Cameron Becomes an Actress
In 2011, Cameron hit the ring as a developmental wrestler under WWE’s wings. Although she spent a few strong years with them, she never really made it to the top of the game, and she was ultimately released from her contract in 2016.
After her departure from the WWE, she made a couple of appearances on other wrestling shows, such as her short return to NXT. Cameron went on to try her hand at acting on television, but never quite made her mark in that industry, either.
Haku’s Handy with Cars
Tonga ?Uli?uli Fifita is most well-known for his long-time status as Haku in the ring. During his time in the world of wrestling, Haku was feared greatly – no one wanted to take him on. But these days, Haku is living a little differently, and something tells us that his name no longer strikes fear into the hearts of his enemies. Why? Well, Haku spends his days now working on cars, in a dealership in Florida.
Haku may have found his love of cars when he was gifted a Ford by his nephew, The Rock. After retiring from wrestling, Haku opened up a car detailing shop where he uses his hands to repair and upgrade automobiles, rather than try and crush people to death. However, we’d sure hate to see how he handles a client that gets on his bad side.
Cameron Becomes an Actress
In 2011, Cameron hit the ring as a developmental wrestler under WWE’s wings. Although she spent a few strong years with them, she never really made it to the top of the game, and she was ultimately released from her contract in 2016.
After her departure from the WWE, she made a couple of appearances on other wrestling shows, such as her short return to NXT. Cameron went on to try her hand at acting on television, but never quite made her mark in that industry, either.
Haku’s Handy with Cars
Tonga 'Uli'uli Fifita is most well-known for his long-time status as Haku in the ring. During his time in the world of wrestling, Haku was feared greatly – no one wanted to take him on. But these days, Haku is living a little differently, and something tells us that his name no longer strikes fear into the hearts of his enemies. Why? Well, Haku spends his days now working on cars, in a dealership in Florida.
Haku may have found his love of cars when he was gifted a Ford by his nephew, The Rock. After retiring from wrestling, Haku opened up a car detailing shop where he uses his hands to repair and upgrade automobiles, rather than try and crush people to death. However, we’d sure hate to see how he handles a client that gets on his bad side.
Eve Torres: Jane of All Trades
Torres made a huge stir when she hit the WWE scene in May of 2007. The bombshell Diva ended up bringing home the Championship three times, and along the way, Torres gathered quite the fanbase. Before beginning her wrestling career, she worked as a professional dancer for the LA Clippers and the SoCal Summer Pro League.
Nowadays, the multi-talented beauty is devoting her efforts into helping other people have a good time. Torres, along with her sister-in-law, launched an event planning company that they called “InJoy the Party.” The ladies plan a wide range of events, and apparently, they have a wonderful track record.
Kane Does Politics
Kane, whose real name is Glenn Jacobs, was a huge hit in the WWE – no pun intended. In fact, execs in Hollywood were so impressed with him that he’s appeared in several movies and TV shows, such as the killer role he played in See No Evil. But now, Kane is out there trying his hand at something new: politics.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Kane is well-known for his libertarian values. After all, he’s been involved with “the cause” for a while now. But in May of 2018, he seriously kicked things up a notch when he won the primary election for Knox County Mayor in Tennessee. He continued on in the election and ended up winning the seat, overall, and has been acting Mayor of Knoxville ever since.
Call Bret Hart if You Need Loans
Bret “Hitman” Hart, was an animal in the ring, during his time with the WWE. He took home the WWF World Heavyweight Championship five times, along with the title of Triple Crown Champion. He’s dabbled in television throughout the years, guest starring in such shows as The Simpsons.
But after a series of health problems, including a stroke that he suffered from as a result of an accident, and a prostate cancer diagnosis, he was forced to retire from his beloved sport. Fortunately, he was found free of cancer in 2016 but decided to move into a more stable position for his family. He operates a business loan company that he’s dubbed Sharpshooter Funding.
Paul Burchill: Firefighter
When Burchill first hit the scene, fans really seemed to like him. But things never really did pan out for him in the WWE. It seems as though there was somewhat of an identity crisis in finding out how to play this character that suited him, but unfortunately, he never found his true identity in the ring. In fact, officials brought in on-stage sister Katie Lea to see if she might be able to successfully partner up with him, but that failed, too.
