10 Former WWE Stars You Had No Idea Found A Better Career Path After Wrestling
While some of the WWE Stars on our list have had stellar wrestling careers, with some of them being WWE Hall of Famers, using the term “better” might seem a bit overkill. The following individuals, some of whom earned fairly significant fame and fortune, put that aside and went on to devote their time to serving others.
Let’s take a look at 10 former WWE Stars who went out to have great second careers after leaving wrestling.
Which former WWE stars had good second careers after wrestling?
Honorable Mention: Al Ernst
Al Ernst left wrestling before the WWE was actually formed. Although he was essentially a Jobber, he was a “Jobber to the Stars,” wrestling such luminaries as Abdullah the Butcher, Arn Anderson, and the Road Warriors, compiling a career record of 0-264.
After leaving wrestling, Al Ernst went on to have a 40-year comedy career and is still performing today.)
Diamond Dallas Page – Yoga
Our first WWE Hall of Famer on our list, Diamond Dallas Page, earned immortality in 2017. Over his career, DDP earned numerous accolades, including being a 3-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, a 2-time WCW US Heavyweight Champion, and a WWF European Champion.
But it’s Page’s work outside of the ring that has had an even bigger impact. In 1998, while recovering from an injury, he discovered the benefits of yoga and seven years later developed his own yoga program.
This program eventually became DDP Yoga and has gone on to help countless people regain mobility and flexibility. While not gaining the notoriety of his first career, Page’s second act has proven to be just as successful.
Jesse “The Body” Ventura – Politics
Jesse “The Body” Ventura is most famous for his involvement in professional wrestling, but he has actually had several careers, including a 6-year stint in the US Navy, being a bodyguard for the Grateful Dead and the Rolling Stones, and acting. But outside of wrestling, it’s probably his political career that he’s most well-known.
Starting first as the mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, from 1991-1995, Ventura was eventually elected governor of Minnesota in 1998. Citing concerns for his family, “The Body” decided not to seek re-election after one very “colorful” and somewhat controversial term as governor.
While not running for office himself, Ventura has continued to stay involved in politics, endorsing several candidates in recent elections.
Steve Blackman – Martial Arts & Bail Bondsman
This might be my favorite post-wrestling career on the list. Steve Blackman made his debut with the WWF at a house show in 1988. In 1997, he made his 2nd debut with the promotion, and this time, he was there to stay.
Over the next six years, Blackman was involved in multiple med-level storylines, winning the Hardcore Championship six times. After retiring, he opened a self-defense school (Blackman MMA) that teaches wrestling and jiu-jitsu and has spent time teaching and hosting several MMA events.
The wrestling and martial arts must also come in handy for his other job – bail bondsman. It does make one wonder if Steve Blackman is chasing after fugitives with his signature nunchucks.
Chris Nowinski – Medicine
Because professional wrestlers put their bodies on the line every night, they understand pain and injury. So it’s not too much of a surprise to follow a wrestling career with one in medicine, which is exactly what Chris Nowinski has done.
After a 2-year stint, he retired from the WWE due to suffering from post-concussion symptoms for over a year. Nowinski has spent his post-WWE life working to better understand and educate the public about the effects of concussions.
He is the CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, which has looked to solve the concussion crisis through research, treatment, education, and prevention, and his work has also been instrumental in the research into Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
Tito Santana – Education
Tito Santana will forever be known for his career as a pro wrestler. From 1979 to 1993, he delighted fans of the then-WWF, winning numerous accolades along the way, including being a 2-time Intercontinental Champion, King of the Ring winner, and WWE Hall of Fame inductee.
Once he retired from full-time wrestling, Santana turned his attention to a much more dangerous profession – school teacher. He spent several years in education, at first teaching physical education and then Spanish in New Jersey.
Teaching is a difficult job, so kudos to the man for being willing to do it after a long, successful wrestling career. As one former teacher to another, way to go, Tito Santana, way to go! Arriba!!
Kane – Politics
There must be something between wrestling and politics (I could write a whole comedy bit about that), as we have our list’s second retired wrestler who ran for public office. Signed in 1995, Kane debuted in 1997 and wreaked havoc on the WWE for close to 25 years.
The winner of numerous titles, including the Heavyweight Championship, Tag Team Titles, and several in between, and is the holder of several records and accolades, he is best known for his long-term association with and against his brother, the Undertaker. In 2018, after his full-time career came to an end, he was elected mayor of Knox County, Kentucky, and was re-elected to a second term in 2022.
Chris Jericho – Music
Chris Jericho has one of the most underappreciated careers in professional wrestling. The man has won numerous titles in and out of the WWE, including the Heavyweight Championship, the Intercontinental Championship (9x), and the Tag Team titles, and has been able to reinvent his character time and time again.
Simply put, Y2J will go down as one of the best in-ring performers ever. However, dominating the wrestling world wasn’t enough for him, and in 2000, Jericho made his debut as the lead singer for the band Fozzy. The heavy metal band has released nine albums and continues to tour. With a bit more time, Chris Jericho’s music career might reach the heights of his wrestling one.
Paul Burchill – Firefighter
Paul Burchill debuted in the WWE in 2005 but was never really able to get over with the fans before being released by the company in 2010. He started his WWE stint teaming with William Regal, but after their tag team went their separate ways, Burchill was unable to establish himself as a solo performer.
He was eventually repackaged as a pirate, but after failing to catch on with that gimmick, he was released by the company in 2010. Upon leaving wrestling, Burchill began working as both a firefighter and an EMT.
While those jobs do not garner the fame or recognition of pro wrestling, it’s clear that Paul Burchill has now become a real-life hero.
Vicki Guerrero – Medical Administrator & Travel Agent
Excuse me! Vicki Guerrero had a wide-ranging career in the WWE. At various times over a 7-year period, she was a manager, authority figure, wrestler, and a tremendous heel that could garner heat with her two-word catchphrase.
She first started appearing in a regular role shortly after her husband, Eddie Guerrero, died. Her involvement in storylines eventually led to her being named the General Manager of Smackdown and then Raw. After leaving the WWE, Guerrero had a short stint in AEW before retiring in 2023.
Following her wrestling career, she became a certified medical office administrator for a pharmaceutical company. Vicki Guerrero has since moved on again and has begun a new career as a travel agent.
Spike Dudley – Financial Planner
At times, Spike Dudley almost feels like the forgotten Dudley Boy. As the youngest child in my family, I get it. He debuted in ECW teaming with his “brothers” Bubba Ray and Devon. Spike was a two-time ECW Tag Champ before rejoining his brothers in WWE. During his short stint with the promotion, Dudley held the Hardcore Title eight times.
Unfortunately, Spike Dudley never reached the heights of brothers Bubba Ray and Devon, and he was released from the WWE after just over 4 years. Prior to wrestling, Dudley was a third-grade teacher, but rather than return to the classroom, he has been spending his time as a financial planner for one of the best life insurance companies.
10 Former WWE Stars You Had No Idea Found A Better Career Path After Wrestling
News Daily Reports
No comments: