WWE Stars: Where Are They Now?
World Wrestling Entertainment is still popular today, but most of us remember watching the in-ring antics as kids in the '80s and '90s. Back when the WWE was still the WWF, these men and women were household names. We couldn't wait to see what The Rock was cooking and hear Ric Flair's infamous "Wooooooo!" But even the greats have to leave the ring eventually. From the legendary Bret Hart to the Diva of the Decade, see what these former WWE wrestlers are up to today.
Triple H Then
Paul Michael Levesque, better known by fans as Triple H, is what WWE dreams are made of. The 14-time-world-championship winner is one of the most celebrated wrestlers in WWE history. He entered the WWE ring in 1996 and quickly became a name to beat.
In 1997, Triple H co-founded the D-Generation X stable, which included Shawn Michaels, Chyna, and Rick Rude. The group became a mainstay of the Attitude Era and spawned other stables including Triple H and Shawn Michaels as a duo. The pair were voted the greatest WWE Tag Team Champions of all time in 2013.
Triple H Now
Triple H’s decades-long career doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. The wrestler is still a WWE regular but has found great success as the Executive Vice President of the Talent, Live Events, and Creative Direction department for the company.
Triple H is also one of the most philanthropic wrestlers in the industry. Alongside his wife (and fellow WWE star) Stephanie McMahon, Triple H created the “Connor’s Cure” cancer fund in honor of fan Connor Michalek who passed away from cancer at eight years old.
Trish Stratus Then
Trish Stratus made her WWE debut on March 19, 2000, and went from "who?" to eight championship wins throughout her career — the most of any female in the WWE. Stratus started out doing sexually-themed storylines, and as her wrestling skills increased, so did her popularity. She earned herself numerous titles including the WWE Hardcore Champion, WWE Babe of the Year, and was even proclaimed “Diva of the Decade.”
After winning her seventh Women’s Championship, Stratus retired from the WWE on September 17, 2006.
Trish Stratus Now
She may have retired in 2006, but that didn’t stop Trish Stratus from making a handful of special WWE appearances the following years. In 2011, she surprised everyone when she showed up at the Elimination Chamber and announced she would be a trainer on the revival of WWE Tough Enough. The following month she resurfaced again, this time appearing in a match alongside Snooki (yes, that Snooki from Jersey Shore). She was there for Raw’s 1000th episode, and then, in 2013, she was announced as a WWE Hall of Fame inductee.
Outside of the ring, Stratus’ post-WWE life has been busy. She gave birth to her son, Maximus, on September 30, 2013, and then a daughter, Madison, on January 14, 2017. Stratus also runs her very own yoga center in Toronto cheekily named Stratusphere.
Kevin Nash Then
Diesel, The Big Daddy Cool, Big Sexy, Oz, or simply: Kevin Nash. One of the most well-known wrestlers in the business, Nash established himself in the wrestling world early on. At 6’11” and 295 pounds, he was made for the ring. Nash started his wrestling career with the WCW for two years before making his WWE debut in 1993 where he played many different characters. He took home the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in November 1995 before returning to the WCW.
Nash seemingly couldn’t stay anywhere for too long though. He was rehired by the WWE in 2002 but left in 2004 for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling where he stayed for seven years before returning, yet again, to the WWE.
Kevin Nash Now
Kevin Nash may be one of the busiest wrestlers outside of the ring. Since retiring, Nash has made numerous appearances on WWE specials and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015. He’s also been splitting his time between the ring and the silver screen.
The wrestler has appeared in 16 movies, including Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL where he played a stripper named Tarzan. In 2017, he joined the cast of Living the Dream as main character Troy Marshall. Nash has been busy with philanthropic causes as well. He is openly supportive of gay wrestlers and the LGBTQ community and announced in 2016 that he will donate his brain to the CTE Center at Boston University and the Concussion Legacy
Ric Flair Then
Widely regarded as the greatest professional wrestler of all time, Ric Flair is nothing short of legendary. He started his wrestling career in the early '70s and had more than 20 years of experience in the ring before joining the WWE in 1991.
Crowds were drawn to Flair's in-ring antics which included rulebreaking and shouting his signature "Wooooooo!" while strutting his stuff. Ric had such a devoted fan base that the Mayor of Minneapolis declared October 19 "Ric Flair Day." Norfolk, Virginia, Columbia, South Carolina, and Charleston, West Virginia followed suit and each created their own "Ric Flair Day." He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008.
