History TearJerker / WWE

* Wrestling/{{Edge}}'s retirement.

* As of the 18th April edition of {{Wrestling/WWE RAW}}, Wrestling/RheaRipley violently betraying her tag team partner Wrestling/LivMorgan.

* Despite him having left WWE about a year previously, when Luke Harper (currently known as Brodie Lee) died in Decemeber of 2020, WWE had an ‘in memory of’ graphic at the beginning of the Raw the Monday after, and also filmed a tribute video, a video they decided not to release until after AEW held theirs, as Harper was with AEW when he died.

* The implosion of Wrestling/TheShield, as well as much of the fall-out. Many of the group's fans had come to enjoy the extremely tight-knit friendship and brotherhood between Wrestling/DeanAmbrose, Wrestling/RomanReigns, and Wrestling/SethRollins, and while everyone knew the team had to break up sooner or later, the way it ([[ShockingSwerve abruptly]]) did seemed specifically designed to break those fans' hearts in order to get ''major'' heat for [[FaceHeelTurn Seth]]. He rubs salt in the wounds by claiming they were [[FalseFriend never really his brothers]], just business partners, and feeling no guilt or regret over stabbing them in the back. Even more depressing is the the theory found [[Fridge/TheShield here]] that the reason why Roman put off going after Seth himself and [[TheArtifact kept]] many of the Shield's signature aspects (theme music, attire, entrance through the crowd, a one-man version of the Symbol of Excellence,[[note]]Each member of the Shield extending their fists in a sort of three-man fist-bump[[/note]] a variant of the "Believe in the Shield" CatchPhrase, and still going after the goals they had before they broke up) is because he is in denial and trying to stick to the same routine he and his friends had to avoid facing the full reality of the situation with them.

* The ''Raw is Owen'' tribute show, shortly after Owen Hart's death in 1999. Many of the then-current [=WWF=] superstars gave emotional out-of-character tributes to Hart, who tragically (and needlessly) died at the young age of 33.

** As of December 2nd, 2020, Everyone of them has passed away.

** A real tearjerker is that Patterson is the only surviving legend featured in this commercial, with the rest having long since passed away.

* Natalya vs. Lacey Evans at ''Crown Jewel 2019'' made history as the first ever women's match in Saudi Arabia. Natalya was already on the verge of tears even before the match started and throughout the match, both women got huge cheers and "This is awesome" chants from the Saudi crowd. Natalya ended up winning the match via Sharpshooter and after the bell rang, Lacey Evans (whose actual gimmick is a stuck-up heel), visibly sobbing, hugged and congratulated her.

* In 1990, to build up the HulkHogan-Earthquake feud, a week after Hogan was (in {{Kayfabe}}) severely injured by Earthquake in a sneak attack, a video – showcasing Hogan's 1984-1990 WWF career, followed by the sneak attack and then a locker door (with Hogan's T-shirt) closing – was played on the WWF's syndicated programs and ''WWF Prime Time Wrestling''. At the end, "Mean" Gene Okerlund got very emotional and was in near tears as the segment came to a close.

* On the October 22, 2018 episode of Raw, Roman Reigns announced that his leukemia had resurfaced and was forced to take a hiatus from wrestling, vacating the Universal title in the process. Even rival company New Japan Pro Wrestling voiced their support. As he leaves the stadium, Ambrose and Rollins appear, Rollins in tears, as they do the signature fist bump. And that is ''nothing'' compared to the main event when Ambrose does a Heel turn on Rollins and Rollins is just trying to ''comfort'' Ambrose like Ambrose is just going through the FiveStagesOfGrief at this point.

** Heck, just seeing everyone trying to hold back tears(sometimes unsuccessfully) during Eddie's tribute video is a tearjerker.

* As much as Zack Ryder gets pushed around by, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xce4xyrmx4Q this]] interview posted on WWE's own YouTube channel about his battle with cancer is tearjerking. It's even harder when you've actually dealt with cancer yourself, or know friends or family who were/are battling cancer themselves.

* On the October 22, 2018 episode of Raw, Roman Reigns announced that his leukemia had resurfaced and was forced to take a hiatus from wrestling, vacating the Universal title in the process. Even rival company New Japan Pro Wrestling voiced their support.

* Barely 24 hours after defeating Seth Rollins to become the inaugural WWE Universal Champion at ''[[Wrestling/SummerSlam SummerSlam 2016]]'', Wrestling/FinnBalor is forced to relinquish the title due to a shoulder injury that would leave him shelved for up to six months. His speech the following night on the 08/22/16 ''Raw'' feels uncomfortably like a retirement speech. This gets even worse when you remember that this is mere weeks after his main roster debut upon being drafted from ''[[Wrestling/{{WWENXT}} NXT]]''.

* As much shit as Zack Ryder gets [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xce4xyrmx4Q this]] interview posted on WWE's own Youtube channel about his battle with cancer is tearjerking. It's even harder when you've actually dealt with cancer yourself, or know friends or family who were/are battling cancer themselves.

