Former WWE Star Zack Gowen Announces Retirement
After nearly a quarter of a century in the business, former WWE Superstar Zach Gowen has called time on his wrestling career. Gowen took to his Facebook page to formally announce that he is retiring from wrestling, posting his first-ever promo picture alongside his most recent one with a heartfelt message written underneath.
"Thank you to every promoter who gave me an opportunity to wrestle. I've had the privilege of performing for every major company over the past 24 years. Special thank you to the fans for not rejecting me. Pro wrestling provided a direction and outlet for a very lost kid. All I ever wanted to be was a professional wrestler and I accomplished that solely because you accepted me not as a sideshow act but as a legitimate pro wrestler. I'm deeply grateful."
Gowen stated that the highlight of his wrestling career actually came in his one-off appearance for AEW in 2025 where he wrestled Ricochet. The main reason for this was because his family were at ringside to see him bounce back from a dark period in his life where he battled a serious drug addiction, which was all documented in the "Dark Side of the Ring" episode which aired on VICE TV earlier this year. Gowen called the AEW match the cherry on top of a redemption story for himself that resulted in him changing the course of his own life.
He rounded off by saying "My victories are not the result of my talents but ultimately the result of God working through others allowing them to pour into and invest in me. I am the luckiest guy in the world." NJPW commentator Walker Stewart shared the news on his own X (formerly known as Twitter) account as he was able to call Gowen's final match at a recent WrestleRave event in Houston, Texas.
Last night on Facebook, Zach Gowen announced his retirement from professional wrestling.
A fighter inside and outside of the ring. A man who was determined never to be defined by his demons or his disabilities, but by his work ethic and spirit.
Gowen noted his career highlight... pic.twitter.com/AMKMQ9rWft
— Walker Stewart (ウォーカー・スチュワート) (@VelvetVoiceWS) October 15, 2026
Considered by many fans as the most famous one-legged wrestler of all time, Gowen wrestled for the likes of TNA, ROH, and of course, WWE, where he had an infamous feud with company Chairman Vince McMahon in the summer of 2003.