Finally, Burchill threw in the towel and left the ring for good in 2010. After he retired, Burchill decided to try his hand at fighting fires and saving lives. He got a degree in nursing science before becoming a firefighter in his home state of Kentucky where he lives with his wife and three boys. Check out how this former Diva Champion capitalized on her triple-threat status.
Bella Sisters Takeover
Gorgeous twin siblings Brie and Nikki Bella hit the scene in 2006 when they entered the WWE Diva Search. Over the years, each sister claimed the title of Diva Champion, with Nikki actually winning it twice. During a match, the twins would pull a switch-a-roo and sub in for one another if one of them needed a break, they called this signature move “Twin Magic.” In fact, it was actually Brie that claimed the second Diva Champion crown, defending her sister's title while pretending she was her.
Nikki went on to draw WWE superstar, John Cena’s, attention her way when they met while training in Florida Championship Wrestling, a sector of the larger organization. The wrestlers actually ended up becoming pretty serious and they even got engaged at one point. However, after the WWE’s golden couple spent a year planning the wedding, things took a turn for the worse and they ultimately ended their relationship in 2018.
Kevin Nash Tries his Hand at Acting
Kevin Nash is arguably one of the most well-known and respected names in the entire WWE, and possibly even the world of wrestling, period. Nash took home the title of World Heavyweight Champion in 1995, and two decades later was brought into the Hall of Fame. Now, Nash is actually doing quite well for himself in the realm of acting.
You may have seen Kevin Nash playing such roles as “Tarzan,” in Magic Mike, who was one of Mike’s male stripper buddies. He first dipped his toes in the acting pool in the second rendering of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, The Secret of the Ooze, and kept it pretty consistent afterward. He has also acted on television, appearing on shows such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch and The Love Boat.
Chris Jericho: Rockstar?
Jericho made a name for himself as a badass wrestler when he popularized his move, “The Walls of Jericho,” which was an escalated version of the “Boston Crab.” Once he’d gotten his opponent in position, he’d drop that move and it was all over for them. But what did Chris Jericho decide to do when his wrestling days were over? Well, he decided to sing, of course!
Jericho followed his musical passions when he retired from the WWE, forming the band “Fozzy,” in 99’. Fozzy was no simple garage band, either. In fact, Slash asked Jericho and his band to come on tour with them one year. Some speculated that Slash invited them along because he was a fan of Jericho’s WWE moves, but Slash denied the claims, offering up instead that Fozzy would have complimented him on the tour.
AJ Lee: Wrestler Turned Writer
AJ Lee, who was born as April Jeanette Mendez, has made quite a name for herself in the world of wrestling. Lee kicked off her professional wrestling career from Florida in 2007, where she worked with WWE’s developmental branch for a couple of years before being promoted. Lee’s fanbase grew along with her success as AJ Lee, a character who was a bit unstable in the head department but loved nonetheless.
In 2017, Lee published an autobiography that she titled Crazy is My Superpower. The book gained national recognition and allowed her to move into the role of producer at WWE. In fact, the book was such a hit that there are rumors it is being made into a television show of its own. Supposedly, Lee will even be writing up a number of the show’s episodes. We’ll keep our eyes peeled!
Jimmy Wang’s Redneck Party Bus
Jimmy Wang Yang has always had a fun-loving spirit, which he’s now infused into his most recent career choice – running a party bus! But Jimmy Wang’s party bus isn’t just any old party bus, it’s got its own theme. It’s a redneck party bus, which also just happens to be its name.
Wang and gang invite partygoers along for a unique experience that no doubt includes country music, white tank tops, and whiskey. It probably looks a lot like a scene from The Trailer Park Boys – which is hilarious to watch but questionable for partaking in. But hey, if country music and alcoholism is your thing, then Jimmy Wang’s Redeck Party Bus may just be for you!
Spike Dudley: Ragdoll to Riches
Spike Dudley, born Matthew Hyson in 1970, entered the WWE after he wrestled with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name “Brother Runt.” During his time with the WWE, he fought alongside brothers, D-Von, and Bubba Ray Dudley. But his brothers couldn’t save him from the injuries and losses that he ended up facing over the length of his career.
