A former TNA Knockouts Champion has announced their retirement from pro wrestling.
Madison Rayne appears to have quietly brought her in-ring career to a close. During Thursday’s episode of ROH on HonorClub, Rayne and ROH Women’s Pure Champion Deonna Purrazzo suffered a second straight loss to Billie Starkz and Diamante. Following the match, Rayne addressed the moment in a backstage segment, strongly hinting that her wrestling career had come to an end.
Without directly using the word “retirement,” Rayne reflected on the significance of the night and what it represented for her personally.
“Tonight was exceptionally emotional because this is the end of an era for Madison Rayne,” she said. “I knew it was coming. This time comes for everyone in their career.”
Rayne went on to explain that the past year has been a period of major transition in her life, referencing the loss of her father in 2025. She said that experience forced her to reevaluate her direction and helped her find purpose beyond the ring.
“I lost a piece of myself,” she said. “But I’m finding it again by helping the next generation. That’s you,” she added, addressing Purrazzo. “This is the perfect way to end a 20-year ride.”
While Rayne stopped short of officially announcing her retirement, the tone of her comments made it clear that her in-ring career is coming to a close. She has previously acknowledged that she has slowed down physically in recent years and has spoken openly about transitioning into a mentorship role.
Rayne joined AEW in 2022, working as both a wrestler and coach, while her husband, Josh Mathews, joined the company in a behind-the-scenes role in 2025. During her time with AEW and Ring of Honor, Rayne competed in 20 AEW matches and eight ROH bouts, including a title challenge against then-TBS Champion Jade Cargill. Her final AEW match came against Deonna Purrazzo earlier this year.
How Many Times Did Madison Rayne Win The TNA Knockouts Title?
Before her AEW run, Madison Rayne enjoyed a highly decorated career in TNA, where she became a five-time Knockouts Champion and a three-time Knockouts Tag Team Champion, cementing her legacy as one of the division’s most accomplished performers.
She won her first Knockouts Title on April 18, 2010, at Lockdown, defeating Angelina Love to win the belt. Her last reign as Knockouts Champion came on January 16, 2014, after she defeated Gail Kim at Genesis.
Rayne currently holds the record for fifth most combined days as the TNA Knockouts Champion with a total of 404 days.
