WWE Stars Who Left Wrestling Behind For A 9-5 Job
While being a WWE star can seem like a dream job, it's not a job that can last very long. All of that slamming in the ring can take a serious toll on the human body. Like all athletes, WWE stars retire long before the average professional. Because these wrestlers are still young after their wrestling days are over, they set their sights on other pursuits.
Keep reading to learn what your favorite WWE stars got up to after their wrestling days were over. From firefighters to doggy daycare owners and even entering politics, these former wrestlers are holding down new jobs.
Edge Found New Ways To Be On Television
Edge retired from the WWE in 2011 when he found out that he was suffering from some severe spinal problems. He was still quite young at the time, and his retirement announcement came as quite a shock to his fans. Even though Edge could no longer wrestle, he found a new way to get his face on television. Edge fell in love with acting.
He got a few small roles in movies and TV shows, and then he landed his own reality TV show called The Edge and Christian Show.
Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus started her wrestling career on March 19, 2000. In just a few seasons, she became the most successful female in the sport.
Stratus still appears at WWE events, but at thi point, she's pretty much retired from wrestling. She has since had two children, a boy, and a girl, and she opened her own yoga studio in Toronto, Canada. Strastus is all about giving back to her community and teaching others the power of fitness.
Haku Manages A Car Detailing Business
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Haku was always considered to be a good wrestler, but he doesn't have many championship titles to his name. After trying his luck in the wrestling ring, he shifted his sights to a different line of work.
The vehicle business was calling, and Haku answered. Haku is working for a car dealership out in Florida. He manages a detail shop, and a few years back, The Rock (Haku's nephew) gave him a nice Ford. We'd hate to see a customer get him mad.
Stasiak Became A Chiropractor
Shawn Stasiak was once known for breaking backs in the wrestling ring, but now he's on the other side of the rope fixing people who've sustained minor back injuries. Stasiak left the WWE in 2002. Since then, he went to school to learn how to become a chiropractor
“It’s such a blessing to be able to make so many positive life changes for people, to get them out of debilitating pain and to guide them to a better quality of life not just physically, but mentally and spiritually,” Stasiak said.
Shawn Michaels Hosts A Hunting Show
Shawn Michaels was a major star in the WWE for years, but after retiring, he started hosting his own hunting show on the Outdoor Network. The show is called Shawn Michaels' MacMillan River Adventures. He also keeps busy caring for his two children with his wife, Rebecca.
In 2015, Michaels also published his autobiography Wrestling for My Life: The Legend, the Reality, and the Faith of a WWE Superstar. If you're a Shawn Michaels fan, you're going to want to check out that book.
Batista Is A Full Out Movie Star
Batista was pretty famous during his wrestling days, but he's even more famous now that he's retired from the WWE. Batista landed a role in one of the most successful movie franchises, The Avengers.
Now, he's commonly referred to as Drax the Destroyer from Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. Slowly but surely, Batista is detaching from his wrestling background and becoming a household name. Batista is out here proving that wrestling can lead to bigger and better things.
Chris Jericho Started A Rock Band
Chris Jericho was a wrestling legend who used to be known for trapping opponents inside the "walls of Jericho."
After his wrestling career was over, he started his band, Fozzy. That was back in 1999, and since then, it has come a long way. Slash has even asked Jericho to tour with him and his band. Jericho said, "He wasn’t doing it because he likes Chris Jericho, he was doing it because he knew Fozzy would be a good addition to his show and his fans would like us."
Jimmy Wang Operates A Party Bus
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Jimmy Wang knows that partying hard is the key to having a good time. What better place to party than on a party bus?
Former WWE star Jimmy Wang hung up the tights and picked up some keys. That's because Wang now operates a party bus with a Redneck theme. The name of the bus is "Redneck Party Bus," but we have to wonder how many people actually want to party on a bus with a former wrestler these days.
The Bella Twins Are Now Designers
The Bella twins Nikki and Brie stunned crowds as they competed in the ring. Nikki even managed to catch the attention of the biggest wrestler in the WWE, John Cena. With wrestling now on the back burner, the twins are on to different things such as fashion.
These twins have their own fashion line called BirdieBee. BirdieBee puts emphasis on intimate, casual, and fitness wear. The clever tagline on their website is "BEE Empowered, BEE Fearless, BEE Giving, BEE You."
CM Punk Is A Fiction Writer
After wrestling, CM Punk took up fighting in another octagon. Punk's punishment in the octagon his first time around ended in 2 minutes and 14 seconds, but he walked away with half a million. Not too bad for two minutes of work.