Finally, after being destroyed during so many fights, Dudley made the decision to retire from full-time wrestling. These days, he lives in Rhode Island with his wife, where he works in finances. Of course, financial planning isn’t nearly as exciting as his old gig, but he doesn’t risk breaking his neck every day, and he’s supporting his family. Keep reading to find out which one of your favorite retired wrestlers is teaching yoga now!
Ivory is Living Her Best Life
WWE fans may not realize just how huge of a heart Ivory was hiding behind those awesome wrestling moves. The former Diva decided to give up getting in the ring to do something that she really loves – helps animals! Ivory has a special place in that big heart of hers for our furry friends, and more particularly, dogs.
When Ivory left the WWE in 2005, she started devoting some of her time into volunteering at an animal shelter near her home. But in 2007, she decided that she wanted to work with animals full-time, and she opened a doggy daycare and grooming facility that she dubbed Downtown Dog.
CM Punk Picks up a Pen
CM Punk was the WWE’s alternative poster child. He made a big name for himself in the wrestling world portraying this “punk” character that everyone fell in love with. But when CM retired from the WWE, he wound up fighting for a different company – the UFC. CM traded in his slams for kicks.
But Punk’s new gig wouldn’t last very long. In fact, he only ended up fighting once, while signed with the UFC. He was defeated during the fight by submission, and it was then he made the decision to get out of fighting altogether. As an avid comic book fan, Punk decided to follow his dreams straight into the world of authoring them himself! He’s done so well for himself in the business that he’s rumored to be working with Marvel on a series about Drax. We wonder what Batista’s take on this whole thing is!
Diamond Dallas Downward Dogs
Diamond Dallas Page, commonly just referred to as DDP, was a fan favorite during his time with the WCW, a subsidiary of the WWE. Diamond was brought into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017 after he had become a champion in the WCW. Even after his retirement from the world of wrestling, he continues to pursue a life of fitness – only now, it’s a little less crazy.
These days, Page runs his own yoga program for other athletes who had become injured while playing their respective sports. Some of the people that know him best probably think it’s a little ironic, considering the fact for the first four decades of his life, he wouldn’t do anything like yoga. His program has become incredibly popular among athletes and retired athletes, many of whom have spoken out the great results it has provided for them.
Rick Steiner: Real Estate Man
At one point, Rick Steiner held the title of US Heavyweight Champion. For the most part, however, Steiner’s success within the WWE was due in large part to his teaming up with his brother, Scott. Together, the siblings formed “The Steiner Brothers,” who went on to win multiple team championships.
In 2004, semi-retired Steiner got his foot in the door of the real estate business. Today, Steiner is living in Atlanta and selling houses out of his office in the Communities Real Estate Brokerage. Apparently, he’s very good at his job, as he’s been doing it for quite some time, and he makes a pretty comfortable salary. Good for him!
Bull Buchanan: A Man with a Badge
Bull Buchanan is another former wrestler that decided to go into a public service position. Buchanan traded in the ring for the streets when he went into law enforcement after his retirement from wrestling. In spite of his incredible size, his career within the world of wrestling never really took off as he’d intended.
When he got out of wrestling in 2003, he put his efforts into working towards being a police officer. Now, Bull works a Sheriff’s deputy in Carroll County, Georgia. His size may not have helped him out that much in wrestling, but we can bet that it does wonders for his new job. After all, would you want that guy to tackle you to the ground?
Stasiak: Chiropractor
Shawn Stasiak did an okay job as a wrestler, but he was never one of the “top dogs” in the league at his time. Sure, people started to become a little more impressed when he was portraying Meat and working with the Pretty Mean Sisters, and he also took home the WCW world tag-team championship on three separate occasions, all of which he was working alongside Chuck Palumbo.
But the championships weren’t going to save him from being let go from the WWE in 2002. After he was released, Stasiak turned to a career as a chiropractor. It may have had something to do with the fact that he, and other athletes, are so grateful to the chiropractors in their lives. He was quoted as saying that he feels blessed to be able to help others find relief from their pain, in all of its forms.
