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Pro wrestling is a brutish art form as it’s unkind to the body irrespective of what the so-called haters illogically tell you. It’s fake…it’s scripted…that punch didn’t even land…shut up!
A 30-minute wrestling match is equivalent to emptying your gas tank during a workout in the gym. Kevin Nash rightfully explained with regards to pro wrestling’s gruelling impact on one’s body by saying, “When you’re 35-years-old, your body has some resiliency to it. When you get to be 45, 50, it takes you two hours to get out of bed.”
Yes, the punches and kicks may not connect, but the bumps are real and taking countless of them for years wears your body down beyond comprehension. The premature retirements of Edge and Paige are testaments to the vehemence of pro wrestling and the toll it takes on a performer’s physical well-being.
But, you have a few uncompromising veterans who seem to have an addiction to the squared circle and don’t believe in the concept of sustained abstinence. We have a legend that is still doing his thing at 72 years old! Now that’s undying passion however unwanted it may seem.
This list takes a look at those veterans who are surprisingly still not done with their in-ring careers...
#1 Bob Orton Jr.
We begin this list with a proud father who witnessed his son outdo him in terms of accolades and achievements in the WWE. Randy Orton will join his dad in the WWE Hall of Fame someday but at 38 years old, The Apex Predator still has a lot to offer as he enters the final phase of a glittering career.
As amusing as it may sound, Orton may end up retiring before his legendary dad, who at 68 years old, is still a sporadic wrestler on the independent circuit.
Bob Orton Jr. may not have won a single title during his time in the WWE but ‘Cowboy’ has been a tireless worker ever since he began his career in 1972, and till date, continues to do what he loves doing the most.
Orton Jr’s most recent match took place on November 3rd, 2018 for Absolute Intense Wrestling (AIW). He teamed up with PB Smooth and Hornswoggle to win a six-man tag team match against the team of The Duke, Jock Samson, and Mance Warner. This was Orton Jr’s first match since 2011 and we suspect it may not be his final outing.
#2 Bob Holly
Most fans remember Bob Holly aka Hardcore Holly as the man that Lesnar put out of commission for 13 months. In what ended up being one of the most cringe-worthy moments in WWE history, Holly was dropped on his neck as a result of a powerbomb gone wrong.
The 6-time Hardcore Champion returned and stayed with the company until 2009 before being released for good. For those of you who are wondering, there was no malice intended from Lesnar's side and Holly continues to be good friends with the Beast Incarnate.
Holly spent sixteen years with the WWE before wrestling for various independent promotions.
Currently 56 years old, the 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion last wrestled at Game Changer Wrestling’s (GCW) LA Confidential event held on November 16th, 2018 where he lost to NJPW star Brody King via pinfall. This was Holly’s third match of 2018 as he worked bouts for House of Hardcore and Wildkat Wrestling earlier on in the year.
Hardcore Holly’s dedication to pro wrestling is second to none and if you haven’t read his autobiography yet, we highly recommend that you do.
#3 Bushwacker Luke
The WWE Hall of Famer has been wrestling for 58 years. The Undertaker is 53 years old. Let that sink in.
New Zealander Bushwacker Luke also known as Luke Williams, made his WWE debut in 1988 as The Bushwackers along with his long-time buddy Butch Miller. Their comedic act got over with the fans instantly and the duo went on to spend eight years with the WWE before taking to the independent circuit.
Prior to the WWE, Williams and Miller were big names in the territorial wrestling scene as they worked for many noteworthy promotions before Vince McMahon began his worldwide takeover.
Even though Bushwackers never tasted gold in the WWE, the entertaining tag team was inducted into the Hall of Famer in 2015. Williams, who had his first match in 1962, still features for a handful of indie promotions in his eccentric avatar.
His most recent match took place against PB Smooth on January 11, 2019, for the Bigtime Wrestling promotion. And he won! He’s 72 years old!
#4 Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler
Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler is just a mad lad! Even a heart attack on live TV after a tag team match on Raw in 2012 couldn’t convince The King of Memphis to hang up his boots. He returned to action a year later in 2013 and has made sure he keeps in touch with in-ring self every now and then.
The winner of 100+ titles during his territorial dominance in the 70s and 80s, Lawler came to the WWE in 1992 and sadly enough, hasn’t won a single championship in the company. He is, however, best remembered for being one-half of the greatest commentary duo of all-time along with Jim Ross.
While Vince McMahon will never let him compete again inside a WWE ring, he constantly makes his presence felt by joining the commentary team and the post and pre-show panels.
Lawler doesn’t need the WWE to wrestle as there are many independent companies who are willing to give the medical clearances a pass. The 69-year-old defeated Brian Anthony in a no DQ match at Northeast Wrestling’s (NEW) Redemption event that was headlined by a 27-minute encounter between Kenny Omega and Rey Fenix.
We’ve got two words for the WWE Hall of Famer- Just Retire!
Honorable mentions before we get to the final name:
RVD
Billy Gunn
Dory Funk Jr.
Terry Funk
#5 Gangrel
Attitude Era was the real deal, wasn’t it? It was eerily enjoyable to watch Gangrel surge from a ring of fire with the goblet of blood in his hands, which weirdly had, what seemed like the infinity stones engraved in them. He would then drink the ‘blood’ and do a Triple H by shooting it up in the air from his mouth.
The vampire was one of the most underrated stars and characters from the golden era of pro wrestling. He introduced Edge and Christian to the WWE Universe back then as part of The Brood faction and while his protégés went on to have great singles careers, Gangrel was released from the company in 2001.
He made brief appearances for the WWE later from 2004-2007 but has largely been spotted where every former WWE wrestler can be found – the independent circuit!
Gangrel, real name David Heath, has had four matches in 2018 with the freshest of the lot happening for Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore promotion. He beat Alex Reynolds and at 49 years old, doesn’t intend on giving up wrestling anytime soon. He's one chill vampire too...
