The aging process hits wrestlers differently as time goes on. Some of the older stars in the industry look just as great as they did during their prime. Between keeping up their workout regimen and hitting the genetic lottery, they have a similar appearance to their younger days. Others aren’t blessed with the same results. The aging process hits them in ways that show the difference instantly at first glance.

We witnessed many great performers in the wrestling industry during the 2000s. The changes to the business did not deter wrestlers from taking the next step forward. WCW and ECW went out of business early in the decade, but WWE continued to find talent. The 2000s signified the end of many careers from the Attitude Era and the beginning of the careers that would go on to transcend the industry with the current era of wrestling.

This list will take a look at twenty wrestlers from the 2000s with a glimpse at their appearance today. Both wrestlers that look exactly the same and those that are difficult to recognize will be on display here. We all know what Triple H, The Undertaker and Kurt Angle look like now, but what about the others? Let’s find out with how the following twenty stars from the 2000s are looking these days.

20 20. Road Dogg

The beginning of the 2000s for Road Dogg started with the continuing of D-Generation X. Unfortunately, his personal issues with addiction hurt his standing in WWE leading to the two sides cutting ties. Road Dogg moved to TNA for the rest of the decade as a forgettable veteran on-screen and backstage employee behind the scenes.

Today, Road Dogg has shown signs of the aging process like most of us, but he landed a great job back in WWE. Despite the bitter departure, WWE eventually welcomed back Road Dogg to work behind the scenes as one of the lead producers. He often runs the shows when Vince McMahon and Triple H are unable to appear at Raw or SmackDown. Most importantly, Road Dogg appears to be happier than ever as a big part of the WWE going forward.

19 19. Billy Gunn

The tag team partner of Road Dogg during the early 2000s in New Age Outlaws still looks the same. Billy Gunn worked in various roles for WWE through the 2000s and was one of the most respected wrestlers in the company. WWE eventually cut ties with him sending him to TNA for the rest of the decade. Similar to Road Dogg, Gunn returned home in the role of a trainer at the Performance Center.

Things were going well for Gunn until he violated the WWE Wellness Policy for taking PEDs to improve his chances at powerlifting competitions. Today, he wrestles on the independent scene at local shows and even appears in New Japan at times. Gunn is jacked looking to be in the same shape we remember from the 2000s.

18 18. Muhammad Hassan

One of the most controversial wrestling stories of the 2000s featured the career of Muhammad Hassan. WWE pushed him using the elements of real life tension in the United States. Hassan portrayed an Arab-American dealing with prejudice and bigotry in the United States following 9/11. The talent of Hassan made him a red hot heel for a few months.

WWE crossed the line by having a segment meant to portray terrorist like characters helping him get the better of his opponent on the same week of a terrorist attack in London. Hassan ended up paying for the company’s mistake with the character being dropped altogether. It impacted his decision to leave WWE and quit the wrestling industry to enter acting. Hassan looks a bit different today but still appears to be in good shape. Life without wrestling seems to have benefited him.

17 17. Lita

The ascension of Lita made her one of the first new WWE stars of the 2000s. Lita achieved instant popularity with fans as a unique performer in the Women’s Division. WWE made her one of the fixtures of the division for many years. The talent, charisma and personality all made Lita one of the all-time great women’s wrestlers for the company. WWE inducted her into the 2014 Hall of Fame to celebrate all she gave to the industry.

Lita still looks great and quite similar to her early days in the 2000s. The women’s wrestling legend is happily retired but still remains a member of the wrestling industry. WWE tried making her a broadcaster on screen and a producer backstage. The jobs didn’t work out but Lita still showed she could likely get back into the ring anytime she wanted in her current condition.

16 16. Al Snow

Al Snow was a fixture in WWE’s midcard divisions during the early 2000s. WWE utilized his hardcore style to become a big part of the division based on using weapons. Snow spent time in tag team action with Steve Blackman for a short time period before landing the role of head trainer on Tough Enough. The role on screen for the reality show transitioned Snow into a trainer for WWE.

Like most of the time, Snow eventually would find his way out of the company looking for a new home. TNA hired Snow and has kept him employed since 2008. The inconsistent schedule of TNA has made Snow come out of retirement to work at smaller independent shows. Snow is in incredible shape right now completely jacked. The current look of Snow is somehow more impressive than his prime years in the early 2000s.

15 15. Orlando Jordan

WWE once believed Orlando Jordan could be a huge part of their future. The company viewed him as a potential star and tried to progress him as JBL’s protégé. Jordan even defeated John Cena for the United States Championship at one point on SmackDown during the 2000s. Fans never truly viewed Jordan as anything special and he failed to get over with his lackluster work.

