History Main / LoserLeavesTown

* Triple H challenged Goldberg to one-sided variant of these during the latter's WWE stint, putting the World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Goldberg's career (specifically stating that it was Goldberg's career on the line and not his position on the Raw roster).

* At ''Wrestlemania VII'' the long-running fued between the Wrestling/UltimateWarrior and [[Wrestling/RandySavage Randy "Macho Man" Savage]] culminated in a "Retirement Match" where the loser had to retire from the WWF (now WWE). Savage lost and retired from wrestling for an entire year, instead working as a commentator. He was eventually reinstated so that he could wrestle against [[Wrestling/JakeRoberts Jake "The Snake" Roberts]], who had been trash-talking Savage on the air, and attacked Savage and his wife[[note]]Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth had been married in RealLife since December 1984. "Randy Savage" and "Miss Elizabeth" were [[{{Kayfabe}} married]] at ''Wrestling/{{SummerSlam}} 91''[[/note]] Wrestling/MissElizabeth during their "wedding reception" at ''Wrestling/{{SummerSlam}} 91'' with a snake.

* While not a "retirement match" Nikita Fink really did stop wrestling after being defeated by [[Wrestling/MickieJames Alexis Laree]] in a loser leaves OVW match.

A Loser Leaves Town match originated in the old "territory" days of wrestling, where a common tactic would be to bring in a new wrestler, establish him as a MonsterHeel through [[SquashMatch Squash Matches]], then put him in a series of matches against the promotion's top {{face}}. After the heel had served his purpose, the face would cap off the feud by defeating him in a Loser Leaves Town match. The heel would disappear forever (usually just to one of the many other wrestling territories that existed in that day) and the face would move onto the next contender.

* Wrestling/MercedesMartinez beat [[FailOSuckyName Pune Tang]] in a loser gets ''deported'' match. Two years later, [[YouLookFamiliar Sumie Sakai would make her debut on the same program.]]

The more modern version is often called the "Loser Leaves (the promotion)", "Retirement", "Pink Slip", or just "You're Fired" match). As the name implies, a match where the loser goes away, never to return. [[NotQuiteForever Supposedly]]. Due to abuse of this trope, and subsequent use of the ResetButton, the joke in pro-wrestling fandom is that the average pro wrestler's retirement lasts about [[ThreeMonthRule three months]].

** Then, after that amazing sendoff at Wrestlemania, he wrestles in a tour of Australia alongside HulkHogan, and started performing for TNA. It became just another TenMinuteRetirement.

* Matt Hardy and Edge's feud following the controversy surrounding Lita ended with one of these, Matt Hardy on the losing end.

* At ''Wrestlemania VII'' the long-running fued between the Wrestling/UltimateWarrior and [[Wrestling/RandySavage Randy "Macho Man" Savage]] culminated in a "Retirement Match" where the loser had to retire from the WWF (now WWE). Savage lost and retired from wrestling for an entire year, instead working as a commentator. He was eventually reinstated so that he could wrestle against [[Wrestling/JakeRoberts Jake "The Snake" Roberts]], who had been trash-talking Savage on the air, and attacked Savage and his wife[[note]]Randy Poffo and Elizabeth Hulette had been married in RealLife since December 1984. "Randy Savage" and "Miss Elizabeth" were [[{{Kayfabe}} married]] at ''Wrestling/{{SummerSlam}} 91''[[/note]] [[Characters/WWEDivas Elizabeth]] during their "wedding reception" at ''Wrestling/{{SummerSlam}} 91'' with a snake.

* In the ''Podcast/{{Rifftrax}}'' version of ''[[Film/TheBourneSeries The Bourne Identity]]'', Mike claims that "Sniping someone is no way to settle your differences. Give me an old-fashioned 'loser leaves town' wrestling match any day." Kevin then realizes that this is the true story behind Mike's move to San Diego. Mike also claims Tom Brady happened to be in the south of France after losing such a match.

In fact, the "three-month rule" often came into effect for another variant of the "Loser Leaves Town" match. Sometimes, the defeated wrestler – almost always a face – wouldn't actually "leave town," but rather he'd return wearing a mask, come up with a crazy name, and often cause trouble for his villainous foe on the defeated wrestler's behalf. Invariably, the heel would complain that the masked wrestler was actually the face he defeated and that he was circumventing the rules, but the authority figures would plead ignorance and say the heel had no proof of who was causing the trouble. Finally, the heel and a few associates would corner the masked wrestler, beat him down to a bloody pulp, and pull off the mask. The "fired" wrestler would be reinstated and one final battle would take place. This storyline was most famously used for the Dusty Rhodes vs. Kevin Sullivan feud of the early 1980s.

