Former WWE & WCW Stars That Won't Let Go

Wrestling is a sport that few ex-professionals can give up easily. Steve Austin regularly speaks on his podcast about moving back into "civilian life" following his WWE departure and how it was one of the most difficult things he has ever done. The fans, fame and – sometimes – fortune are difficult for many wrestlers to give up. All three factors are key in keeping many grapplers in the squared circle despite their accumulation of injuries and advancing years.

Money is another reason so many wrestlers stay in the business far too long. The likes of Ric Flair and others made millions during their heyday. However, Flair was notorious for spending his paycheques before he even got them. Despite the fortune he made during his in-ring career, much of that money is gone now. That is why he, and others like him, must still work in wrestling today. That can mean continuing to perform in stadiums into old age or performing for loose change in bingo halls in small towns all over the world.

Some ex-WWE and WCW stars have had the chance to move into other businesses thanks to an education or investments. There are others who have had to stay in the business and worked the indies, however. Wrestlers like Glacier or Ken Anderson have been able to draw on the name they made previously. These former superstars just can't let go of the wrestling business. It is like an illness they cannot shake off.

20 WWE: Rob Van Dam

Now 47, Rob Van Dam is still getting into the ring and performing his signature moves. They don't look as great as they did 15 years ago when Van Dam was at the top of his game in the WWE; but he is still better than most. Van Dam has kept a busy schedule since returning to indie wrestling in 2015. He regularly appears in the United Kingdom for the WWE lite 5 Star Pro Wrestling thanks to the name he created with Vince McMahon's company. Along with wrestling, Van Dam has found some work as an actor, but mostly the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion still pulls on the tights as he nears 50. Van Dam will celebrate his 30th year in the business in 2020, and by all appearances he will still be working the indies when his in-ring anniversary comes.

19 WCW: Scott Steiner

Scott Steiner is still wrestling in 2018 at the ripe old age of 55. The master of the Frankensteiner doesn't wrestle too often these days, but he still laces up his boots now and again. Steiner not only did well for himself in the wrestling busy, but he saved his money too. Which isn't all too common in the wrestling business. In 2015, Steiner took a step away from the wrestling business to open a Shoney's restaurant in Georgia. There is no word if "Big Poppa Pump" will serve patrons their food when dining, but Steiner's franchise purchase is probably the best PR Shoney's has had in decades. Holla if you hear me! Perhaps Steiner can spend more time at his restaurant and less time in the ring from now on.

18 WWE: Ken Anderson

Ken Anderson – a.k.a. Mr. Kennedy in the WWE – was penciled in to be a big star for Vince McMahon. According to Anderson, his former friend Randy Orton and John Cena torpedoed his rise and helped him get on the WWE's bad side, however. Anderson spent four years with the WWE before being fired. He promptly returned to the indies. A six-year run in TNA followed before Anderson once again returned to the independent wrestling circuit. Now 42, Anderson continues to work shows as a weekend warrior, and in 2016 and 2017, he had a short-lived comedy podcast called Push the Button. Along with still wrestling matches, Anderson runs his own wrestling school with former WWE wrestler Shawn Daivari in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

17 WCW: Glacier

In 2017, there was a sudden interest in Glacier, the former WCW Mortal Kombat Sub-Zero knockoff. The man who portrayed the gimmick, Ray Lloyd, was interviewed by a number of websites and podcasts as the Glacier character was remembered. It seems many of those that remembered the character thought too fondly of one of WCW's worst gimmicks. A brainchild of WCW Executive Vice President Eric Bischoff, the company spent months building up Glacier through vignettes. When he debuted, he had a ridiculously elaborate entrance for the time that couldn't be backed up in the ring. The gimmick fell flat from the start, although Glacier's matches shot at Universal Studios in front of non-wrestling fans for WCW Saturday Night, made it seem like he was over. In the last three years Lloyd has revived the Glacier gimmick. Despite being 53, he still works a handful of shows a year.

