After nearly a quarter century in the business, former WWE Superstar Zach Gowan has called time on his wrestling career. Gowen went to her Facebook page to officially announce his retirement from wrestling by posting his first promo picture next to his last picture with a heartfelt message underneath.
“Thank you to every promoter who gave me a chance to wrestle. Over the past 24 years, I have had the privilege of performing for all major companies. Special thanks to the fans for not rejecting me. Professional wrestling provided direction and an outlet for a very lost kid. All I ever wanted to be was a professional wrestler and I did it because you did it, you accepted it. legitimate professional wrestler, I am deeply grateful.”
Gowen stated that the highlight of his wrestling career actually happened his one-off appearance in AEW in 2025 where he wrestled Ricochet. The main reason for this was because his family was ringside to see him come back from a dark period in his life where he struggled with drug addiction, which was documented in an episode of “The Dark Side of the Ring” that aired on VICE TV earlier this year. Gowen called the AEW match the cherry on top of his redemption story that changed the course of his life.
He concluded by saying: “My victories are not the result of my talents, but ultimately the result of God working through others, allowing them to invest in me and invest in me. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.” NJPW commentator Walker Stewart broke the news himself X (formerly known as Twitter) account as he was able to call Gowen’s last match at the recent WrestleRave event in Houston, Texas.
Zach Gowen announced his retirement from professional wrestling last night on Facebook.
Fighting inside and outside the ring. A man who was determined to never be defined by his demons or disability, but by his work ethic and spirit.
Gowan noted the highlight of his career… pic.twitter.com/AMKMQ9rWft
— Walker Stewart (@VelvetVoiceWS) October 15, 2026
Considered by many fans to be the most famous one-legged wrestler of all time, Gowan wrestled for TNA, ROH, and of course WWE, where he had The infamous feud with company president Vince McMahon in the summer of 2003.