Something that Punk gets really excited for is comic books. In the past few years, he's had the chance to work with Marvel which includes working on a series about Drax the Destroyer. Do you think he and Batista still talk?
Paul Burchill Puts Out Real Fires
For someone who entered the WWE world with so much promise, Paul Burchill's potential never came full circle. He was always being rebranded to try and appeal to fans, but nothing happened. At one point, they even paired him with his sister Katie Lea Burchill, but that didn't work either.
All of these failures led to him leaving wrestling and completely changing careers. Burchill became a fireman after his retirement in 2010. He's been saving lives ever since, making himself a real-life hero. This next former wrestler took her beauty and brains and made it lucrative.
Ivory Started Her Own Doggie Daycare
Ivory may seem like one tough chick, especially as a former WWE Women's Champion. This tough lady has a soft spot for dogs, though. After she retired from wrestling in 2007, she started her own dog grooming and daycare company called Downtown Dog.
"We already had an animal shelter, but I thought we really didn't have any animal services," she said. "So instead of being an animal social worker, I hooked up with a girl with ideas similar to mine and we made Downtown Dog, which started as a do-it-yourself bathing facility for animals."
Booker T Ran For Office
Booker was one of the most exciting and explosive wrestlers during his long career. He may have left the ring, but that doesn't mean he's getting boring. Months after retiring from WWE, Booker T announced he would be running for Houston political office in 2019.
As part of his campaign, he said that 2020 is going to be a new era in Houston. He plans to focus on improving low-income areas and decrease homeless numbers. There's also a chance he might still make WWE cameos, but we'll believe it when we see it.
AJ Lee Is Now In The Television Business
AJ Lee was a superb wrestler for some time, but her success didn't stop after she stepped out of the ring. She wrote an autobiography titled Crazy Is My Superpower: How I Triumphed By Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules.
The book was so well received that some Hollywood execs wanted to turn it into a TV series. Lee became an executive producer on that series and she's even going to be writing some episodes.
The Rock Is More Famous Than All Of Them Put Together
We couldn't go this whole list without mentioning the one and only. Dwayne Johnson is sort of a trailblazer when it comes to venturing outside the ring. The mega-star not only dominated in the ring with his People's Elbow and Rock Bottom finishers, but he also crushes it in the box office.
Many think there is nothing The Rock can't do. He might even be running for president in 2020. Whatever the case, he showed wrestlers that it was okay and cool to be something else other than a steel cage match warrior.
Kane Won The Republican Primary
While he still makes WWE appearances in 2018, Kane would prefer to be known as Glenn Jacobs these days. That's because instead of beating the odds in the ring, he's trying to beat the odds into the polls. A known libertarian, Jacobs decided to run for mayor of Knox County this year.
He must be good at public speaking. Despite having very little political experience, Jacobs won the Republican primary for the county, followed by the general election on August second.
Spike Dudley Is A Financial Planner
Spike Dudley's wrestling career didn't pan out how he expected. As he was attempting to find himself in the ring, he ended up finding himself thrown around like an old doll. Waking up the next morning couldn't have been fun for Dudley. One day he decided to put more interest on money.
Dudley made the career change to a financial planner. It may not be as fun as the WWE, but it pays the bills. He carries an extremely positive attitude towards his new job, so you could say he's enjoying it. "I’m helping people live a better life and take care of their families. It’s beyond rewarding," Spike said.
Diamond Dallas Page Teaches Yoga
Diamond Dallas Page used to be a WCW champion. He always motivated the crowd to get charged up with his antics, and he had some of the smoothest finishers in the sport. It looks like he incorporated those same motivational skills to his new profession.
Page now has the DDP Yoga Program since retiring from wrestling. He teaches his own brand that involves bodyweight exercises. Many who have used it in the past years praise it due to their weight loss and added flexibility.
Rick Steiner Sells Real Estate
As an individual, Rick Steiner didn't do so well in the WWE. However, The Steiner Brothers were on top of the tag team realm and even won the WWE Tag Team Championship. They didn't fit in too well and soon left the WWE for WCW where Rick saw much success. But the WCW folded, and he had to find something else to do.
He joined the likes of those who sell real estate. He currently works at Rick Steiner and Associates at Atlanta Communities Real State Brokerage. It was a brilliant decision for him to switch to this field as he is doing quite well.
Eve Torres Turned To Self Defence
Eve Torres is a Divas Champion in WWE. She reigned as one of the most popular wrestlers from 2007 to 2012 before asking for a release from the WWE. She wanted to focus on her Gracie Women Empowered self-defense program. Torres is trained in Jiu-Jitsu and is an accomplished kickboxer.
