5 WWE Superstars who retired before they turned 30

For many young fans growing up, their dream will have been to make it as a WWE Superstar, and though many have dreamt of this, only a few select exceptional people, have lived this fantasy.

Making it to the WWE is the ultimate goal for many wrestlers, and once you get there, it's likely that many Superstars aim to have long, fruitful careers. But not these ones.

Though these Superstars worked hard to make it to WWE, they all left the company, and the wrestling profession behind before they even turned 30.

Some were forced into retirement, whilst others chose to leave, but each one had varying degrees of success in the company.

Here are five WWE Superstars who retired before they turned 30.

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#5 Eve Torres

Torres retired from the ring in January 2013, aged 28.

The departure of Eve Torres from professional wrestling is something that left a lot of people surprised as she had been heavily featured by the company and only seemed to be improving and progressing. Before leaving, Eve had been the top heel of the Divas division, holding the Divas Championship for months before losing the gold to Kaitlyn.

However, the former WWE Superstar decided to walk away from the business in order to focus on life with her family. Eve got engaged towards the end of her WWE run and wanted to be able to commit more time at home, which is why she chose to retire.

Nowadays, the former champion still makes the odd appearance for the company, and as a purple belt in Brazilian Jui-Jitsu, became the first female instructor for the academy, as well as a spokesperson and trainer of the Gracie Women Empowered self-defense program.

#4 David Flair

A former WCW US Champion, David would also have a short stint in WWE.

Though his sister Charlotte has had an objectively much more successful career, it was David Flair who was the first child of the legendary Nature Boy to enter the squared circle. As part of WCW, David would constantly be in his father's shadow, and even feuded with the Dirtiest Player in the Game at one point in his tenure. To his credit, David is a former WCW US Champion.

After a stint in WCW, Flair would eventually make his way to the WWE, though would only have a handful of appearances. After The Undertaker entered a feud with David's father, the heel Deadman made things personal by beating down the younger Flair, and would similarly eviscerate him in a match on the March 14, 2002 edition of SmackDown, just three days before the Deadman would give a similar beating to Ric at WrestleMania 18.

His final match in 2008 saw him team with his younger brother, Reid Flair in a tag team match against the legendary Nasty Boys in what was actually Reid's in-ring debut as a performer, and David hung up his boots for good aged 29.

#3 AJ Lee

Lee left the WWE in 2015 after a career which saw her win the Divas title three times.

AJ Lee is one of the most influential women in the history of professional wrestling as she played a pivotal role in turning WWE's division from 'divas' to 'women's wrestling'. One could even make the argument that WWE wouldn't have started treating women as equals in the first place, if not for stars like AJ Lee.

Whilst the Four Horsewomen often get the credit, it really was AJ Lee who got things rolling, and it is a huge shame that she never got to reap the rewards by having some classic matches later in her career.

After an incredible 2012 which saw AJ involved in several main event feuds, she would capture the Divas Championship in 2013, holding the title on three occasions until her final reign came to an end at Survivor Series 2014.

After teaming with Paige to defeat the Bella Twins at WrestleMania 31, AJ decided to walk away from the ring at just 28-years-old in a decision that seemed to have a lot to do with her husband, CM Punk, who walked out of the company in January 2014.

#2 Christopher Nowinski

Nowinski now helps educate people with the issue of concussions in sports.

When the WWE launched it's very first series of Tough Enough, Chris Nowinski was an immediate favourite. With a knowledge for wrestling and a good physique, Nowinski was also consistent in the tryouts, and his real-life time at Harvard made him a cocky heel on the show, so though he didn't win, it wasn't long before he was signed by WWE.

Nowinski had a great heel character and was improving as a wrestler, but during a tag team match against The Dudley Boyz, his life was changed forever. A mistimed kick gave him a serious concussion and after suffering from memory loss, insomnia and depression, he decided to walk away and retired aged 24.

However, he certainly did contribute to the wrestling industry still, as it was through his hard work trying to find a treatment that he helped found the Concussion Legacy Foundation and has raised awareness surrounding the situation WWE now takes very seriously.

With WWE now ordering Superstars to take time off after a concussion, Nowinski has changed the lives of countless WWE Superstars for the better, despite never holding gold in the promotion.

#1 Paige

Paige was forced into retirement due to a series of injuries but has still remained a part of WWE TV.

When it comes to young retirements, there was none more surprising or upsetting than that of former Divas Champion, Paige, whose career was sadly cut short due to a serious neck injury that stopped her from wrestling.

Paige was a child prodigy who burst onto the scene from the UK, taking the wrestling world by storm and became one of the most popular female wrestlers in WWE history. It was because Paige was so young that the retirement upset so many, as the Anti-Diva had much more to offer.

Paige had also just come back from a tough time in her life personally after private videos were leaked and it seemed like things were just turning around for her when the heartbreak hit.

After being forced to leave the ring, Paige would quickly find a role for herself as the General Manager of SmackDown Live, performing well under the role until late 2018.

After being relieved of her position, Paige has remained a constant presence on WWE programming as the manager of the Kabuki Warriors: Kairi Sane and Asuka.