Another Wrestler Turned Firefighter
Scotty 2 Hotty always brought the heat to the crowd when he would wrap up a tag team match with his infamous closer move, “the worm.” Sure, maybe it didn’t secure their teams (Too Cool) win every time, but it sure made the audience go wild! As much as fans adored Scotty 2 Hotty, he ultimately was still let go from the WWE in 2007.
Oddly enough, his ring name would foretell his future after retiring from wrestling. Why? Because Scotty 2 Hotty decided to fight fires, training at Lake Tech Fire Academy in Orlando, Florida. Now, the former wrestler is enjoying his few days on, few days off schedule, and living it up as an agent of public service!
Oh, Golly, Molly Holly
Molly Holly stepped onto the WWE scene in 2002, after parting ways with her old wrestling persona, Mighty Molly, who existed solely to compliment her former partner, The Hurricane. She went on to become a champion in the women’s league, and she was really able to grow into her own as a solo wrestler. Molly Holly was extremely proud and happy to be able to say that she made it to where she was because of her ability and passion.
Fans were sad to see her leave the WWE a short three years after her start, but she was ready to do something else with her life, something that ultimately made her life a little more fulfilling. These days, she does a ton of charity work for different non-profits that support children, along with counseling troubled teens and working as a licensed masseuse. It sounds like she’s got her hands full of all of the philanthropy.
Sean O’Haire: Hair Extraordinaire
Could the fact that doomed wrestler Sean O’Haire became a hairdresser after leaving the field of wrestling to have anything to do with his name? Probably not, but it’s still kind of funny. Unfortunately, O’Haire’s life was anything but, and he had a hard time finding himself or what made him happy. He dabbled in mixed martial arts and kickboxing, before venturing into the WWE. In 2006, he retired from professional fighting and went into hairdressing.
O’Haire, unfortunately, began to suffer from alcoholism and depression, which led him down a dark a deadly road. In September of 2014, his dad found him hanging by a bedpost in the home they shared in South Carolina. At the time of his death, he was 43, and apparently, his bills had bogged him down and it had all just become too much for him to deal with.
And Oh, The Rock
Yeah, we know, how dare we wait this long to mention the biggest name to have come from the WWE, of all times: Dwayne Johnson! If anyone from the WWE has become a household name, it’s certainly The Rock, who has basically starred in more box office hits than we could count on our toes and fingers. That’s not to mention all of the other insanely cool stuff he has done since parting ways with the WWE.
Word on the street is that Dwayne Johnson will be running for office in 2020…the office. And honestly, he probably has a decent chance of becoming president of the United States. After all, there’s a television star running the country right now, why not a movie star next? Even if the rumors weren't true, you can bet that he’ll keep bringing the awesomeness.
Yoga with Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus began working in the fitness industry as a model, before hopping into the ring in 2000. She became an instant hit and fan favorite, and actually pulled in the title of the single most successful woman in the WWE. Over her years in the sport, she nabbed the championship seven times, along with a WWE Hardcore Championship.
In 2006, Stratus retired from her full-time career in wrestling to focus on a different type of health and wellness – yoga. She lives in Canada with her family of three and runs a successful yoga operation that she’s aptly called “Stratusphere.” Stratusphere offers one-on-one yoga classes in and around the Toronto area.
Booker T Moves from Wrestling to Politics
Yes, you read that right. It seems as if Booker T, who was pretty amazing during the extent of his WWE career, is planning to run for office this year. The six-time world champ, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the WWE in 2013, previously spoke about his intention of running in Houston and claimed he will get the ball rolling in 2019.
Booker T grew up in Houston and now he’s looking to give back to his community and try to manifest some real changes where he sees issues. He claims that he will focus his efforts on assisting low-income individuals and families and trying to help curb the homelessness issues that currently plague the city. According to Booker, the people of Houston will be seeing some new light in 2020.