16 WWE: Shane "Hurricane" Helms

Jim Cornette has called Shane "Hurricane" Helms the youngest veteran in pro wrestling. It is a fitting title for the 44-year-old who began working in wrestling at the age of 13. Helms recently made a WWE return as a surprise entrant at the 2018 Royal Rumble. It was his first appearance for the company in nearly eight years.

Helms got his big break working for WCW in 1999 as the boy band-inspired tag team 3 Count. He joined the WWE in 2001 as part of the WCW invasion, but success didn't come until he was given the "Hurricane" superhero gimmick. It is what Helms is mostly remembered for. Today, Helms still uses the "Hurricane" moniker on the indie scene, but also features as himself sporadically. Although it may be time for Helms to call it a day in the ring, he is a fantastic guest on podcasts and shoot interviews talking about the business.

15 WCW: Buff Bagwell

Buff Bagwell has been working the indies since his short WWE run came to an end in 2001. Although he worked for the WWE after WCW's closure, Bagwell is mostly known for his time in Atlanta. The former WCW tag champion has had his ups and downs over the last 15 years. Bagwell has fought addiction which saw him go to rehab. Bagwell has also made a name for himself as a gigolo and appeared on the reality show of the same name. The grappler still spends time working as a male escort when outside of the squared circle. Depending on his schedule as a gigolo, Bagwell is particular about his wrestling bookings. However, 2017 was a busy year on the indie wrestling circuit for the 48-year-old as he worked over 15 times.

14 WWE: Tommy Dreamer

Tommy Dreamer was a pillar of the original ECW during its heyday between 1995 and 2000. Now, nearly 20 years on, Dreamer still works regularly on the indie circuit and with his own House of Hardcore promotion. Dreamer has already worked over a dozen matches this year for a variety of promotions. One show in Las Vegas saw him team with former foe Raven to defeat Disco Inferno and Eli Drake.

Dreamer has worked the indie circuit much of the last eight years, although he did hold down a backstage job with TNA while also appearing in the ring for the company. Dreamer still has plenty of name value on the indie circuit, but his mind maybe the most valuable asset that promoters can book. Due to chair shots and multiple body injuries from working a hardcore style, Dreamer would be better off just working behind the scenes rather than in the ring these days.

13 WCW: Shane Douglas

Although Shane Douglas is most fondly remembered for his time in ECW, "The Franchise had three big WCW runs. First, Douglas was Johnny Ace's tag team partner in the awful skater duo The Dynamic Dudes. Douglas was then paired with Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat in the mid-1990s before achieving ECW fame. When the Philadelphia-based promotion began suffering from financial problems, Douglas joined WCW just before it closed.

Douglas won the United States and Tag Team titles with Buff Bagwell. Douglas' most memorable – or forgettable – moment came at Slamboree 2000 when he squared off against Ric Flair. The two had had heat for years thanks to Douglas' countless promos calling out Flair. Their match was bad, but Douglas did his best to get it over. Today, Douglas is 53 and still working shows here and there while hosting his own podcast.

12 WWE: Matt Sydal

Matt Sydal – a.k.a. Evan Bourne in the WWE – is still working the indie scene. He also appears for Impact Wrestling. The former WWE tag team champion has had his issues with injuries, drugs and law enforcement during his career, and is barred from entering Japan due to a 2016 arrest. Sydal was the holder of the Impact Grand Championship and the X-Division titles but dropped the former to Austin Aries in March 2018 on Impact's weekly television show.

However, only around 300,000 people watch the show on a regular basis. Sydal is still rather young in terms of wrestling years – 34-years old – but his years of injuries are piling up. The former Missouri University graduate may want to start looking at other careers before his body gives out completely. There still seems to be a place for Sydal on the indies, however, which is why he can't give it up just yet.