That isn't the only focus she has. The diva also an event manager. She and her sister-in-law started their event rental company called InJOY the Party a few years back.
Deputy Buchanan Went Into Law Enforcement
If you're already a huge wrestler there's at least one profession we can think of that would suit you. Going into the field of law enforcement might be easy because no one wants to mess with someone the size of Bull Buchanan.
Buchanan's WWE career wasn't that spectacular; however, he did win the Tag Team Championship one year with the Right to Censor group. He was released in 2003 and shifted his focus to the role of Deputy for Carrol County Sheriff's Department.
Snitsky Became An Actor
Unlike many other professional wrestlers, the big man Snitsky didn't have dreams of being in the WWE. He wanted to compete under a different set of lights. Snitsky had hopes of the NFL. He had a tremendous high school and college career so it could have happened. Instead, he landed in the WWE.
He dominated in the WWE and became apart of many storylines. When 2008 came around, he asked to be released and began a different career in acting. “It’s similar to wrestling,” he said. “I love the larger-than-life characters, the theatrics, and production. Just becoming a character and getting to perform.”
Scotty 2 Hotty Is A Fireman
Scotty 2 Hotty's finishing move always brought the crowd into the match no matter what. The Worm wasn't the most effective, but it was one that many fans adored. Scotty had a nice run in the WWE but saw his release in 2007. The former tag team champ was no more.
Now, instead of causing harm, he's out there protecting people from danger. Scotty is another wrestler-turned-fireman. "Not only is the schedule appealing, but you’re doing something good," he told WWE Classics.
Molly Holly Became A Teen Counselor
Molly Holly was an unstoppable force in the WWE ring facing other women. She was ahead of her time when it came to skill and technique. Holly also didn't want people to judge her based on looks and pure talent. Which is why she became the Women's Champion.
In 2005, she chose to leave the WWE and take on more rewarding roles. For starters, she became a teen counselor. Then she earned her license as a massage therapist. And to top things off, she started doing charity work for organizations who help children.
Sean O'Haire Became A Hairdresser
Don't call it irony but Sean O'Haire left wrestling to become a hairdresser. He had a passion for wrestling that saw him travel all over the world just to find a stable place for him to compete. Soon, it became too much, and he wasn't making enough money for bills, so he had to find a new job.
O'Haire then became a hairdresser. Unfortunately, O'Haire struggled in that field too, and it led to him taking his own life back in 2014. The reports were that he struggled with addiction.
Kevin Nash Is An Actor Now
One of the most popular wrestlers of the WWE, Kevin Nash is the 1995 WWE World Heavyweight Champion and was inducted into WWE Hall of Fame in 2015. Since retiring, Nash has appeared in 16 movies and is on the cast of Living the Dream, playing Troy Marshall.
Another memorable role was as a stripper named Tarzan in Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL. Outside of acting, Nash is a philanthropist, actively supports the LGBTQ community, and has vowed to donate his brain to the CTE Center at Boston University and the Concussion Legacy when he dies.
Jaqueline Is In Great Shape
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Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016, Jaqueline is might be in better shape today then she was during her wrestling career. She loves to stay active, an even made a brief WWE comeback when she was enshrined. In 2018, she prefers to help train up and coming wrestlers, and is noted for her work with Nidia and Maven.
Jaqueline keeps active outside of WWE too, working with MTV on several reality series. She's even competed on shows like Fear Factor, proving she's more more than a one hit wonder!
Bret Hart Knows All About Business Loans
Bret Hart didn't have an easy life after leaving WWE. He suffered a stroke, which he never fully recovered from. Then, in 2016, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After a year-long battle, he was declared cancer free. And somehow, during all his trials and tribulations, he started a business loan company.
If you need that business loan, look no further than Sharpshooter Funding, Hart's new obsession. Well, that and his four children and two grandchildren.
Mick Foley Became A Writer
Mick Foley went by many names during his wrestling career, but no one ever called him a writer. That ended in 1999 when Foley published his first book. Since then, he has continued to write steadily, even finding himself on The New York Times bestselling authors list.
Foley doesn't just write for adults. He has four children's books to his name, and all are worth reading. He hasn't hidden behind his words, either He's appeared on The Daly Show, where he talked about his work with charities.
Steve Austin Is A Real Live Action Star
Steve Austin will never reach the same height as Dwayne Johnson in his acting career, but he's still giving it a go. In 2010, he co-starred alongside Sylvester Stallone in The Expendables and most recently wrapped filming Persons of Interest, which does not have a release date yet.
