There are two constants in the professional wrestling business. One is that people seldom actually ever leave the business, and the other is that at times, wrestlers tend to die young. When a wrestler dies at the height of his or her career, wrestling fans are left to wonder what might have been for years after seeing the wrestler’s last match. Today, WWE is the established leader in the professional wrestling business, but there are several second-tier companies that can offer talent healthy contracts. In addition, the independent scene is in better shape than it has been for some time, so talent would have a lot of options for work if they were still alive and looking for employment.

Putting together a list like this one creates the opportunity to look back at where a certain wrestler was in their life and career, and to use that information to guess how that person’s life and career might have progressed. Therefore, here is a look at wrestlers who passed away during their prime wrestling years. The number in parenthesis represents their ages as of the beginning of 2017, and next to that is where that person or those persons might be if they were still alive today.

20 20. Owen Hart (51) – Retired

Owen Hart passed away at the age of 34 due to a tragic accident from a stunt that went wrong. Owen had carried every title that the WWE had to offer aside from the World title, and at the time of Owen’s death, he was scheduled to win the Intercontinental Championship, though his character was played for laughs. Owen was arguably one of the most talented performers in the business, but the story on Owen was that he was frugal with his spending, and his plan was to retire from professional wrestling at a young age, and spend his remaining years with his family.

Because of Owen’s plan, if he had still been alive, it is very likely that he would have in fact retired, either in 2003, after 20 years in the business, or in 2005, around his 40^th birthday. Owen would have spent the time with his family, attending the occasional event as a spectator, and would have returned to television in order to receive his Hall of Fame induction from WWE.

19 19. Brian Pillman (54) – NJPW

Brian Pillman was considered one of the greatest Cruiserweights in the history of the business, but he was also talented enough to carry a company as its champion, though he was never given the opportunity. An ankle injury from an automobile accident changed Pillman’s wrestling style from being a high-flyer to a more mat-based style, but his ability to get over on the mic was what made him a star. Just before entering the WWE, Pillman was the most talked about performer in the business, but the WWE failed to truly capitalize on his talent.

Pillman’s head for the business would have continued to carry him, and he might have parlayed his ability to generate heat into a role as a manager for a wrestler who needed help getting over due to poor mic skills. Pillman might still have been performing in a company like New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), where he could continue his legendary rivalry with Jushin Liger or become a member of the Bullet Club. Either way, he would have been an asset to some company.

18 18. Crash Holly (45) – 205 Live

Crash Holly was the little guy who thought that he was a Super Heavyweight. He was the guy who created the 24/7 rule with the WWE Hardcore Championship, and he was one of the stars of that division. Holly had already been released from WWE, and was working independents at the time of his death, but with the way that WWE is re-signing talent, Holly would have been brought back by the company at some point.

Though he would have been 45 years old at the beginning of 2017, Holly possibly would have been invited to participate in WWE’s Cruiserweight Division, and would be used to help mentor the other talents in the division. He would be featured on 205 Live and would make appearances on Raw with the other cCuiserweights. From there, he might have won the title, and hopefully, WWE would not have turned the Cruiserweight Championship into a joke while Holly held the strap.

17 17. Yokozuna (50) – Indies

The Yokozuna gimmick was created in an attempt to separate Rodney Anoa’i from his Samoan heritage, while also cashing in on the notoriety of Akebono, the Samoan-born sumo wrestler who became the first non-Japanese-born competitor to ever reach yokozuna, the highest achievable rank in sumo wrestling. As he began to age, it is unlikely that he would have continued to use the Yokozuna gimmick, and he might have returned to a more Samoan gimmick. Also, if he was still struggling with his weight, he would have been dismissed by WWE, possibly after dominating during the Attitude Era.

The independent circuit is where Anoa’i might probably be working as he began to age, especially if his weight continued to rise. There would be work for him in Japan, as both major Japanese companies would have been eager to hire him if he could still perform at a high level. With so many family members in the business, there would always be someone who could put in a good word for Rodney and help him to find work.

