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5 WWE WRESTLERS WHO RETIRED BEFORE AGE 40

Some entertainers are compelled to retire, given the ruthless nature of the sport, which can cause life-threatening injuries.

Let's look at some of the wrestling stars in the sports entertainment industry who were forced to hang their boots prematurely.

Which WWE Stars Had to Face Early Retirement?

1. Eve Torres

Eve Torres went from being a beginner champion to one of the most successful female wrestlers in just six years. She is a three-time title winner of the WWE Divas. Torres paved the way for women in WWE, gaining women the respect they deserve in a historically male dominated industry. 

She retired in 2013 just in time to plan her forthcoming wedding; Torres was only 28 when she left WWE. She now lives her life outside the ring as a joyful mother. Her contribution to the industry has empowered the next generation of women in the WWE. She's now 36 years old, and most fans still ask when she'll return to the ring.

2. CM Punk

Born on October 26, 1978, Punk left the WWE Royal Rumble match 2014 at the age of 36. The speculated reasons for his leaving include creative differences and tension between him and fellow wrestler Triple H, as well as health issues undermined by WWE. 

The star named three wrestlers who he challenged for a match should he ever come out of retirement. The wrestlers include Daniel Bryan, Rey Mysterio, and John Cena. CM Punk now works at Cage Fury Fighting Championships as a commentator and is back in the ring for AEW.

3. AJ Lee

AJ Lee married CM Punk following his retirement from the WWE in 2014. AJ went on to be a mainstream success in WWE for the next year leading to her WrestleMania win alongside Paige against The Bella Twins. 

AJ Lee officially retired from the ring in April 2015 after winning the Divas title for a third time.

Many fans acknowledge AJ was at the peak of her wrestling career when she retired. Some believe her relationship with CM Punk compelled her to leave the arena for good.

4. Ted Dibiase

Dibiase maintained a pretty good career run before retiring; until today, fans remember him as the greatest technical wrestler. He partnered with Cody Rhodes on Randy Orton's Legacy. He and his teammates had a dynamic WWE RAW journey. 

After the team's separation in 2010, Dibiase popularity declined, which led to his decision to drop out from the WWE ring in 2013. That’s after winning the World Tag Team twice with Cody. He officially retired from wrestling at 35, four years later. 

5. Corey Graves

Corey Graves retired from WWE at 30 years old. In prior years, he was a phenomenal fighter throughout his wrestling career in WWE NXT, where he once won the title for NXT Tag Team. A series of health problems challenged his career, eventually leading to his retirement from wrestling in 2014. Many suspect the two consecutive concussions he’d recently suffered were a major factor in his decision.

Stars We Will Never Forget

It's not surprising how short a wrestler's career can be; given the rough nature of the sports entertainment industry. Most succumb to injuries which lead to a forced early retirement. Despite their brief time in the ring, these stars remain in their fans' hearts.

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