Austin still makes cameos for WWE but has really dedicated his life to his new career, where he gets to blow stuff up and beat the snot out of the bad guys. Souind pretty fun to us!
Kaitlyn Started A Clothing Company
Kaitlyn was a WWE sensation after winning NXT and earning a contract with the main roster. Unfortunately, after a feud with another wrestler ended, Kaitlyn ran out of storylines. Because of this, she walked away from the company and started her own; a clothing company named Celestial Bodies.
As CEO, Kaitlyn uses her real name, Celeste Bonin. A divorce from her husband set her company back recently, but it has begun showing signs of renewed life. We hope she gets all the success she's looking for.
Santino Marella Opened A Gym
Santino Marella's claim to WWE fame is getting picked out of the audience in Italy and winning the Intercontinental Championship. In 2014, he retired, ready to venture out on a new mission. One year before pursuing his dream full time, Marella opened a multi-use workout facility to help train athletes.
The gym is called the Battle Arts Academy and is located in Mississauga, Canada. IN 2016, Marella got back into the TV industry, signing with Sportsnet 360 and an in-house analyst.
Rosa Mendes Is Teaching Us How To Get Fit
A decade into her wrestling career, Rosa Mendes abruptly retired. After her daughter turned one, it was clear to Mendes she had no purpose with WWE. However, having become a public figure thanks to the company, she used her celebrity to launch her website, Totally Fit Mama.
On the website, Mendes reveals how she stays so fit and healthy as a mother. Since launching the website, Mendes has also gone back to using her real name; Milena Roucka.
Alex Riley Jr. Took Up Acting
Alex Riley Jr. was never popular during his WWE career. Supposedly his co-stars didn't even like him. Knowing this, it's surprising how long he stayed on contract with WWE. After leaving, Riley Jr. began acting and has found some success.
Can you guess what his biggest role has been so far? If you've watched G.L.O.W. on Netflix, you've seen Riley Jr. He played Steel Horse. In the credits, he used his real name, Kevin Kiley Jr. as well.
Cameron Chased Shines On Television
It appears one of the most common post WWE careers attempted is acting. Some, like Dwayne Johnson, make the transition look easy. The reality is the opposite. Take Cameron, for instance. Since leaving WWE, she has gone back to her actual name, Ariane Andrew, and has not found life as an actress easy.
Andrew does host Two on Where on extra TV, but aside from that, jobs have not come flowing her way. Maybe Underdog, a sports drama that finished filming in 2018, will be the big break she's looking for.
Sara Lee Took Time To Become A Mother
When Sara Lee's contract expired in 2016, she announced she was pregnant and would not be returning to wrestling. Before that, she had won Tough Enough and looked like the sports next female star.
After giving birth to her daughter, Sara has said she is taking her time deciding what her next move is. The most important thing to her right now is learning to be a mother. Judging from her social media accounts, she is getting the hang of it just fine and looks happier than she ever has.
Virgil Teaches Math
At some point in his wrestling career. Virgil realized that his heart just wasn't in it anymore. He loved numbers and wanted to share his love of numbers with the world. To do this, he left WWE and became a math teacher. That's not where this off story ends, though.
Perhaps Virgil didn't realize teaching isn't a lucrative industry. To make up for his lack of money, he started a GoFundMe to become a millionaire. There was no project he was working and no medical bills he needed to be paid. He just wanted people to give him money. It didn't happen.
April Mendez Published A Memoir
April Mendez was forced to retire from WWE in 2015 after too many injuries took their toll on her. Most fans thought they would never see again. They were pleasantly surprised when she published her memoir Crazy is my Superpower, which described her life in candid detail, most notably her struggles with mental health.
Since the book became a bestseller, she has used her celebrity to become an advocate for people, like herself, who have struggled with mental and physical health issues.
Jesse Venture Made It In Politics
At the height of his wrestling career, Jesse "the Body" Ventura was able to transition into acting, taking a role in Predator alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. After his wrestling career was over, Ventura didn't push to continue his acting career either. Instead, he became a politician.
From 1999 until 2003, Ventura was the Governor of Minnesota. He is the first and only member of the Reform Party to ever win a major government position. In 2016, he considered running for President.
Shad Gaspard Has Done It All
Shad Gaspard has had quite the impressive post WWE career. Not only has he continued to fight on the independent circuit, but he has also become a model, bodybuilder, bodyguard, screenwriter, and comic book writer.
His graphic novel Assassin and Son was honored in 2011 and 2012 by several organizations as the best independent graphic novel of the year. He also co-starred alongside Will Ferrel and Kevin Hart in the hit comedy Get Hard as Big Julian.
