Lio Rush has announced his retirement from professional wrestling, citing a recent injury as the reason for his decision.
Rush had recently made his AEW debut as the Joker in the Casino Battle Royal at Double or Nothing, having signed with NJPW just a matter of months before.
Taking to Instagram, Rush posted a statement regarding his decision to retire:
I have written and erased this post so many times purely out of not being able to wrap my head around this. The moment I went home in a sling, I kept saying to myself “this was like any other time I got a little bruise or strain and I will shrug it off and continue on my new journey”. Once the pain had subsided and I started to feel how uncomfortable it was to feel my arm hanging from my body, I sunk into an immediate and rapidly growing depression because I knew something was wrong…
Got the news that I’d be taking some time off due to this injury. Me thinking it would only affect my wrestling obligations, I still tried to go about my days as I knew them. I realized just how much this would affect my everyday life. For anyone who knows me, you know that I work endlessly for me and my family. It became more frustrating everyday finding little things that I could no longer do. Like simply putting on a shirt and a much harder fact to deal with, not picking up my newborn son.
Now here comes the part that kept me up every night since #DoubleOrNothing ….Knowing that u just made my surprise debut in one of the most exciting times in my career. That part sucked. But I’m grateful. Grateful for the opportunities that I’ve had this past year after my WWE release. So cool of #AEW still wanting to sign me despite separating my AC in the Casino Battle Royal. Which would have lead to me being the first person in history to be signed to two major wrestling organizations simultaneously. This is an unexpected turn down a road I would have and could have never saw coming…
But I’m looking at this as a blessing in disguise. Since the injury, it’s given me some time to think. Think about what I want in life. What I want for my wife and kids, and what’s going to make me happy as far as my mental health is concerned. The timing of this injury has forced me to stop and re evaluate and ultimately it’s resulted in making the decision to retire from professional wrestling…
Thank you to the fans who have fought it out with me for the past 7 years and the people in my corner. Thank you to all the promoters and friends that I’ve met along the way who believe in me and my vision. This has been a great ride, but it’s time to get off and do what truly makes me happy. Due to contractual obligations with NJPW, I will be making my final appearances once I am healed. But for now, thank you all from the Bottom of my heart and I’ll see you all soon.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CP4Vo4jNVTf/?utm_medium=copy_link
In the statement, Lio Rush says he’ll fulfil his final NJPW obligations after healing from his injury.
However, having transitioned into a music career during his WWE hiatus two years ago, Rush will not be short of career options – although his departure from wrestling is certainly a sad one.
Everyone at Inside The Ropes wishes Lio Rush a speedy recovery, and all the best for his future – both personally and professionally.