmed. Reviewing Sure for Glory on Tuesday’s “Wrestling Observer Radio,” Dave Meltzer stated that, while he doesn’t expect Bully Ray to be ending his profession, he expects that this was the top of the road for one D-Von Dudley.
“I mean, I had just about been told that it was D-Von’s last match,” Meltzer said. “You already know what I mean? D-Von, mainly, what the deal was that he just wanted a final match with the Hardys, because he’s mainly been retired.”
If this was the top for D-Von, it’s the conclusion of a Hall of Fame profession that spanned for a long time, and saw him and Bully win the Tag Team Championships in WWE, WCW, ECW, Latest Japan Pro Wrestling and TNA a combined 23 times, while also winning the TNA TV Championship twice. In the previous couple of years, D-Von’s long profession had begun to take a toll on his health, and he required back surgery within the last 12 months that he briefly thought could prevent him from having one last match.
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