[PhillyD45]

I love the dramatic tradition of a wrestler leaving his shoes on the mat after his last match.
It's one of the best traditions in all of sports. I love the symbolism of "leaving it all on the mat" and letting the world know you gave it all to wrestling and there is nothing more to give.

[Ballz_Onya_Chin]

I did this after my senior year of high school. I had wrestled for 5 years up to that point. It really is quite emotional.

Sounds lame, but I'm never disappointed in myself as long as I feel like I had nothing left to give.

[Trickster]

I think it would be even more dramatic if they would strip off their sweaty singlet and walk off the mat naked lol

I never heard of this tradition...pretty cool!

If you wrestling in HS and are moving on to College do you still finish your HS career this way?

[TacWar]

I've seen it mostly in national level and international level competitions...I can't remember who it was but at the 92 olympics someone did it and I think I cried at the time b/c he just lost in the finals.

[WrestlingNerd]

Don't think I've ever seen it before. Maybe I'll do it if I kick ass this season (Senior year)

[victorygrappler]

It definitely is an emotional moment if you know what is happening. I didn't do it at the end of my high school career since I think you REALLY need to pay your dues to wrestling before doing something like that.

[DPS831]

harry lester did this just last week

[easy tiger]

Stephen Abas did this recently also.

At the 2005 Mundials, Saulo (who was "retiring") gave his belt to Roger after Roger submitted him.

[sprite]

rulon gardener did this in the olympics

[J Storm]

Originally Posted by easy tiger

Stephen Abas did this recently also.

At the 2005 Mundials, Saulo (who was "retiring") gave his belt to Roger after Roger submitted him.

saw the Abas one the other day, pretty emotional, you could tell he was injured. and the saulo thing sounds awesome as well.