Ric Flair Now
Ric Flair may have retired, but the 69-year-old keeps busy with the WWE and other activities. In 2012, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame again — making him the only person to ever be inducted twice. He returned to the WWE as a non-wrestling personality later that year and started mentoring The Miz. He still occasionally makes appearances in the ring.
Flair has suffered from a variety of health problems since retiring. He has a heart condition called alcoholic cardiomyopathy. In August 2017, he had surgery to remove an obstructive piece of his bowel, and in 2019 he was rushed to the hospital in Atlanta for a "serious medical emergency."
Booker T Then
Between his time in the WCW, TNA, and WWE, Booker T amassed an incredible 35 championships. The WWE star had no problems holding his own in the ring alongside the greats like Stone Cold Steve Austin, John Cena, The Undertaker, Triple H, and many others.
He spearheaded one of the funniest tandems in WWE history when he and tag partner Goldust cost Stone Cold Steve Austin the Undisputed WWE Championship in 2002. A six-time World Champion, Booker T added another impressive bullet point on his resume when he became the SmackDown General Manager in 2012. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame the next year and announced his retirement from wrestling on July 20, 2016.
Booker T Now
After Booker T retired, he focused his efforts on working with Houston's homeless, underprivileged, and low-income areas. As for his wrestling career, Booker T has made appearances at a handful of WWE events since retiring, often as a commentator.
Most recently, the WWE star has been involved in a public beef with Goldberg after the wrestle hassled Booker T for being out of shape. In response, Booker T challenged him to a match so who knows — maybe we will see him in the ring again after all.
Shawn Michaels Then
Known as one of the most talented sports-entertainers of all time, Shawn Michales is a WWE superstar. The athlete made his wrestling debut in October 1984 as one half of The Rockers and won every major WWE title, including two Royal Rumbles and entry into the WWE Hall of Fame.
He was a fan favorite, charming crowds in the early '90s but had a series of risky career moves (think: severing his partnership with Marty Jannetty and the infamous "Montreal Incident"). Still, this only added to the appeal of Michaels until he retired on March 28, 2010.
Shawn Michaels Now
Shawn Michaels hasn't let retiring from the WWE slow him down. The WWE Hall of Famer keeps busy with his wife, Rebecca, and their two kids, Cameron Kade and Cheyenne. He also penned an autobiography in 2015 called Wrestling for My Life: The Legend, the Reality, and the Faith of a WWE Superstar.
You can still find Michaels on your TV screen — only he won't be in a wrestling ring. Michaels, along with his long-time friend and hunting partner, Keith Mark, host Shawn Michaels' MacMillan River Adventures. The Outdoor Channel series follows the duo as they adventure throughout the world to hunt big-game animals.
The Rock Then
If you look at his family tree, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was destined for sports-entertainment glory. Both The Rock's father and grandfather wrestled professionally, and the WWE superstar is the nephew of wrestlers Afa and Sika Anoao'i of the Wild Samoans. Oh, and don't forget his cousins are Yokozuna, Rikishi, Rosey, and Umaga!
The Rock made his WWE debut in 1996 and quickly made a name for himself in the ring. Three years later, he starred in the WWE's highest-rated segment ever on Monday Night Raw with his skit "This Is Your Life." In 2000, he hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time. His hilarious performance unveiled the wrestler's potential as a crossover superstar. Sure enough, The Rock was on his way to being a true entertainment heavyweight — in the ring and out!
The Rock Now
Today, The Rock is considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time and is one of the top box office draws in sports-entertainment history. He took a break from the ring in 2002 to focus on acting, starring in a handful of successful films throughout the early aughts like The Scorpion King, The Mummy Returns, and The Rundown.
Although The Rock makes sporadic wrestling appearances these days, he's still very much in the public eye. Johnson keeps busy with his prolific acting career and is starring in two movies which will be released in 2018. On April 17, 2018, The Rock and his long-term partner Lauren Hashian welcomed their second child.
Lex Luger Then
Lex Luger did a lot of damage while he was in the ring but didn't have as much luck in the WWF, Luger clenched two WCW World Heavyweight Championships and one WWA World Heavyweight Championship among other titles.
Luger's ring name became "The Narcissist" when he joined the WWF in 1993 which then changed to "The All-American" later that same year when Hulk Hogan left. When Luger's contract with the WWF ended in 1995, he left without contacting Vince McMahon.
Lex Luger Now
After leaving the WWF, Lex Luger returned to the WCW before semi-retiring from wrestling. During which Luger had a slew of legal and personal problems that landed him in some hot water.
