Speculation regarding Shawn Spears’ retirement has intensified following recent remarks made by the veteran WWE NXT star during a live event loop in Canada.
Spears took to the microphone following an eight-man tag team match in Kitchener, Ontario—located roughly ninety minutes from his hometown of St. Catharines. Addresssing the crowd, Spears revealed that the bout would be his last ever match in Canada. While the statement proved slightly inaccurate in the immediate short term—as Spears went on to compete in Sudbury, Ontario the very next evening—the declaration has raised serious questions about whether the 45-year-old is nearing the end of his active in-ring career.
These live event appearances marked Spears’ first match action since July, following an extended period of inactivity toward the end of the summer. Prior to taking time off, Spears was featured on NXT television as the leader of The Culling before being turned on and ousted by the stable at the end of June. His most recent televised match on NXT saw him earn a disqualification victory over Culling member Niko Vance after Vance struck him with a steel chair.
Outside of his recent hiatus, Spears has maintained a steady role since returning to WWE in early 2024. During this current tenure, he briefly captured the NXT North American Championship in March 2025 while simultaneously expanding his responsibilities behind the scenes, serving as a backstage producer for the NXT brand.
Before making his WWE return, Spears spent four years with All Elite Wrestling after debuting at the promotion’s inaugural Double or Nothing event in 2019. Highlights of his AEW run included a high-profile feud with Cody Rhodes and a prominent role as a member of The Pinnacle alongside MJF, Wardlow, FTR, and Tully Blanchard.
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