The world of professional wrestling is notorious for its ups and downs, often shaping and reshaping careers. For many former WWE superstars, life outside the squared circle has brought them diverse experiences and career paths. Here’s a comprehensive look at several former WWE wrestlers who’ve successfully transitioned into new chapters of life:
Β Kevin Thorn
Kevin Thorn with Ariel pic.twitter.com/TOCy4ZjY7C
β Wrestling Magazine (@WrestleMagazine) March 10, 2023
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Current Role: Realtor
Kevin Thorn, known for his gimmick wrestling as a vampire character in WWE’s version of ECW, took on the role of a realtor after his departure from the ring. His real estate endeavors kept him busy and even led to an appearance on HGTV’s “House in a Hurry.”
Β Ivory
Happy Birthday to WWE Hall of Famer Ivory! pic.twitter.com/30XCo71RhQ
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β WWE (@WWE) November 26, 2022
Current Role: Animal Worker, Business Owner
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Ivory, who entered the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018, has continued her love for animals. She initially began volunteering at a local animal shelter and later opened her animal care business, Downtown Dog, offering services like dog grooming.
Β Steve Blackman
βThe best pure striker in WWE historyβ they forgot about the Lethal Weapon Steve Blackman pic.twitter.com/wACm6qlkvf
β π€¬ (@xSHOGUNDo) April 9, 2018
Current Role: Bail Bondsman
Steve Blackman, known as “The Lethal Weapon” in WWE, transitioned into a career as a bail bondsman in Pennsylvania. He now operates his own company, Blackman Bail Bonds.
Β Rick Steiner
Tag Team Champions of the day: The Steiner Brothers (Scott & Rick Steiner) – Reclaimed the titles on June 19, 1993. This second title reign lasted 86 days. π #WWF #WWE #Wrestling #RickSteiner #ScottSteiner pic.twitter.com/5Pf5syrVV3
β WWF Wrestling (@WWFWrestling1) July 4, 2023
Current Role: Real Estate Agent
Rick Steiner, recently inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame alongside his brother Scott, has ventured into the world of real estate. He’s a prominent part of Rick Steiner and Associates at Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage.
Β Rico
The WWE Hall of Fame isnβt legitimate until Rico Constantino is inducted.
He must also wear this shirt on induction night. pic.twitter.com/OJuoz2qOmd
β Carl 𦩠(@deadeditors_) March 23, 2021
Current Role: Police Officer
Rico Constantino, known for his flamboyant character, has transitioned into a role of law enforcement as a police officer.
Diamond Dallas Page (DDP)
Happy Birthday to Diamond Dallas Page! π @RealDDP #WWF #WWE #WCW #Wrestling #DDP pic.twitter.com/31IlWRGrbw
β WWF Wrestling (@WWFWrestling1) April 5, 2023
Current Role: Yoga Guru, Motivational Speaker
Diamond Dallas Page is a prominent name in both wrestling and the fitness world. DDP successfully founded DDP Yoga, making him a yoga guru. He also serves as a motivational speaker.
Mideon (Dennis Knight)
#HappyBirthday Dennis Knight aka #Mideon #european #champion & Phineas I. Godwinn . #WWE #WWF #USWA #undertaker #ministry #ministryofdarkness pic.twitter.com/8Sk6iJ5RNL
β PayPerReView (@PayPerReView) December 26, 2017
Current Role: Chef
Dennis Knight, known as Mideon in WWE, swapped body slams for cooking pans. He pursued a culinary career and achieved success in the culinary world.
Haku (Meng)
Rare #wrestling photo @RealKevinNash #Haku #Meng #Diesel #wcw #wwf #wwe pic.twitter.com/uo0rJ8OaEn
β Wrestlemaniacs (@thedangerruss1) March 7, 2015
Current Role: Manager at Toyota
Haku, one of the legitimate tough guys in professional wrestling, took on a management job at Toyota. His reputation as a real-life tough guy likely earned him respect in the business world.
Bo Dallas
Bo Dallas is returning to WWE – Bryan Alvarez pic.twitter.com/litJEm5ANJ
β Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) October 9, 2022
Current Role: Real Estate Worker
Bo Dallas, who hasn’t been long since his WWE release, prepared for life outside the ring by working in real estate. He’s working diligently in the field rather than pursuing a return to wrestling.