In 2007, Luger was temporarily paralyzed after suffering a spinal stroke, damaging a nerve in his neck. He underwent treatment but remained a quadriplegic for a period of time afterward. Today he's getting his strength back, and is able to walk and drive.
King Kong Bundy Then
King Kong Bundy made his debut with WWE (then WWF) in 1985 after several years wrestling in Japan. He stayed with the promotion for four years before going into semi-retirement in 1988.
Bundy returned to WWE for one year in 1994. In 1995, he left yet again to wrestle in independent circuits, which he did until officially retiring in 2007.
King Kong Bundy Now
After leaving wrestling behind for good, Bundy tried to become a full time actor and guest starred on several TV shows. He also worked on becoming a stand-up comedian and performed regularly at various clubs.
In 2016, Dundy joined a lawsuit filed against WWE in regards to neurological injury care. The suit was ultimately dismissed. Tragically, Bundy passed away at 63-years-old in 2019 from complications with diabetes.
The Great Khali Then
Previously an officer for the Punjab State Police, Dalip Singh Rana, known as "The Great Khali" was the first WWE wrestler to hail from India, making his debut in October 2000.
At 7-foot-1, 347-pounds, Khali had to work hard to be accepted by wrestling fans when he joined the WWE in early 2006.
The Great Khali Now
Khali went on to have an incredible wrestling career and became the World Heavyweight Champion in 2007-2008. He's also a two-time CWE Heavyweight Champion.
The WWE inducted Khali into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021. Outside of wrestling, Khali has appeared in three TV shows and six films, including The Longest Yard, and Get Smart.
Jacqueline Then
Before joining the WWE, Jacqueline DeLois Moore worked for the WCW and TNA as a road manager. Her WWE debut was scheduled in late 1993 but she left early due to an injury. Jacqueline made her official WWE debut in June 1998 on an episode of Raw where she played Marc Mero's girlfriend.
Jacqueline became one of the most successful female wrestlers of the Attitude Era, but it was her work with the group Pretty Mean Sisters that put her on the map. Jacqueline was released in 2004 when the creative department couldn't come up with any story ideas for her character.
Jacqueline Now
Despite being released in 2004, Jacqueline made her WWE comeback in 2016 when it was announced she would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. On April 2 that year, she was inducted by The Duley Boyz, becoming the first African-American female to be inducted.
Although she no longer wrestles professionally, Jacqueline loves to stay active. She was a trainer on the MTV reality television series Tough Enough and helped train future WWE wrestlers Nidia and Maven.
Hulk Hogan Then
Terry Gene Bollea or Hulk Hogan started out as a wrestler but has become an actor, television personality, entrepreneur, and musician. He is known for being the most recognized wrestler of the 1980s and of possibly all time. He was extremely popular wrestling for the WWE between 1984 and 1993.
However, in 1996 he went on to wrestle as New World order, a villain character. In his wrestling career, he was a 12-time world champion with his WCW World Heavyweight Championship holding the longest ever held by one wrestler. In 2005, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Sylvester Stalone.
Hulk Hogan Now
Both during and after his wrestling career, Hulgan was always working on things on the side, especially acting. He made his first on-screen appearance as the villain in Rocky III in 1982 and continues acting until today. he has also starred in some films himself such as No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, and more.
He's also a spokesperson for Right Gaurd and the video game Hulk Hogan's Main Event. beleive it or not, he even made a record titled "Hulk Rules" which reached #12 in the Top Kid Audio Chart in 1995. Today, he continues to work with businesses as a spokesperson and owner.
Bret Hart Then
Bret Hart — known by fans as "The Hitman" — is one of the most successful wrestlers to come out of Canada. When he made his WWE debut in 1978, many thought he was a shoe-in for Hulk Hogan's successor. After the Montreal Screwjob incident, which is described as "arguably the most controversial, most jarring moment in the annals of sports entertainment," Hart took his talents to the WCW.
After a successful career spanning more than two decades, Hart retired in 2000. He made his WWE comeback five years later with a home video release called Bret "Hit Man" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Will Ever Be. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.
Bret Hart Now
Shortly after retiring from wrestling, Bret Hart suffered a stroke following a bicycle accident. The wrestler hit a pothole which caused him to flip over the handlebars and land on his head. The accident left him paralyzed on his left side, requiring months of physical therapy. He recovered most of his mobility although still suffers from an emotional imbalance as do many other stroke survivors.
Hart was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016 but was cancer-free later that year. When he's not working with his business loan company, Sharpshooter Funding, Hart is likely spending time with his family. He has four children (the four hearts on his uniform represent his kids) and two grandchildren.
