Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Sports Communication
Mark Henry's Retirement: Breaking Genres And John Cena, Kayla Stanley
Mark Henry's Retirement: Breaking Genres And John Cena, Kayla Stanley
ASPIRE 2026
This project explores Mark Henry’s 2013 “retirement” speech in WWE as an example of how genre expectations can be used, or broken, for rhetorical impact. Professional wrestling blends athletic competition with theatrical storytelling through kayfabe, where scripted storylines are presented as real. When Henry delivered his emotional retirement speech on live television, it closely followed the structure and tone of traditional sports retirement speeches. Because of this, it seemed like many audience members believed the moment was genuine.
The speech included familiar elements found in well-known athletic retirements such as gratitude, reflection on career highlights, acknowledgment of family, and a …