11 WCW: 2 Cold Scorpio

At one time, 2 Cold Scorpio was one of the most innovative and exciting wrestlers in the world. When he debuted in WCW in 1992, the company pushed Scorpio as a major star. WCW regularly showed vignettes of Scorpio hanging out with local kids and giving them advice on life, drugs and staying in school. If only Scorpio would have listened to his own advice, he may not have failed a WCW substance test in 1994 and been released from the company. Scorpio went on to work in ECW and WWE along with numerous went tours of Japan. By the early 2000s, Scorpio was again making indie shots. Scorpio has been seen on a number of the ECW reunion shows as well as other small time wrestling. You may even see Scorpio at a card near you soon.

10 WWE: Al Snow

Al Snow started his wrestling career in 1982 and worked for two of the big three companies in the 1990s. However, without a run in the short-lived Smoky Mountain Wrestling company owned by Jim Cornette, Snow may have never become a star in the business. Snow went from SMW to the WWE where he was saddled with awful gimmicks. Snow found himself in ECW shortly thereafter and the Head gimmick was accidentally created. Back in the WWE, Snow and Head got over, and the grappler spent 10 years with the company as a wrestler, trainer and backstage worker. A move to TNA provided Snow with another decade as a wrestler and agent in the business. Now 54, Snow is in incredible shape and continues to work indie dates across North America even though he should retire from in-ring work.

9 WCW: Ultimo Dragon

Ultimo Dragon works a busy schedule. In fact, the 51-year-old's booking sheet is nearly as full of dates today as it was 20 years ago. In the late 1990s, the former WCW Cruiserweight Champion was one of the most cutting-edge wrestlers on the planet. His offensive moves combined Japanese wrestling and Lucha Libre and they were unparalleled. The closest comparison would be Rey Mysterio Jr, yet the Mexican's work was never as believable as Ultimo Dragon's. The multi-time champion has worked as a freelance wrestler for the last five years and appears for All Japan Pro Wrestling, Michinoku Pro and Wrestle-1. The cruiserweight just can't give up the business despite nearly having his career ended in 1998 due to a botched arm surgery. Ultimo Dragon may never let go of the business.

8 WWE: Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Chavo Guerrero Jr is a third-generation wrestler and comes from the famous Guerrero wrestling family. But that doesn't mean he should still be working at 47. Guerrero debuted in 1994 and worked alongside his uncle Eddie Guerrero in both WCW and WWE before Eddie's passing. After Eddie's death in 2005, Chavo spent six more years with the WWE as a major star. It was the first time in Chavo's career that he was able to step out of Eddie's shadow. In June 2011, Chavo requested his WWE release, and he moved on to the indie circuit before settling in TNA for a short time. Today, Chavo works as an agent for Lucha Underground, but still wrestles matches on the indie scene and works often for the Imperial Wrestling Revolution company.

7 WCW: Kevin Sullivan

Kevin Sullivan is synonymous with everything that was good and bad about WCW in the mid to late 1990s. From the extreme lows of the Dungeon of Doom to the highs of the original N.W.O., Sullivan had his fingerprints all over the company's booking. He was also a key member of the talent roster and his feud with Chris Benoit went from kayfabe storyline into real life. Sullivan is now 68-years old, but the "Taskmaster" still features on the occasional wrestling card as talent. Although Sullivan's appearances in the ring are few and far between, he still has no need to mix it up in the squared circle, which he does do. What would be great is some money mark giving Sullivan the keys to their wrestling company. Then, maybe we could see some good, old-school southern wrestling featuring heels that can draw heat from the fans. Sullivan always booked heat and that is why the original N.W.O. got over so well.

6 WWE: Koko B Ware

It is hard not to feel for Koko B. Ware as the former WWE star of the 1980s and early 1990s continues to work in wrestling. He debuted in 1978 in the southern territories and eight years later got the call up to the WWE. Ware had used the "Birdman" gimmick in Mid-South Wrestling prior to joining the WWE. The persona prompted Vince McMahon to make Ware a cartoon character by giving him a parrot and having the wrestler turn the gimmick up to 11.