Roddy Piper Then
Born Roderick Toombs, Roddy Piper started wrestling as a teenager. He made small appearances in the WWE in 1979 before joining full-time in 1984. A heel, Piper became one of the most recognizable wrestlers worldwide, headlining numerous pay-per-view cards like WrestleMania and Starrcade.
Piper has long been considered one of the greatest villains in WWE history, and although he never won a world championship, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and took home numerous awards throughout his 42 years in the ring.
Roddy Piper Now
Roddy Piper dealt with a series of health issues in his later life. In 2006, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and underwent radiation therapy. He recovered and went on to make numerous WWE appearances over the next five years. In July 2015, Piper lost his WWE Legends contract after getting into a public feud with Ric Flair.
He officially retired from the WWE and focused on spending time with his wife and four children. Sadly, Piper passed away in his sleep on July 31, 2015, at 61 years old.
Goldberg Then
Bill Goldberg is classified as one of the most popular and best wrestlers of the 1990s. He was one of the poster boys from World Champion Wrestling during the success of Monday Night Wars.
From 1997 to 1998 he had an undefeated singles streak, one of the longest in professional wrestling history. While still wrestling, he became the WCW United States Champion and the WCW World Heavyweight Champion. Along with Bret Hart, he was also a one-time WCW World Tag-team Champion which made him the fifth Triple Crown Winner.
Goldberg Now
After his major wrestling career, he had a few comeback appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment, Legends of Wrestling, and made a return to WWE. During these appearances, he went on to participate in storyline feuds and had a feud with Brock Lesnar from 2016 to 2017. In 2018, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
During his acceptance speech, he took the time to call out some wrestlers and thank them for where he is today. He also has a biography out titled I'm Next: The Strange Journey of America's Most Unlikely Superhero and started his own podcast Who's Next?!
Randy Savage
Randy Savage, otherwise known as "Macho Man" was known for his wrestling in the World Wrestling Federation and later World Championship Wrestling. During his 32-year-long career, he managed to win 29 titles including the WWF World Heavyweight Championship twice, and the WCW World Championship Wrestling Championship on four occasions.
He was known for having great ring performance and was said to bring "a higher level of credibility to the title." Furthermore, he was the 1987 King of the Ring and in 1995 the WCW World War 3 winner. It's safe to say, he had a successful career.
Randy Savage Now
After Savage retired from wrestling, he stayed in the WWF in a non-wrestling manner for a little bit. After leaving wrestling he returned to his non-wrestling role of "Macho Man" as a broadcaster. However, he couldn't stay away and was reinstated as a wrestler not long after. He also spent some time doing voice acting and real acting in the late 1990s and 2000s.
Unfortunately, on May 20, 2011, Savage died after suffering a sudden heart attack while driving with his wife. It turns out that he had heart problems but never been treated for them during his life.
Kane Then
Glenn Thomas Jacobs or "Kane" began wrestling on the independent circuit in 1992. After joining the World Wrestling Federation, he was rebranded as Kane, the mentally disturbed, younger half-brother of The Undertaker.
He defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWF Championship in his first pay-per-view event. On top of that, he went on to win numerous single and team championships. Alongside wrestling, he made numerous guest appearances in movies and TV and even had the lead role in the WWE Studios film See No Evil.
Kane Now
After his major career as a wrestler, Jacobs turned his attention to politics. he became a member of the Free State Project and is a known libertarian. However, some Tea Party groups tried to recruit him in the 2014 Republican U.S. Senate primary in Tennessee.
He also works as an insurer and he and his wife own an Allstate agency in Knoxville Tennessee. In March 2017, Jacobs announced that he was going to run for the mayoral seat of Knox County as a Republican. In 2018, he won the primary election for the position.
The Ultimate Warrior Then
James Brian Hellwig was a professional wrestler that went by the ring name The Ultimate Warrior. He wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation from 1987 to 1991 and then came back for another stint between 1992 and 1996.
While wrestling for the WWF, he became the first two-time WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion and even pinned down Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania VI. This made him the first wrestler to ever hold both titles at the same. It also makes him a legend in wrestling history.
The Ultimate Warrior Now
After The Ultimate Warrior retired from wrestling in 1998, he went back to being James Brian Hellwig. He then began doing public speaking and even did one last wrestling match in Spain in 2008.
On April 8, 2014, he passed away at the age of 54 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Within the three days before his death, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, appeared at WrestleMania XXX, and made an appearance on Raw. Fans of his were grateful that he had eventful last few days in the wrestling world.
