Former WWE star breaks silence on his AEW appearance: "I was afraid people wouldn't recognize me"

A former WWE star and longtime fan favorite made a surprising return to wrestling recently with AEW. While fans were thrilled to see him back, the star was reportedly concerned about whether he would be recognised by today’s wrestling audience.

The star in question is Zach Gowen, i.e., the one-legged wrestling wonder who captured the WWE Universe’s hearts in the early 2000s. In a recent interview with RJ City on Hey! (EW), Gowen opened up about his appearance in All Elite Wrestling. When asked jokingly if he was afraid that he might not be recognized by fans due to his bleached hair, Gowen said:

"No. I was afraid people wouldn't recognize me because I haven't been on television in 22 years. So, there's a whole new generation of fans that have zero idea who I am." [16:41 - 16:50]

Gowen's first appearance for the promotion came on Collision, where Ricochet shockingly attacked him ringside and removed his prosthetic leg. The segment led to a match between Ricochet and Gowen at Dynamite: Beach Break, officially marking Gowen’s first televised match in over two decades.

Gowen, who is best known for battling giants like Brock Lesnar and Big Show during WWE’s Ruthless Aggression Era, has not been seen on AEW TV since his loss to Ricochet at Beach Break.

From WWE to pizza delivery to a match on AEW, Zach Gowen reflects on his heartbreaking journey

Zach Gowen’s return to national television and in-ring action on AEW Dynamite was a full-circle moment for the star. Despite losing to Ricochet in his AEW debut, Gowen was appreciated for his valiant performance.

His journey, however, has been anything but easy. In a recent interview with The Takedown on Sports Illustrated, the former WWE star opened up about his post-WWE struggles. After being released in 2004, the one-legged wrestling pioneer spiraled into issues with addiction. During this dark chapter, he delivered pizzas and was once even robbed at gunpoint.

Gowen has since turned things around and is now 15 years sober, a motivational speaker, husband, and father of four.

About the author

Karan Raj is a senior writer in Sportskeeda's AEW division. He holds an engineering degree from Manipal University, but his passion for sports motivated him to pursue an MSc in Sports Business from the University of Liverpool. Karan has been in the sports marketing industry for the past seven years.

As a lifelong WWE fan and enthusiast of wrestling entertainment, he has always been drawn to the industry's unique blend of sports and storytelling. Karan was introduced to the business by his elder sister when he was 10 years old.

Before assuming his current role at Sportskeeda, Karan worked for several reputable organizations, such as Ting Works LLP and Sportz Interactive, wearing different hats. He also wrote the anthem of UP Rudras, a hockey team that played in the Hockey India League. Karan conducts thorough research while writing articles and only relies on credible sources for information.

Karan's favorite pro wrestler is Seth Rollins. He admires The Visionary's versatility as a performer and his ability to play both heel and babyface characters to perfection. Besides Rollins, Karan looks up to Roman Reigns for his storytelling skills and ability to captivate audiences.

In AEW, he enjoys watching Will Ospreay compete inside the ring. Karan loves The Aerial Assassin's technical in-ring ability and athleticism. If Karan could go back to the Attitude Era, he would combine forces with Jericho and promise to elevate his career to the same level as The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.When not writing about pro wrestling, Karan loves to play and watch football. It is a huge part of his life.

He is also a massive fan of tennis and is learning to play the sport. Apart from sports, he also knows how to play the ukulele.

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Edited by Harish Raj S