Ware lasted with the company until 1993 when he finally left and returned home to Tennessee. He took the gimmick and his parrot Frankie onto the indie circuit where he still shows up from time to time today at the age of 60. Ware made headlines most recently as he wasn't invited to WWE's Raw 25th anniversary show despite being in the first ever match in the show's history.

5 WCW: Juventud Guerrera

Former WCW Cruiserweight Champion Juventud Guerrera is still wrestling at the age of 43. It is an age many wrestlers remain active at these days, but Guerrera has beaten up his body thanks to a high-risk in-ring style and substance abuse. Guerrera still works matches around the world and has appeared most recently on tours of Australia and in his homeland of Mexico. Despite wrestling regularly, Guerrera has become a well-known DJ in Mexico and plays clubs all over the country. According to a Konnan shoot interview, Guerrera got into DJ-ing as a way to get clean, and he has since become a top performer. However, wrestling was Guerrera's first love and that is why it is difficult for him to give it up even when he should retire.

4 WWE: Sean Waltman

Sean Waltman – a.k.a. X-Pac, 1-2-3 Kid or Syxx - is still going strong at 45-years old. It isn't that old of an age for most wrestlers, but Waltman has suffered two broken necks and tore his anus during a match in 2013 while performing a bronco buster. The accumulation of injuries alone should be enough for Waltman to retire. However, the interest of fans wanting to see him wrestle is apparently too great to give it up. Waltman had a busy 2017 booking sheet for indies around the world, but his most high-profile moment came when he was arrested in Los Angeles International Airport. Security suspected Waltman's pills were actually methamphetamine. Waltman was later released, but his past addiction to meth and his placement on a Customs and Border Patrol watchlist made him a prime suspect for arrest.

3 WCW: Crowbar

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Chris Ford – a.k.a. Devon Storm – gained notoriety in WCW under the name Crowbar in 1999. Ford had been around the indie scene for years as a cruiserweight using the Storm name, but his new gimmick and look made many forget about Ford's previous bleach blonde persona. Crowbar got to work with some big names during his WCW run, including Terry Funk, as the company took on multiple ex-ECW stars before closing. Outside of the ring, Ford got his certification in physical therapy and owns his own rehab and fitness company. He still competes under the Crowbar moniker and keeps the same look he adopted nearly 20 years ago. Ford works matches most months out of the year, despite it looking like he doesn’t need to wrestle these days.

2 WWE: Sabu

Sabu is a wrestler that should be in every wrestling hall of fame out there. Sabu revolutionized high-risk wrestling and was the hottest grappler in the business at one time. Now 53, Sabu still wrestlers to make ends meet. He should be incredibly wealthy from all of the work he has done over the years and for what he has done for the wrestling business. Unfortunately, Sabu's injuries over the years have sapped some of money he had accumulated. In 2016, Sabu was named in a lawsuit against the WWE as he attempts to get some kind of compensation for years of abuse to his body. Unfortunately, the chances of him getting anything are slim, which means he will need to keep wrestling to make a living.

1 WCW: Disco Inferno

Disco Inferno was WCW's answer to the Honky Tonk Man when he debuted in the mid-1990s. The gimmick was portrayed by Glen Gilbertti, who currently works in Las Vegas as a bouncer for a well-known strip club. Gilbertti was a regular in WCW throughout the latter part of the '90s, and he even spent time helping Vince Russo backstage during the former WWE writer's time with the company. After WCW's closure, Gilbertti worked in TNA off and on. He also worked for several indies and continues to appear sporadically at the age of 50. Thanks to Gilbertti entering the wrestling podcast realm with MLW and now with the Jericho Network, the former WCW wrestler has returned to the wrestling limelight. Gilbertti's most recent match came in Las Vegas when he teamed up with Eli Drake in a losing effort to Tommy Dreamer and Raven.

NEXT: Former Wrestling Stars Failing On The Indies Or Actually Succeeding