Black Label Pro held Threat Level Noon today during The Collective 2020. During the show, Top Flight (Air Wolf & Angel Dorado) defeated Erick Stevens & Tom Lawlor. It turns out that was Stevens’ final match.
Erick Stevens revealed in a series of tweets that he is officially retiring from pro wrestling. He wrestled from 2003 to 2010 and during that time Stevens worked for ROH and other indie companies. Then he took a nine-year hiatus before returning last year.
He said his retirement this time is not like the last time he left the business. He sent several tweets explaining all the things he will miss like the bad venues and his great friends. He also made it clear that this is a real retirement announcement and not a work.
Tonight is my last night as a professional wrestler.
Before I elaborate, please understand that this isn’t an impulsive decision. Nor is it a cliche temporary thing.
I always said I’d know when it was time to go. And now is that time. Certainly not the storybook ending I imagined, but this ain’t a storybook.
In spite of the circumstances, I’m happy. I’m grateful. I quit on myself a decade ago and I was lucky enough to get a second chance to live my dream. Most people never get that chance and spend the rest of their lives wondering “what if?”. But I don’t have to.
Because of the support of my incredible family and some generous promoters, I got to drag my old carcass into the ring and go to war with the best and brightest. Even got to tangle with some old friends like @fakekinkade and @MadKing1981
I wasted ten years by quitting on myself. My window to do anything big in this business closed a long time ago. But I’m grateful that I got to once again travel around the US and do what I love.
I wasted ten years by quitting on myself. My window to do anything big in this business closed a long time ago. But I’m grateful that I got to once again travel around the US and do what I love.
With my family and business obligations, my plate is just too full. I missed my daughters first soccer practice this weekend. I don’t want to miss another one. I can’t dedicate the time I need to perform at my personal standard.
My spot on the card, my payday, my airfare – They need to go to somebody else. My time is over. I had my fun. It’s time for me to go.
I have loved pro wrestling with every fiber of my being since I was 13 years old. I’ve sacrificed my body, my relationships, my money, my time, and my mind for this. Because that’s what you do for something you love. That’s what you do for something that makes you feel alive.
I’ll miss the shitty venues, the early mornings, the late nights, the airports, the cheers. But more than anything else, I’ll miss my friends.
I’m not leaving the way I did in 2010. I’m not bitter. I’m not mad. I’m happy. I’m grateful. And I’ll still be staying in touch with my friends, old and new alike.
Thank you to my wife. Without her this wouldn’t have been possible. Thank you to @aiwrestling @BLabelPro and @beyondwrestling for believing in me. Thank you to all of my opponents. Thank you to the fans.
One fan replied to Stevens saying that this is another angle. He received the following response: “You have the right to be skeptical. I tore my MCL on Monday and missed my daughter’s first day of soccer on Saturday. I’m all done.”
Hopefully, Erick Stevens will find an easy transition to life as a retired pro wrestler. He wrestled for 8 years, and then he took a nine-year break. His return in 2019 saw him working all over the indies, but now his career is done once again. Things are different this time as he seems to be in a good state of mind.