Trevor Murdoch’s Retirement Was a Work

Trevor Murdoch’s retirement announcement was revealed as part of an angle on the June 27 episode of NWA Powerrr.

The former two-time NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion announced earlier this year that his 27-year in-ring career was over. The announcement came after Murdoch’s match with Pretty Boy Smooth at the 2026 Crockett Cup and later aired on NWA Powerrr.

Murdoch said during the announcement that he was not sure he could continue wrestling after 27 years in the business.

“I’m not sure if I can do this anymore,” Murdoch said.

He also said he did not want to embarrass himself, his family, or Harley Race.

“I don’t wanna embarrass myself,” Murdoch said. “I don’t wanna embarrass my family. I don’t want to embarrass Harley Race.”

Murdoch thanked the fans and said wrestling had allowed him to provide for his family.

“For a fat guy from a small town, 27 years ain’t bad,” he said.

He also thanked NWA owner Billy Corgan, saying Corgan gave him an opportunity when wrestling did not want him and extended his career.

The announcement was covered by wrestling outlets as a retirement. Wrestling News Source reported in May that Murdoch had “officially called time” on his in-ring career and would remain with the NWA as a producer.

On the June 27 episode of NWA Powerrr, Murdoch appeared in a segment presented as a farewell. Mike Knox came out with a robe and crown, both tied to Race’s legacy. Murdoch put them on and said he had not retired.

Murdoch said fans were “stupid” to think he would retire while he was “at the top.”

“A king never retires,” Murdoch said.

He then declared that he should be called King Trevor Murdoch I.

The segment placed Murdoch in a group of wrestlers whose retirements, retirement announcements, or retirement teases were later reversed or revealed as part of a storyline.

Brock Lesnar was involved in a retirement tease this year in WWE. After losing to Oba Femi at WrestleMania 42, Lesnar removed his boots in the ring and embraced Paul Heyman. Lesnar later returned to WWE programming.

Other examples include Mark Henry, AJ Styles, Scott Steiner, Randy Savage, and Terry Funk.

Henry delivered a retirement speech in 2013 on WWE Raw before attacking John Cena.

Styles teased retirement in 2024 on WWE SmackDown before attacking Cody Rhodes.

Steiner gave a retirement speech from a wheelchair on WCW Nitro in 1999 before the segment became part of the nWo 2000 storyline.

Savage lost a retirement match to the Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VII in 1991 and later returned to the ring as part of WWF storylines.

Funk announced multiple retirements during his career and later returned to the ring.

Murdoch’s announcement happened at the Crockett Cup, aired later on NWA Powerrr, was reported as a retirement, and was followed by the June 27 reveal.

The reveal reintroduced Murdoch on NWA programming as King Trevor Murdoch I.