A Loser Leaves Town match originated in the old "territory" days of wrestling, where a common tactic would be to bring in a new wrestler, establish him as a monster heel through [[SquashMatch Squash Matches]], then put him in a series of matches against the promotion's top {{face}}. After the heel had served his purpose, the face would cap off the feud by defeating him in a Loser Leaves Town match. The heel would disappear forever (usually just to one of the many other wrestling territories that existed in that day) and the face would move onto the next contender.

* VideoGame Example: DefJam: Fight For NY has [[Music/SnoopDogg Crow]] challenge [[ChristoperJudge D-Mob]] to one of these, with the stipulation [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments "Loser goes to Jersey"]].

* Wrestling/JimmyJacobs and Jack Evans sent Wrestling/LondonAndKendrick out of Wrestling/DragonGate with a victory in one of these types of matches. Jacobs also sent Sal, The Man Of A Thousand Gimmicks, out of Wrestling/{{JCW}} after a best of three series.

* Wrestling/JimmyJacobs and Jack Evans sent Wrestling/LondonAndKendrick out of Wrestling/DragonGate with a victory in one of these types of matches.

* While not a "retirement match" Nikita really did stop wrestling after being defeated by [[Wrestling/MickieJames Alexis Laree]] in a loser leaves OVW match.

* While not a "retirement match" Nikita really did stop wrestling after being defeated by Wrestling/AlexisLaree in a loser leaves OVW match.

** This trope becomes more appropriate in sports leagues around the world that have a system of promotion and relegation, in which the worst-performing team(s) are sent to a lower-tiered league in exchange for the best-performing team(s) in the league below. Thus, some late-season matchups between two relegation-threatened teams might have a Loser Leaves Town feel to them.

** Anyone else find it ironic that HBK was the one who ended Ric Flair's career(or was supposed to have) at Wrestlemania 26 only to lose his career to The Undertaker and [=WM26=] two years later. Makes you wonder how much longer before Taker retires.
** Considering his fight in [=WM27=] with [[Wrestling/TripleH HHH]], he could be nearing the end. After all HHH did point out that that was the first time The Undertaker could not actually leave on his own and had to be helped out of the arena. If The Undertaker comes back for [=WM28=], he will either come back and get one more win and retire at 20-0 or will finally lose and thus end the same way Ric Flair and HBK has.
*** As it turned out, though, Taker beat HHH at [=WM28=], then went on to defeat Wrestling/CMPunk at [=WM29=], setting his record at 21-0, with still no word on when he plans to retire.
* Triple H challenged Goldberg to one of these, trying to make Goldberg quit wrestling forever. Goldberg won and Triple H decided he never agreed to the stipulation.

* Wrestling/ChrisJericho has lost two of these in WWE. First to Wrestling/JohnCena and a second one to Wrestling/DolphZiggler.

* Wrestling/TommyDreamer '''FINALLY''' scored an officially recognized[[note]]Dreamer had actually pinned Raven twice in 1995 at non-televised events, but these were ignored because there would have been no feud otherwise.[[note]] pinfall on Wrestling/{{Raven}} after two years of trying in a Loser Leaves Wrestling/{{ECW}} match at ''ECW [=Wrestlepalooza=] 97'', June 6, 1997. Raven was on his way to WCW anyway.

* For the last eight months or so of his career, RicFlair wrestled under a stipulation that should he lose a single match, he would be forced to retire -- thus turning all of his matches into Loser Leaves Town matches. He finally lost at Wrestlemania and did indeed retire, making this the rare example of the wrestler actually quitting wrestling when he lost: Flair's real life intent to retire was what sparked the storyline in the first place. It was the WWE's way of giving him a big sendoff.

** It is also worth noting that after losing a LoserLeavesTown match to [[CurtHennig Mr. Perfect]] in 1993, Flair did not return to the WWE until 2001 - and then only because he had ({{kayfabe}}) bought a 50% share in the company.