16 16. Umaga (43) – Bullet Club in Ring of Honor

Eddie Fatu is another member of the Anoa’i family and is the first cousin of Yokozuna. Eddie, as of the start of 2017, would only have been 43 years old, so he would still be in his peak professional wrestling years, as long as his weight was under control. Eddie was booked as a monster in his final stint in WWE, and more than likely, he would still be a monster, as opposed to the hip-hop gimmick that he used at the beginning of his career.

The most likely scenario for Eddie Fatu would be as a member of the Bullet Club. Since the New Japan version already has Bad Luck Fale as an enforcer, and Haku’s two sons working as a tag team in New Japan, Fatu’s place would be with Adam Cole and Adam Page in Ring of Honor. He would be the perfect fit as the enforcer for the once and possibly future ROH World Champion.

15 15. Viscera (45) – Indies

Big Daddy V, the last name used by Nelson Frazier when he left WWE, is the name that would be used by Frazier if he were still alive. Like the Samoan cousins, Frazier struggled with his weight, and probably would have continued to suffer from this problem, which would determine where he would be able to work as he got older. If he had been able to keep his weight in check, his name value would have made him a commodity on the independent scene.

Depending on the names that were available to him, Frazier would have his pick of independent assignments as an attraction, like in the days of Andre the Giant. He could either go in as a monster to be vanquished, or like Andre, go in as the conquering giant who vanquished the unstoppable force. This might have made him one of the highest paid stars in the indies, as he would always have been in demand.

14 14. Randy Savage (64) – Filming Shoot Videos

At the point when Randy Savage passed, he was past his professional wrestling prime, though many professional wrestlers perform well into their 50s or 60s. However, Randy Savage’s career saw him perform at the top of the card in WWE, WCW and TNA, so it is unlikely that he would have been willing work in front of about 200 people in a small facility for a few hundred dollars. At the same time, the major companies would only have wanted Savage to be an attraction that was used to bolster ticket sales and television ratings, and he might not have been in favor of that. Therefore, predicting what Savage might be doing is slightly more difficult than some of the others.

Today, many past their prime professional wrestlers spend much of their time hosting podcasts and filming shoot interview videos. This is where Randy Savage would probably be spending much of his time. Savage would be using the opportunity to air any and all of his grievances, and commenting on any current events like the recent issues involving Hulk Hogan.

13 13. Louie Spicolli (45) – Trainer in NXT

Louie Spicolli was lauded during his career for his innovation inside of the ring, and for his quick wit and intelligence when he was asked to provide commentary during a match. Spicolli died five days after his 27^th birthday, but he had already logged ten years in the business, so if he had been able to stay drug free, he would have been in demand by all of the top companies in America, Japan and Mexico, especially since he had gained experience in all of these areas.

By now, at the age of 45, Spicolli would still be taking wrestling dates because of his love for performing, but his real talent would be in training the next generation of professional wrestlers. More than likely, Spicolli would have been running the training facility for Ring of Honor, only to be poached by WWE and made one of the head trainers for NXT. Because he was so young, he might also have been used from time to time on either Raw or Smackdown, but his main role would be in teaching the next generation of WWE talents.

12 12. Perro Aguayo Jr. (37) – Lucha Underground/AAA

Perro Aguayo Jr. passed away as the result of a freak accident during a tag match where Rey Mysterio Jr. was one of the opponents. During the match, Rey set Aguayo up for the 619 finisher, but in the course of setting up for the move, Aguayo suffered a whiplash, severed his spine and died during the match. Though young, Aguayo was a 20-year veteran of the business, and was one of the top stars in Mexico.

Aguayo was already working in the AAA promotion in Mexico, so he would still have been employed there. Through the company’s association with Konnan and Lucha Underground, it is extremely likely that Aguayo would have been used by LU at some point, possibly becoming a top star in that company as well. Because of his size, he might not have been sought out by WWE or TNA, unless they wanted him for the cruiserweight division or for the X-Division, but in LU, he could have been a star.

11 11. Test (41) – TNA

Test was never a top talent in professional wrestling. He was one of many who had the look that Vince McMahon liked, but did not have talent enough to become a star, at least by WWE standards. He won a few titles in WWE, but it was during an era when titles switched frequently, and because he found himself in storylines with Triple H and Stephanie, he was bound to gain some gold. However, if he had still been alive, he would not have been desired by WWE.