** This [[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2053642-wwe-releases-tribute-to-young-fan-connor-the-destroyer-who-passed-away tribute]] to a young wrestling fan who passed away of cancer shortly after Wrestlemania XXX is sure to get the tears flowing too.
* Near the end of the 11/3/2014 Raw, Wrestling/RandyOrton had essentially defected from Wrestling/TheAuthority, releasing ''months'' of pent-up aggression over being forced to ally with Wrestling/SethRollins, a lack of faith from The Authority going into WrestleMania, and never receiving his true one-on-one rematch for the WWE World Title, with his relentless assault on Rollins and the Authority's goons. When they finally have him brought down after a Rollins curb-stomp on the announce table, Stephanie tells Wrestling/TripleH to "finish it"...and Trips looks absolutely ''despondent'' at the idea.

* ''WWF The Main Event'', from 1989 and featuring the Mega Powers vs. Twin Towers match (where HulkHogan and RandySavage split up and Savage turns heel) – the segment with Elizabeth getting knocked unconscious was intended as a tearjerker, playing up the uncertainty of Elizabeth's condition when Hogan became distraught and feared that she had (practically) died from her "injuries," caused when Savage was thrown onto her by Akeem. The drama continued as Elizabeth had not yet regained consciousness when the network cut to a commercial (and local stations took their bottom-of-the-hour ad breaks). Instead, this turned into a moment of {{Narm}}, due to some poor acting by Hogan and Elizabeth's "miraculous" recovery.

** The intended "tribute" for VinceMcMahon, whose character was (supposedly) killed when he was trapped inside a limousine that suddenly burst into flames. This was scrapped during the (now ill-advised) tribute show to Benoit.

* Wrestling/JerryLawler suffering a heart attack during Raw. He survived thankfully, but hearing MichaelCole report what happened was absolutely heartbreaking.

* JerryLawler suffering a heart attack during Raw. He survived thankfully, but hearing MichaelCole report what happened was absolutely heartbreaking.

* The tribute [=SmackDown=] for EddieGuerrero.

* Many former prominent WWF superstars whose passing was announced on a TV show. ''WWERaw'' will sometimes air well-done tributes to former stars, with vintage video clips and a voiceover highlighting career accomplishments, set to light piano music. If the passed superstar was especially prominent, a current star may be asked to comment. Sometimes, the tearjerker moment sets in during the ten-bell salute.

* Near the end of the 11/3/2014 Raw, Wrestling/RandyOrton had essentially defected from Wrestling/TheAuthority, releasing ''months'' of pent-up aggression over being forced to ally with SethRollins, a lack of faith from The Authority going into WrestleMania, and never receiving his true one-on-one rematch for the WWE World Title, with his relentless assault on Rollins and the Authority's goons. When they finally have him brought down after a Rollins curb-stomp on the announce table, Stephanie tells TripleH to "finish it"...and Trips looks absolutely ''despondent'' at the idea.
** Regardless of their sordid history, TripleH was the one who brought Orton into Evolution, anointed him the "Face of the WWE" and did everything he could to convince Stephanie and the rest of the Authority that Orton could still be a productive member of their "family." When he uttered the line "Finish it", you could really sense the bitterness as he realizes there are no more ways he can justify Orton being with them anymore; as he and Steph walked away from the aftermath, he never even turns around because he can't bear seeing the loss of someone he's come to call a part of his "family."
** And note TripleH doesn't even lash back out at Orton for hitting him before he goes after Rollins again, Hunter trying to stop the struggle from reaching a critical point. The look of hesitation in Trips' eyes before he gives the order pretty much says, "Randy, why are you making me do this?"

* Near the end of the 11/3/2014 Raw, RandyOrton had essentially defected from Wrestling/TheAuthority, releasing ''months'' of pent-up aggression over being forced to ally with SethRollins, a lack of faith from The Authority going into WrestleMania, and never receiving his true one-on-one rematch for the WWE World Title, with his relentless assault on Rollins and the Authority's goons. When they finally have him brought down after a Rollins curb-stomp on the announce table, Stephanie tells TripleH to "finish it"...and Trips looks absolutely ''despondent'' at the idea.

* Barely 24 hours after defeating Seth Rollins to become the inaugural WWE Universal Champion at ''[[Wrestling/SummerSlam SummerSlam 2016]]'', FinnBalor is forced to relinquish the title due to a shoulder injury that would leave him shelved for up to six months. His speech the following night on the 08/22/16 ''Raw'' feels uncomfortably like a retirement speech. This gets even worse when you remember that this is mere weeks after his main roster debut upon being drafted from ''[[Wrestling/{{WWENXT}} NXT]]''.

* Barely 24 hours after defeating Seth Rollins to become the inaugural WWE Universal Champion at ''[[Wrestling/SummerSlam SummerSlam 2016]]'', FinnBalor is forced to relinquish the title due to a shoulder injury that would leave him shelved for up to six months. His speech the following night on the 08/24/16 ''Raw'' feels uncomfortably like a retirement speech. This gets even worse when you remember that this is mere weeks after his main roster debut upon being drafted from ''[[Wrestling/{{WWENXT}} NXT]]''.

* As much shit as Zack Ryder gets [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xce4xyrmx4Q this]] interview posted on WWE's own Youtube channel about his battle with cancer is tearjerking. It's even harder when you've actually dealt with cancer yourself, or know friends or family who were/are battling cancer themselves.

* On the 02/08/16 RAW, hearing Daniel Bryan's retirement speech. There was literally people in the crowd bawling when he announced his retirement. It in especially got sad when he brought up his father as well. It also was so hard to watch seeing as Daniel was even trying to hold back tears as best as he could. Watch the speech for yourself, it's quite sad.