Shawn Michaels: Outdoorsman
Shawn Michaels is quite possibly one of the most popular wrestlers in the world of wrestling. In fact, he was known by all sorts of endearing nicknames by fans and critics alike, including The Heartbreak Kid. He also had a pretty lengthy career in the WWE, jumping into the ring with them for an entire decade, from 1988-1998 and returning after a state of semi-retirement to wrestle once again in 2018.
But these days, Michaels has traded up his spandex for fishing poles and a simpler life with his family. Michaels stays busy with co-hosting his hunting show, “Shawn Michaels’ MacMillan River Adventures.” Michaels put out a tell-all autobiography that details his life in wrestling, that he titled, “Wrestling for My Life.” When he’s not working on his television show, he’s at home hanging out with his wife and children.
Jacqueline Moore: Health Aficionado
Jacqueline was an absolute beast when she was a wrestler, but it’s possible that her body is even more of a powerhouse now than it was when she was slamming people around the ring. You may know Jacqueline from being the woman that took home the USWA Women’s Championship an incredible fourteen times! She was brought into the WWE’s Hall of Fame in April of 2016.
After her retirement, she still kept up with her love of wrestling. In fact, she stays involved today by training current and future stars of the WWE, such as Maven. She’s also always up for anything that keeps her active and thrilled – like competing on Fear Factor! We know one thing, we would seriously not want to be on her bad side!
Mick Foley: A Man with Many Masks
Mick Foley went through a lot of transformations during his time in the world of wrestling. When he hit the ring in the WWE, he was first known as Mankind, a character he would end up coming back to in the end. Foley did pretty well for himself in the league, teaming up with other big names, like Kane, for group matches.
Foley wound up retiring from the sport in 2000, and appearing as the WWF “Commissioner,” for a couple of storylines before he decided to move on. Now, Foley’s made quite a name for himself in the literary world, both for adults and children. He’s published numerous books in different genres, and he’s even snagged a place on the NY Times list of best sellers.
Edge Goes into Acting
Edge, born Adam Joseph Copeland, stunned fans when he left the company. In 2012, a year after his retirement, he was inducted into the WWE’s Hall of Fame. And it was more than deservingly so, as, over his years in the ring, he racked up over 30 championships. But in 2011, Edge announced his impending departure to a teary-eyed audience on Raw.
But that wouldn’t be the last fans would see of Edge, as these days his face can be seen on the TV screen in your living room. He’s discovered his love of acting through appearing on shows like Haven, Mind of Mencia and Weakest Link. In 2004, he released a tell-all autobiography that he dubbed Adam Copeland on Edge.
Steve Austin Takes Action
Steve Austin is another former wrestler that decided to immerse himself in the world of acting when his time in the ring was up. Austin didn’t so much retire from the WWE as completely walk away from it. In 2002, he started missing shows, claiming that he was extremely tired. Finally, he missed one too many and his character was removed from the roster.
These days, Austin can be seen working alongside major actors, like Adam Sandler, in movies such as The Longest Yard and Grown Ups 2. He has even starred in a couple of his own movies, like 2009’s Damage, and The Stranger from the following year.
Kaitlyn’s Clothes Shop
“Kaitlyn,” whose real name is actually Celeste, began her career as a fitness model, hitting the scene when she was 19. Soon after, she was signed by the WWE and began her new career, developing her in-ring persona. Kaitlyn ended up becoming a Diva’s Champion, once in 2012 and again the following year.
In 2014, Kaitlyn cut ties with the WWE and retired for a few years, before returning for few matches in 2018. The same year she left the company, she started up one of her own when she launched her clothing store, Celestial Bodiez. The year after the opening, she and her ex-husband also launched their own smoothie bar. Unfortunately, the pair split, which caused some ripples in their business ventures.
Santino Marella Opens a Gym
Santino Marella met with his career in the WWE in a pretty unusual way. He was chosen from his seat as a fan in the audience by Vince McMahon, to fight Umaga. Marella ended up doing pretty well and was on the map ever since. But in 2014, Marella got out of the ring and focused his efforts elsewhere in the health and wellness industry.
These days, Marella works at the gym that he opened in Canada. His gym is unique in the sense that he created it with the intention of training fellow athletes. If you don’t find him at home at The Battle Arts Academy, you may see him on Sportsnet 360, appearing on shows like Behind the Lights.