Spike Dudley (Matt Hyson)
May 4th 2002, Insurrextion. Spike Dudley beat William Regal to win the European Title. #WWENetwork #WWE pic.twitter.com/4l8nzk599B
β WWE Today In History π (@WWE__History) May 4, 2015
Current Role: Financial Planner
Spike Dudley, known for his high-flying antics, ventured into the financial world as a financial planner, utilizing his knowledge in a different field.
Ted DiBiase
“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase poster from the UK Silver Vision video release of Royal Rumble ’89! π #WWF #WWE #Wrestling #TedDiBiase pic.twitter.com/bX02IX1UvO
β WWF Wrestling (@WWFWrestling1) October 13, 2023
Current Role: Christian Minister
“The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, a wrestling legend, pursued a career as a Christian minister. His religious beliefs have become a focal point in his life.
Shawn Stasiak
Anybody remember former WWE superstar Shawn Stasiak? Any fans or haters around? Let us know for a RT pic.twitter.com/aRNyGxbGmq
β 4CornerForum (@4CForum) May 24, 2013
Current Role: Motivational Speaker, Chiropractor
Shawn Stasiak, once a professional wrestler, became a chiropractor, leveraging his knowledge of the body. He’s also active as a motivational speaker.
Gene Snitsky
Gene Snitsky-Foot Guy was a recurring character on WWE television. https://t.co/flQW7zOYmX pic.twitter.com/E6oxHHLUh7
β Rob Lash (@Chamberoffarts) June 14, 2023
Current Role: Sporting Goods Store Owner
Gene Snitsky, known for his memorable storylines with Lita and Kane, left the wrestling world to run an outdoor sporting goods store alongside his wife. His new venture focuses on offering great deals and quality clothing.
Batista
Happy 54th birthday to Batista pic.twitter.com/ntEObiFdJC
β Just Talk Wrestling (@JustTalkWrestle) January 18, 2023
Current Role: Actor
Batista has ventured into Hollywood, establishing himself as a prominent actor in the film industry. He retired from professional wrestling in 2019 after a storied career.
Kurt Angle
Happy Birthday Kurt Angle! π
pic.twitter.com/tB72R77hwX
β 90s WWE (@90sWWE) December 9, 2022
Current Role: Occasional WWE Appearances, Promotional Work
Despite his physical issues and addiction to painkillers, Kurt Angle remained connected to the wrestling world. He made appearances for WWE and engaged in promotional work, ensuring his legacy endures.
Layla El
Per PWInsider former WWE Divas Champion Layla El is backstage in Nashville, TN. pic.twitter.com/UK7ErRfSWt
β Erik V. Veras #AsukaSZN (@WDEVV7) January 3, 2023
Current Role: Real Estate Agent
Layla El, a former WWE women’s star, transitioned into real estate, where she operates as a real estate agent. She still occasionally takes bookings in the wrestling world.
Kane (Glenn Jacobs)
Crazy that Kane only held the WWE championship for 1 day throughout his ENITRE CAREER π² pic.twitter.com/yKQhBMGHkN
β kendallwrestling (-_β’) (@kendallprinxe) September 27, 2023
Current Role: Politician, Author
Kane, known as the Big Red Machine, is now the Big Republican Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee. His sporadic wrestling appearances in the late 2010s haven’t deterred him from his political career. He’s also authored an autobiographical book and been vocal about his Libertarian politics.
Eugene (Nick Dinsmore)
Eugene wrestled better than her π€£ pic.twitter.com/xiCN5eaod0
β JaydenBlue18 (@JayydenBlue18) October 19, 2023
Current Role: Wrestling Promoter, Trainer
Nick Dinsmore, who portrayed the character Eugene in WWE, ventured into promoting and training. He started Midwest All Pro Wrestling in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offering a variety of services including parties, collectibles from his WWE days, and wrestling training.
Shaniqua (Linda Miles)
i will never shut up on how badly wwe dropped the ball on shaniqua pic.twitter.com/IrsmWEAH6p
β π©π«π’π§πππ¬π¬ π (@ms2002princess) June 15, 2023
Current Role: Substitute Teacher, Basketball Referee
Linda Miles, known for her intense leather and chain-bound character Shaniqua in WWE, has turned to education. She’s worked as a substitute teacher in Cincinnati’s public schools and also served as a college basketball referee, leveraging her college basketball experience at Rutgers.