Jordan continued his wrestling career after a WWE release with failed runs in TNA and on the independent circuit. The most recent pictures of Jordan show he still looks to be in very good shape with longer hair than his WWE days. Jordan is apparently removed from the wrestling business today only making very inconsistent show appearances. You have to respect him for staying in in-ring shape despite rarely stepping in the ring anymore.

14 14. Scotty 2 Hotty

Another former star from the 2000s still involved in the business today is Scotty 2 Hotty. Everyone remembers the entertainment value of him performing The Worm in the middle of the ring as a part of Too Cool with Rikishi and Grand Master Sexay. Scotty was the best in-ring performer in his group and provided the humor to become a well-rounded character.

Following his unofficial retirement from wrestling to find a new career path, Scotty has resurfaced back in WWE as a member of the Performance Center training staff. The aging process has not hit him as badly as it has to some of his peers. Scotty still looks good and could probably appear in the ring if it was ever needed of him again. We shouldn’t be surprised given Scotty still works in the ring teaching WWE prospects today.

13 13. Val Venis

WWE primarily pushed Val Venis during the Attitude Era but he stuck around for the early years of the new millennium. Venis received a few pushes from his time in the Right to Censor to an authority role as Chief Morley. WWE even allowed him to bring back the Val Venis character for the majority of the decade as an enhancement talent to help put over the young stars.

Venis was released towards the end of the decade due to his age. The wrestling career appears to be behind Venis with his new passions taking the forefront. Venis goes by the name “Kaptain Cannabis” to discuss his support of marijuana being legalized. His current look definitely makes it hard to recognize him with the grey beard and older demeanor. Venis’ marijuana unfortunately won’t allow him to turn back the clock.

12 12. Rikishi

The career of Rikishi is celebrated with the peak coming in 2000. Rikishi’s popularity soared following the debut of his dancing character in Too Cool with Scotty 2 Hotty and Grand Master Sexay. All three members had their own strengths, but Rikishi was obviously the leader of the group. Rikishi’s comedic routines of the dance number and the stink face move made him a fan favorite.

WWE inducted Rikishi into the Hall of Fame back in 2015. Rikishi has aged a little but it's not that bad compared to many of his peers. The big man still participates in the wrestling business with occasional independent wrestling matches and running his own school training young aspiring wrestlers. Rikishi still looks almost the same and finds a way to continue his passion for professional wrestling – not a bad life!

11 11. Chuck Palumbo

Chuck Palumbo is a very forgettable wrestler that actually spent the entire decade continuing his wrestling career in the 2000s. WCW pushed him as one of the top young stars to start the millennium. WWE signed him following the acquisition of WCW and gave him numerous chances to succeed. Palumbo wrestled in the Billy & Chuck tag team, joined the FBI faction and played a biker character. Nothing helped him get past his bland persona.

Palumbo somehow still looks identically the same today as he did back in the early 2000s. The current life of the former wrestlers sees him work as a mechanic at his own business called CP Kustoms. Palumbo stays in great shape by building, customizing and repairing motorcycles to prove the biker gimmick was actually legitimately his passion.

10 10. Shelton Benjamin

Shelton Benjamin was one of the stars WWE wanted to push during their 2003 youth movement along with John Cena, Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar. The athleticism of Benjamin was second to none in the company making him one of the underrated fan favorites of the time. Benjamin didn’t have the charisma to rise to the main event picture, but he often found a way to steal the show when given the chance.

The past few years of Benjamin’s career have been spent in Ring of Honor and New Japan. Benjamin has not aged one bit looking almost identical to his prime years. WWE actually planned to bring him back in 2016 following the brand split, but an injury ended the verbal agreement. Benjamin is likely slated to return to the company rather soon, and it's obvious why given the great shape he remains in.

9 9. Molly Holly

The underrated work of Molly Holly saw her always get underappreciated in the grand scheme of things in WWE. Holly often served as a top heel in the Women’s Division for WWE. Everyone to work with Molly has nothing but wonderful things to say about her as a performer and as a human being. In today’s wrestling business, she likely would have been a bigger star with talent far more appreciated in the women now.

Following her departure from WWE, Molly worked in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program to help others in need. The number of her friends in wrestling to die at a young age inspired that. Molly has returned to the wrestling world in small doses as of late. WWE showed her at the 2017 Hall of Fame when Beth Phoenix shared a touching story about Molly paying for her training. The appearance of Holly is not too different from her WWE days currently rocking a short haircut similar to her final stages in the company.

8 8. Gene Snitsky

The strength and size of Gene Snitsky landed him an opportunity in WWE to play a top heel in the mid-2000s. WWE pushed him against Kane and other noteworthy stars quickly into his main roster career. Snitsky struggled to find relevance in the company and became a forgotten part of the era. His career turned into a comedic role before eventually getting booed.