Rosa Mendes: Entrepreneur
In 2006, Mendes found herself in the top eight of the WWE Diva Search. She was ultimately eliminated from the competition but found herself signed to a developmental contract with the company, anyways. She went on to take over the scene for an incredible decade of in-ring excitement but announced her departure (due to pregnancy,) in 2016.
In 2018, Mendes made public that she would be returning to the ring to partner up with Adam Rose to take on Joe Keys and Gia Scott. She’s also launched her very own health and wellness blog, where she shares her tips and tricks. The website allows her to spend time with her daughter, Jordan Elizabeth.
Alex Riley Jr. Glows
Alex Riley Jr. is a former wrestler who never really found his footing within the WWE. In fact, word on the street is that no one within the company liked working with him. But despite this, if it’s even true, he still stayed with it for about eight years. Even so, his fanbase was never particularly large. In 2012, he lost fourteen consecutive matches and announced an upcoming major surgery, retiring from full-time wrestling for good.
After his knee surgery, Riley made some appearances as a commentator, on shows like Main Event and Superstars. He also transitioned into acting for major shows like the successful Netflix original, G.L.O.W (the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, as it so happens.) But if you’re looking for his name among the others in the line of credits, look for the one he was given at birth: Kevin Kiley Jr.
Sara Lee: Super Mommy
Sara Lee made her WWE debut in 2015, after winning their competition, Tough Enough. The win secured her a one-year spot with the company, but that’s all she seemed to need! At the end of her contract, she was due to have a child and announced that she would be retiring from the sport altogether.
In late 2016, Sara Lee (Sara Weston,) gave birth to her daughter, Piper. Today, she lives in Florida with her daughter and husband, WWE’s own Wesley Blake. She devotes her time and energy to her family, committing herself to full-time mommy duties.
Virgil Seems Confused
Virgil is another former wrestler that got out of the ring to venture into something…different. Virgil went into teaching high-school mathematics in Pennsylvania. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with that! It’s actually pretty noble to leave a job that pays a ridiculous amount of money to educate children, instead.
However, Virgil wasn’t exactly satisfied by his newfound teaching career, either. Could it be the fact that he missed the fat paychecks? It would seem so, as a few years back he decided to launch a crowdfunding operation because he missed the big money. Cue the mass amount of eye rolls.
April Mendez Writes a Bestseller
April Mendez, fondly known as AJ Lee, rose to WWE stardom after her debut in 2009. She even found herself winning the Divas Championship on three separate occasions. But in 2015, Mendez decided it was time to hop out of the ring and focus her efforts elsewhere. So, what did she do? She wrote a tell-all autobiography about her incredible life.
Mendez’ book, that she called Crazy is My Superpower, details the struggles she faced when dealing with poverty when she was young, along with mental illness and her rise to fame and fortune. The book was a hit and earned a spot on the NY Times list of bestsellers. She also operates her own website where she sells her books.
Jesse Ventura: Governor
Jesse “The Body” Ventura made a pretty big stir during his time with the WWE. He debuted back in 1975 and worked in wrestling for a decade. In 1999, he began to dabble in acting, working with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger. And looking at that is pretty funny when you consider that both men ended up in politics.
Yes, Jesse Ventura also went into politics, hitting in the scene in 1991, when he became mayor of a town in Minnesota called Brooklyn Park. Seven years later, he successfully ran for Governor of Minnesota, taking the seat from 1998-2003. According to the rumor mill, you may just see Ventura running for President next year, too.
Shad Gaspard: Jack of All Trades
Shad Gaspard made his WWE debut in 2006 when he was introduced as part of the duo, Cryme Tyme, who became an instant fan favorite. But just a year later, they both vanished from the WWE for reasons that remain a mystery. Shad would return for a few appearances, between 2008 and 2010. But in 2010, he was released again and this time, it was for good.
But Shad’s departure from the WWE led him to be able to explore different creative avenues. In 2011, he published a graphic novel that he dubbed Assassin and Son, which won multiple awards both that year and the next. Shad also dabbled in acting, appearing in Get Hard, alongside Kevin Hart and Will Ferrel.