Nathan Jones
Damn Nathan Jones got fat pic.twitter.com/SEeROEV3D9
β Nevel_PapperGOD (@pappergod) April 26, 2022
Current Role: Actor, Stuntman
Nathan Jones, known as the Colossus of Boggo Road in wrestling, transitioned to an unsuccessful MMA career before settling into the world of films. He appeared in “Mad Max: Fury Road” as the hulking offspring of Immortan Joe, establishing himself as an action star.
Β Jimmy Wang Yang (James Yun)
Correborating reports from Flightful and WrestleBOB, WWE will infact be making overtures to bring Jimmy Wang Yang in to replace an unknown superstar in a high profile match at WWE Summerslam.
(Flightful 7/22/22, WrestleBOB 7/22/22) pic.twitter.com/0Wo5umCLQZ
β Chair (@TopSuperKicker) July 23, 2022
Current Role: Party Bus Owner
Jimmy Wang Yang, known for his Asian redneck persona, became an entrepreneur after leaving WWE. Starting with pest control, he ventured into the world of transportation entertainment, operating a party bus business that’s available through Groupon, even during the pandemic.
Val Venis (Sean Morley)
Random Thought: I can’t be the only one who is shocked by the fact that Val Venis was in WWE all the way up until 2009. pic.twitter.com/f1Zl6QJl7r
β The Honest Jones Fanπ¦ (@SmackdownLayer) September 20, 2020
Current Role: Medicinal Marijuana Advocate, Bud-Tender
Val Venis, known as “The world’s sexiest superstar,” transitioned from a playboy porn gimmick in WWE to advocacy for medicinal marijuana in Arizona. He works as a bud-tender at “Health for Life” and is taking his career in a different direction.
Kenny Dykstra (Kenneth Doane)
Former Spirit Squad member Ken “Kenny Dykstra” Doane has been hired by WWE as a WWE Performance Center Coach.
– PWInsider pic.twitter.com/MEgFel4oHT
β WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) October 6, 2021
Current Role: Author, Autism Advocate
Kenny Dykstra, a high-flying member of the Spirit Squad, pursued education after retirement. He earned a master’s degree, published children’s books, and collaborated on a book with Andre the Giant’s manager. His most rewarding work has been with autistic children, where he consistently influences autism centers around Massachusetts.
Chris Nowinski
Former Wrestlers Are Concerned With Chris Nowinskiβs Relationship With WWE https://t.co/IkkS4S2AlS pic.twitter.com/j53Yc7W97m
β The Weekly BS (@TheWeeklyBS) June 12, 2016
Current Role: CTE Awareness Advocate, Author
Chris Nowinski, the Harvard wrestling superstar, left WWE after experiencing multiple concussions and injuries. His advocacy for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) awareness has been crucial. Chris founded the Concussion Legacy Foundation, wrote a book, “Head Games,” about the condition, and contributed to the Vice series “Dark Side Of The Ring: Chris Benoit.”
Nidia Guenard
Happy Birthday to Nidia Guenard!#NidiaGuenard #Nidia #WWEToughEnough #ToughEnough #WWEWrestleMania35 #WrestleMania35 #WrestleMania #WWE #WomensEvolution #WomensRevolution #WomensWrestling pic.twitter.com/TbkFHo5Bop
β Official Women’s Wrestling Fansite (@fiercexfemales) March 12, 2019
Current Role: Mother, Professional Chef in Training
Nidia Guenard, a Tough Enough winner, chose a more traditional path in her retirement. Known in the ring as Jamie Noble’s goofy trailer park girlfriend, she transitioned to motherhood and became a Girl Scout troop leader. Her professional training took her to the Culinary Le Nor, where she is honing her skills as a chef.
Trevor Murdoch (William Mueller)
Good to see Trevor Murdoch will be guest starring on Raw next week #WWE #RAW pic.twitter.com/qjkVWUJUZr
β Uncle Wrestling (@UncleWrestling) November 18, 2014
Current Role: Family Man, Fiber Optic Worker, Independent Wrestler
Trevor Murdoch, known for his tag team work with Lance Cade, is now a family man. He owns a business and once ran a bar he worked at in high school. He sold the bar with his wife and moved on to work for a fiber optic company, drilling in high-connectivity cable. Despite these pursuits, he still wrestles on the side and has been booked for the NWA and other independent promotions.
This extended glimpse into the post-WWE lives of these former wrestling icons showcases the remarkable variety of opportunities they’ve embraced beyond the squared circle. From mayors to actors, real estate agents to yoga gurus, and advocates for various causes, these individuals have continued their journeys in their unique ways.