* TheUndertaker lost one to {{Edge}} at One Night Stand 2008. This removal was for the purposes of recovering from injuries. He returned less than three months later when Vickie Guerrero needed him to kick Edge's butt.
* A stranger example occurred in 1999, where VinceMcMahon was banished from the then-WWF for several months as a result of TheUndertaker losing a match to StoneColdSteveAustin. What makes this strange is that the time period was essentially the exact time surrounding the WWF's IPO, making many suspect that Vince took himself out of the limelight to comply with SEC regulations.
* William Regal also lost this kind of match. Regal failed a drug test and the WWE needed a kayfabe explanation for his suspension that followed said test.

* KevinNash & {{Goldberg}} both lost Loser Leaves {{WCW}} matches to ScottSteiner in 2001, which actually stuck [[RealLifeWritesThePlot due to the company going out of business before they could be brought back]].

* One particularly egregious example from {{WCW}} featured CurtHennig losing to Buff Bagwell in a Retirement Match, only to return to the ring THE NEXT DAY. Needless to say, this was booked by VinceRusso.
* ShawnMichaels was so desperate to end TheUndertaker's Wrestlemania win streak, he agreed to put his career on the line at ''Wrestlemania XXVI''. Unfortunately for him, he failed to end 'Taker's streak. Michaels has made a point to make the stipulation stick, though he still appears for WWE from time to time.
** Anyone else find it ironic that HBK was the one who ended RicFlair's career(or was supposed to have) at Wrestlemania 26 only to lose his career to TheUndertaker and WM26 two years later. Makes you wonder how much longer before Taker retires.
** Considering his fight in WM27 with [[TripleH HHH]], he could be nearing the end. After all HHH did point out that that was the first time TheUndertaker could not actually leave on his own and had to be helped out of the arena. If TheUndertaker comes back for WM28, he will either come back and get one more win and retire at 20-0 or will finally lose and thus end the same way RicFlair and HBK has.
*** As it turned out, though, Taker beat HHH at WM28, then went on to defeat CMPunk at WM29, setting his record at 21-0, with still no word on when he plans to retire.

* At ''Wrestlemania VII'' the long-running fued between the UltimateWarrior and [[RandySavage Randy "Macho Man" Savage]] culminated in a "Retirement Match" where the loser had to retire from the WWF (now WWE). Savage lost and retired from wrestling for an entire year, instead working as a commentator. He was eventually reinstated so that he could wrestle against [[JakeRoberts Jake "The Snake" Roberts]], who had been trash-talking Savage on the air, and attacked Savage and his wife (during a Summer Slam wedding portion) Elizabeth with a snake.
* This is how Jeff Hardy's final WWE run ended, losing a cage match to CM Punk.
* Chris Jericho has lost two of these in WWE. First to John Cena and a second one to Dolph Ziggler.
* Subverted at Money in the Bank 2011. Punk was leaving either way, but if Cena lost, Vince would fire him. Despite Cena losing and Punk running off with the title after foiling a cash-in attempt by Del Rio, Vince didn't get to fire Cena due to being fired ''himself'' the next night.

* Robbie Rotten frequently employs this trope on ''LazyTown'' as a way to try to make Sportacus leave the titular town.[[note]]It's worth noting that this rule only applied to Sportacus. If it applied to Robbie, then [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption the show would quickly lose its villain.]][[/note]] It's so predictable that Sportacus [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it in an ''one of the earlier episodes.''

* VideoGame Example: DefJam: Fight For NY has [[SnoopDogg Crow]] challenge [[ChristoperJudge D-Mob]] to one of these, with the stipulation [[CrowningMomentOfFunny "Loser goes to Jersey"]].
* In the ''{{Rifftrax}}'' version of ''[[Film/TheBourneSeries The Bourne Identity]]'', Mike claims that "Sniping someone is no way to settle your differences. Give me an old-fashioned 'loser leaves town' wrestling match any day." Kevin then realizes that this is the true story behind Mike's move to San Diego. Mike also claims Tom Brady happened to be in the south of France after losing such a match.
* One episode of ''GoofTroop'' had wrestling champion "The Incredible Bulk Brogan" declare one of these. It turned out the reason why is that he didn't want to wrestle anymore and needed a way to bow out.

* Robbie Rotten frequently employs this trope on ''LazyTown'' as a way to try to make Sportacus leave the titular town.[[hottip:*:It's worth noting that this rule only applied to Sportacus. If it applied to Robbie, then [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption the show would quickly lose its villain.]] It's so predictable that Sportacus [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it in an ''one of the earlier episodes.''

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' a witch that loses a duel will generally leave town. Being publicly defeated makes it hard to maintain authority, and most witches are proud enough not to want to stick around people who've seen them lose.