Over the past few years, TNA has become a haven for former WWE talents who are still reasonably recognizable, based on the fact that they would have to use different names because WWE would have trademarked the wrestlers’ WWE names. As Christian became Christian Cage in TNA, Test would probably have come to TNA as Test Martin, which would also have been the name that he used if he worked the independent circuit. Though he was said to have wrestled in his retirement match the month before he passed, it is very likely that the lure of the business would have called him back, especially if TNA was willing to offer him top money and a chance to be a top star.

10 10. Bam Bam Bigelow (55) – Filming Shoot Videos

Following the sale of WCW to WWE, Bam Bam Bigelow was not picked up by WWE, and was left to pursue employment on the independent circuit. For several years following the sale, Bigelow’s whereabouts were a mystery, except in instances when his name would be mentioned in a news story. As Bigelow began to make more frequent appearances, wrestling fans got to see and hear from “The Beats from the East” more regularly, and because of this, Bigelow would have been a natural for what might have been his future in the business.

Bigelow would likely have spent his time filming shoot interview videos, as he would have had a lot to talk about. He could have given his opinion on why the WWE didn’t push him further after his performance in the first Survivor Series, and why he was never more than a mid-carder in WCW. Bigelow might have been a highly sought out interview subject as the Honky Tonk Man is today.

9 9. The Public Enemy (Grunge, 50/Rock, 63) – Running a Wrestling School

At the time of their passing, Rocco Rock was a very young 49 while Johnny Grunge was an older than his age 39, so seemingly, both of these men would have been out of the business within a few years. The team’s time in WWE and WCW could be considered failures, but the two men had gained a lot of experience in professional wrestling. That experience would have served them well in later years.

The best option for these two would have been in opening a wrestling school. With Rock having been trained by Wild Samoan Afa (Roman Reigns’ uncle), the duo would have been able to pass along their knowledge to a host of professional wrestling prospects, albeit for a fee. The school might also have spawned a wrestling company, or might have become a feeder for Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore promotion, but this would have been the best option for the members of the Public Enemy.

8 8. Roddy Piper (62) – Hosting a Podcast or a Show on WWE Network

Roddy Piper was a very talented professional wrestler. Inside of the ring, he was one of the best, but his true talent was on the microphone. Whether he was conducting an interview or just spouting his opinion, Piper had few peers in the wrestling business when it came to expressing his opinion, and that ability, plus his acting resume, would have been Piper’s claim to fame in his later years.

In between television and movie roles, Piper would probably have been hired to host a podcast or some sort of interview show, possibly one that would air on the WWE Network. A podcast is more likely because it would allow Piper to state his opinion on current topics while interviewing professional wrestling celebrities. While he might have been too raw for the WWE Network, he could have had two versions of the show as Steve Austin has; an uncensored one for the general public, and a filtered one for the WWE Network.

7 7. Eddie Gilbert (55) – Running His Own Wrestling Company

Eddie Gilbert was one of the better professional wrestlers in his day. Eddie was also one of the better bookers in his day, as he was often hired to wear the dual hats of wrestler and booker in many of the companies where he worked. Eddie was the booker for ECW before turning the reigns over to Paul Heyman, and was booking in Carlos Colon’s World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico when he died.

As Eddie aged and became physically unable to continue wrestling at a high level, he more than likely would have formed his own wrestling company, and would have been the owner and the booker. He also likely would have performed in an on-screen authority figure role with the company. The company might have been on the same scale as Dreamer’s House of Hardcore, or might have been as big as Ring of Honor, but Gilbert would have been involved in every aspect of running the company.

6 6. Junkyard Dog (64) – WWE Ambassador

The Junkyard Dog was never the best wrestler. He was more of an attraction, but he was able to get fans to their feet whenever he came into an arena. At the time of his death, JYD was struggling with his weight, and was past his wrestling prime, though he was still having matches. Eventually, he would no longer have been able to book dates as a wrestler, but WWE would have recognized his value to the company and to the business.

WWE would have signed JYD to a Legends Contract, and he would have been used as an ambassador for the company as Ron Simmons is. The company would have used JYD for his opinion whenever DVDs were created about eras, wrestlers or companies with which the Dog had knowledge, like the World Class or the Mid-South collections. Also, he would made appearances during PPV events to meet and greet the fans. This would have been the perfect way for the Dog to continue to contribute to professional wrestling.

