Sylvester Stallone’s career is Hollywood’s ultimate underdog story, a performer who wrote himself into superstardom with Rocky, then built a five-decade empire spanning Rambo, The Expendables, and Tulsa King. At 80, plenty of actors would be contemplating retirement, golf, or a beach with suspiciously expensive cocktails.

Stallone keeps grinding with the same intensity that defined his early years. Now he has revealed the hilarious reason he cannot hang up his boots.

Kelly Ripa went straight for the wallet during Sylvester Stallone’s October 13 appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark, asking how much he planned to “pony up” for Sophia’s upcoming wedding to Michael Sheehan.

“Oh, man, it’s almost embarrassing to say, but I can’t retire,” Stallone replied. When the studio laughed, he repeated himself before insisting, “I’m serious!”

Sophia, 30, announced her engagement on August 28, calling Sheehan her best friend. Stallone clearly approves of the incoming son-in-law, describing him as  a great guy and revealing that Sheehan asked for his blessing before proposing. Ripa joked that facing Rocky Balboa for permission must have been terrifying.

Stallone said Sheehan arrived very confident, although Jennifer Flavin was present as referee. Mark Consuelos then transformed the conversation into an impromptu Rocky II reunion by referencing Rocky’s famously awkward proposal to Adrian. Stallone answered with another line from the movie.

“I won’t leave no hair in the sink.” Somewhere, Mickey Goldmill is probably screaming about wedding catering prices. The wedding may be jokingly keeping Stallone chained to the grind.

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And Paramount+ has already made sure Dwight Manfredi has plenty of work waiting too.

Tulsa King Season 4 premieres October 16 on Paramount+, with Stallone returning as Dwight “The General” Manfredi. The official synopsis finds Dwight attempting to legitimize his growing empire while corrupt politicians, dangerous newcomers, and a crushing personal loss pull him toward the street instincts he brought from New York. 

Paramount+ has already ordered Season 5, so Dwight will survive long enough to create several fresh headaches. Production began in New York on October 5, moving the series away from Atlanta and sending Dwight back toward the mafia roots that originally got him exiled to Oklahoma. No Season 5 premiere date has been announced yet.

Scarlet Rose Stallone has also been promoted to series regular as Spencer, while Erik Palladino, Glenn Fleshler, Anthony Skordi, and Nickola Shreli are joining the Season 5 ensemble. For Stallone, that means another season, another criminal war, and perhaps another contribution to the unofficial Sophia Stallone Wedding Recovery Fund.

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What do you think about Stallone joking that his daughter’s wedding is keeping him from retirement? Let us know in the comments.