Zach Gowen is officially hanging up his boots after 24 years in professional wrestling. The former WWE star announced that his in-ring career is over, and he got pretty emotional while looking back at everything wrestling gave him along the way.
Taking to Facebook, Gowen shared his first and last promotional photos before breaking the news. He thanked every promoter who gave him a shot over the years, but his biggest thank you went to the fans who treated him like a legitimate wrestler instead of a sideshow attraction.
“First promo pic and last promo pic! My in-ring career has come to an end. Thank you to every promoter who gave me an opportunity to wrestle. I’ve had the privilege of performing for every major company over the past 24 years. Special thank you to the fans for not rejecting me.”
Gowen made it clear that wrestling wasn’t just another job for him either. He described himself as a “very lost kid” who found direction through the business and ultimately got to live out the only dream he ever really wanted.
“Pro wrestling provided a direction and outlet for a very lost kid. All I ever wanted to be was a professional wrestler and I accomplished that solely because you accepted me not as a sideshow act but as a legitimate pro wrestler. I’m deeply grateful.”
After everything Gowen experienced throughout those 24 years, his favorite career moment actually came near the end. He singled out wrestling for AEW in front of his wife, children and parents, especially because of just how far he’d come to reach that moment.
“The best moment of my career was wrestling for AEW in front of my wife, kids, and parents. That was the cherry on top after burning my career to the ground as a result of my crippling drug addiction then having the opportunity to not only rebuild my life but my passion then sharing that with the world while enjoying every second of it.”
Gowen has been open about the addiction issues that derailed his career, and his retirement message wasn’t shy about that chapter either. For him, getting back into wrestling after rebuilding his life gave his career a second ending that he clearly never took for granted.
He finished things on a grateful note, giving credit to his faith and all the people who invested their time and support in him over the years. Gowen didn’t frame his comeback as something he accomplished entirely on his own.
“My victories are not the result of my talents but ultimately the result of God working through others allowing them to pour into and invest in me. I am the luckiest guy in the world.”
Gowen’s wrestling career had plenty of ups and downs, but he got to walk away after 24 years having accomplished the dream he had from the beginning. Even better for him, his favorite moment came with his entire family watching after he’d managed to rebuild both his life and his love for wrestling.
What is your favorite moment from Zach Gowen’s wrestling career? Let us know in the comments below.