5 5. Earthquake (53) – WWE Legends Contract/Surprise Royal Rumble Entrant

Some wrestlers are too old to work in their fifties, while others are still able to perform in the ring because they were never asked things that they would not be able to do as they grew older. Earthquake was one of those guys whose move set would not have had to have been altered because he never performed feats of extreme agility or speed. Therefore, as he aged, his move set would be the same and he would be able to continue performing in the ring.

Keeping this in mind, Earthquake would have signed a legends contract with WWE, and as such, he would be used in a variety of circumstances. One such area would be as a surprise entrant in a Royal Rumble, or in a legend-based storyline like the one involving Heath Slater in 2012. He would help to create the comedy spot by eliminating the low-level talent, before having the entire population of the Rumble band together to eliminate the “500-pound monster”.

4 4. Davey Boy Smith (54) – Color Commentator for WWE UK Tournament

If Davey Boy Smith had still been alive, in good terms with WWE, and drug free, he would still have be involved with WWE in some form. He might have been a frequent contributor to WWE DVDs as Bret Hart currently is, or he might have taken a more active role, such as Jim Neidhart’s frequent appearances on Total Divas.

With WWE’s recent foray into the UK, and the start of the UK Tournament, there was a need for a British wrestler to serve as a color commentator. With William Regal already serving a role as commissioner in NXT, Nigel McGuiness left ROH to assume the role as color analyst for the UK Tournament. If he had still been alive, that role might have gone to Davey Boy Smith, as Smith has WWE ties and Nigel does not. Having been a multiple time champion in WWE, and having won the Intercontinental title in England, Smith would have been perfect for this role.

3 3. Chyna (47) – Starring in Reality Show

One of the main reasons why Chyna was unable to hold a job in professional wrestling after leaving WWE was because of her substance use. Her appearance on the reality show The Surreal Life, where she appeared intoxicated much of the time, did not endear her with promoters who probably saw her as unreliable. However, she did appear on Celebrity Rehab in an effort to repair her life and her image.

At the time of her death, Chyna was still struggling with her demons, but she was also still a marketable name. She would have had no future in professional wrestling, but she was also too old for the adult film industry. The only thing that she might have been able to do would have been a reality show based on her life, and her attempts to get clean and to resurrect her career. Similar to Danny Bonaduce, Chyna might have been able to use the show to revive her professional life.

2 2. Chris Benoit (49) – NJPW or TNA

Chris Benoit would have been 49 years old at the beginning of 2017, and based on the way that he kept himself in shape throughout his career, Benoit would still have been in wrestling shape, and would till have been competing at a high level. However, there is also the possibility that he would no longer have been working for WWE, as the company is in the midst of a youth movement, so to speak, and Benoit might have been pushed aside for younger talent.

Given that fact, and the fact that he would still have been in good shape and performing at a high level, Benoit would probably have been signed by NJPW or TNA. In TNA, he would have been a multi-time World Champion and one of the top stars of the company. In NJPW, he would have been a top performer, but he, along with Hiroshi Tanahashi, would have been the elder statesmen of the company, while still competing for titles and main-eventing NJPW shows.

1 1. Eddie Guerrero (49) – Co-Owner/ Executive Producer for Lucha Underground

Eddie Guerrero, like Benoit, would have been 49 at the start of 2017, and like Benoit, Eddie would also have been in top shape, and still performing at a high level. Guerrero would still have been in demand by WWE, as the company would have wanted Eddie to be the WWE Ambassador to Mexico, a role that the company had planned for Rey Mysterio after Eddie’s death. However, Eddie would have wanted to continue wrestling, and he might have sought the opportunity to continue performing outside of WWE.

Eddie’s nephew Chavo is one of the Producers for Lucha Underground, and Eddie would have held a similar position. It is also possible that Eddie would have been involved with Konnan in the creation of the company, and would probably have instrumental in the operations of the company. Eddie’s roots are in Lucha Libre, and this would have been an opportunity for him to work with the new generation of Lucha Libre stars, along with veterans from his past such as Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Dr. Wagner, Jr.