Honky Tonk Man Then
Wayne Ferris or The Honky Tonk man wrestled forWorld Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation. He is best known for his time under WWF when he won the WWF Intercontinental Championship and set a record for his possession of it for 64 weeks.
Then, he lost it to the Ultimate Warrior at the Summerslam. he was also part of the Rhythm and Blues wrestling team for two years until their departure in 1991. In the late 200s, he had his final matches with the WWE.
Honk Tonk Man Now
Since 2000, Ferris has worked on independent wrestling shows. he still goes by The Honky Tonk Man and works beside Ryan Smith as well as others. He has traveled around the world wrestling as an independent wrestler and been involved in a lot of different events that he wouldn't have had the opportunity to do otherwise.
Not long ago, The Honky Tonk Man made an appearance in the first episode of season three of Lucha Underground as a warden prison guard. he has also been involved in several other media appearances including video games and the show Judge Jeanine Pirro.
Mick Foley Then
Mick Foley has worked in numerous different wrestling promotions such as the World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling just to name a few
. Aside from the name Mick, he has had a variety of different wrestling names such as Dude Love, Cactus Jack and Mankind, and even Three-Faced Foley. He has won the world championship record four times and is an 11-time tag-team champion.
Mick Foley Now
At the moment, Mick Foley is still signed with the WWE, yet also started a writing career back in 1999 that is still blossoming today. H is a New York Times bestselling author, mostly for his series of memoirs that he has written over the course of 20 years.
He's even appeared on The Daly Show to discuss his upcoming books and work with charities that he has been participating in throughout the years. Along with his autobiographies, he has released four children's books, which may be surprising coming from a wrestling animal like Mick Foley.
The Undertaker Then
Mark William Callaway "The Undertaker" is renowned as one of if not the best professional wrestler of all time. He began wrestling in 1984 and eventually signed with World Championship Wrestling in 1989.
He gained a lot of popularity and attention for his character The Undertaker who was a symbol of death as well are his specialty wrestling moves. He is known as one of the biggest wrestlers of the Attitude Era and has had 17 championships throughout his wrestling career. He is the WWE's longest ver tenured performed that has spent 26 years with the company.
The Undertaker Now
Although The Undertaker has spent 26 years with the WWE, it doesn't look like he's planning on stopping anytime soon. He's still signed with the company and is still one of the most feared wrestlers out there. He has just as many fans now as he did earlier in his career.
Not only is he a great wrestler, but he has also become something of a legend in the wrestling community. Aside from wrestling, he also invests in real estate. He also opened up The Zeus Compton Calaway Save the Animals fund at Texas A&M College with his wife to help the treatment of large dog breeds.
Vince McMahon Then
Vince McMahon is a jack of all trades. He's a professional wrestling promoter, executive, American football executive, businessman, film producer-actor, the list goes on and on. In 1980, McMahon inherited the WWE from his father and grew it into what it is today.
He is the majority owner, chairman, and CEO of the WWE, but gets into the ring occasionally to show the wrestlers how it's done. He is also the founder of Alpha Entertainment and holds wrestling wins over some of the best to have ever stepped foot in the ring.
Vince McMahon Now
McMahon has had an incredibly colorful and successful career, however, it doesn't look like he's ready to hang up the towel just yet. He continues to create new companies and is always looking for ways to improve and grow the WWE.
If he isn't working on things for the WWE, he's making movies, appearing as a guest on television shows and movies, and spreading the brand's name. He has also been known to make large donations to the Republican Party, Donald Trump, and other such foundations.
Randy Orton Then
Randy Orton is a third-generation wrestler with his grandfather being Bob Orton Sr. and his father was "Cowboy" Bob Orton. All three have wrestled professionally. Before making a name for himself, her wrestled in Midwest tournaments and Associations until he was put on the World Wrestling Foundation.
Part of his gig as "The Legend Killer" was that he would attack Hall of Famers and wrestling veterans. He became the world's youngest wrestling champion at 24 and was a member of various wrestling groups within the WWE suck as RKO and The Legacy.
Randy Orton Now
Today, Randy Orton is still signed to WWE and performs on the SmackDown brand. Recently, he joined another group in 2016 called the Wyatt Family, where they won the SmackDown Tag Team Championship.
Then, Orton went on to win his first United States Championship in 2018, which made him the eighteenth overall Grandslam Champion. In total, Orton is recognized as having the fourth-most world championships victories in history close behind a few of wrestling latest. We're nowhere close to seeing the end of Orton's wrestling career anytime soon.