Snitsky still wrestles on the independent circuit along with his other jobs. The acting career is his main goal with appearances in very small movies. At one point, he had the part time job of working as a bodyguard for MLB star Alex Rodriguez. Snitsky is still in shape to keep up all these activities. Aside from his usual impressive physique, Snitsky is now rocking a long dark beard along with the dark hair.

7 7. Raven

The tail end of Raven’s career took place in the 2000s. Raven had a run in WWE to start the decade as one of the stars of the Hardcore Division. Unfortunately, he never found a way to elevate his career above that lower tier level in WWE. An ugly ending with WWE led to him suing the company over the term “independent contract” being false in their contracts.

Raven wrestled for the rest of the decade in TNA and on the independent circuit trying to remain relevant. Sadly, Raven is difficult to spot today with his appearance being drastically different. The blonde hair and weight gain is a huge difference from the days in WWE with the red hair and leather jacket. Raven still makes independent wrestling and convention appearances if you can recognize him.

6 6. Eugene

Nick Dinsmore was one of the best in-ring performers in WWE developmental before the company required he forget all about that. The creation of the character Eugene made him erase all his skills in favor for the comedic persona. Eugene was a super fan that found himself manipulated by the heels and adored by the faces he grew up watching as a kid.

The current look of Dinsmore is rather similar to his WWE days in the 2000s. He still wrestles on the independent circuit continuing the Eugene character. Dinsmore definitely still works out enough to maintain the relatively same physique he held over a decade ago. WWE gave him a job as a trainer in the Performance Center for a short time period before cutting ties and sending him back to the independent scene.

5 5. The Dudleyz

A positive story about wrestlers from 2000s getting into the best shape of their lives in recent years would be the Dudleyz. Both Bubba Ray and D-Von have stepped it up at the gym following the end of the 2000s after being two of the chubbier members of the WWE roster in the early 2000s. D-Von got into incredible shape during his TNA career to become absolutely jacked.

Bubba Ray made the biggest change from being a larger wrestler to getting in great shape. TNA giving him a singles push motivated him to get into peak shape. Bubba has maintained his look to continue his wrestling career in Ring of Honor today. The peers of Bubba are some of the fastest and most athletic in sports. No one could have guessed he’d be able to keep up with them at his age, but the great improvement in his look has helped.

4 4. Melina

Melina spent the 2000s dominating the Women’s Division in WWE. The retirements of Trish Stratus and Lita made the company have to take the chance of pushing new female wrestlers. Melina is one of the few to stand out and consistently achieve huge success in the division. WWE releasing her came as a huge surprise due to her position as a top heel women’s wrestler for many years.

The post-WWE life of Melina revolved around attending college to set up a future career path. Melina however has recently returned to the ring with a new look. The biggest difference in her appearance is going with short blonde hair as a huge change from her WWE days. Melina is still in great shape and can keep up with the younger women of the wrestling world on the independent scene today.

3 3. Edge

Edge could very well be the most successful WWE star of the 2000s. The beginning of the decade featured him in one of the all-time great tag teams with Christian. Edge worked his way to the top of the WWE to become a massive star. The eleven World Title reigns showed just how often WWE depended on Edge as a top tier performer.

An early retirement due to injury in 2011 allowed him to make some changes after many years of the similar look. Edge actually cut off his trademark long hair to go with a shorter look as he left the wrestling spotlight to start a family with wife Beth Phoenix. The most recent appearance of Edge at the Hall of Fame to witness Beth’s induction and NXT TakeOver showed him growing the hair back and looking very similar to his in-ring days aside from the grey beard.

2 2. Trish Stratus

Another legendary wrestler to make changes after retirement was Trish Stratus. The success of Stratus made her one of the biggest stars of the 2000s. Trish was definitely the most pivotal woman to the Female Division as arguably the greatest women’s wrestler in WWE history. She made the decision to end her career early in 2006 to start a family and enter the next chapter of her life.

Stratus took out her implants shortly after retiring proving it was something she only kept to avoid making drastic changes during her career. The biggest change is ditching her trademark blonde hair for the brunette look. Trish is still in great shape after having children and starting her own yoga business. Fans from the 2000s may be shocked to witness the hair change, but otherwise, she's basically the same woman.

1 1. Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels spent the 2000s adding another large chapter to his wrestling career. Everyone assumed he was retired for good in 1998 before returning in 2002. Michaels was once again the best in-ring performer in the industry delivering classics on a consistent basis. The road to redemption saw him end his career with nothing but positivity as opposed to the awful moments in the 90s.

Following his retirement in 2010, Michaels has allowed his beard to turn grey and seems content with the old man lifestyle. Still, he works out on the regular and is physically in tremendous shape. The appearance at WrestleMania 32 without a shirt showed Michaels was actually more jacked than he was during his in-ring years. Today, he's working at the Performance Center and continuing to improve his look as the most impressive dad bod in the business.