The Sandman Announces Wrestling Retirement for 2026

ECW legend The Sandman announced his retirement from professional wrestling Saturday, with his final match set for April 17, 2026, at Joey Janela's Spring Break X in Las Vegas. The event, organized by Game Changer Wrestling and promoter Joey Janela, falls during the high-profile WrestleMania week, drawing fans from across the industry.

The 62-year-old wrestler, whose real name is Jim Fullington, has competed sporadically in recent years, limiting himself to one or two matches annually. His most recent bout occurred in October 2025, a tag team match for a New Jersey independent promotion. An opponent for the retirement match has not been disclosed, but the announcement marks the end of a career that began in 1989 and includes nearly 900 matches, according to wrestling records.

Fullington trained at the Tri-State Wrestling Academy before debuting professionally. He spent the early 1990s in promotions like the United States Wrestling Association in Memphis, where he feuded with Jerry Lawler. By 1993, he joined Extreme Championship Wrestling, evolving from a surfer character into the hardcore icon known for his beer-drinking, cigarette-smoking entrance accompanied by Metallica's...