Though he recently made his debut for All Elite Wrestling, Lio Rush announced that he’s leaving the business. Rush announced the post in both a tweet and an Instagram post (see below). He develops his reasoning in an Instagram post by announcing that he separated his AC joint during his AEW debut in the Casino Battle Royale at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view.
“Since the injury, it’s given me some time to think,” wrote Rush. “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-evaluated and ultimately it’s resulted in making the decision to retire from professional wrestling.”
He also explains that AEW offered him a contract following the Casino Battle Royale match. Due to the injury and his contractual obligations with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Rush stated that he will work these dates before he officially retires.
Since 2020 and his WWE release, after which he was already talking about retirement, Lio Rush, 26, has appeared in NJPW, AEW, MLW, GCW, and other independent wrestling promotions has he reminded many why he was so special. “The Man of the Hour” debuted for NJPW in the 2020 Super J Cup, losing to eventual winner El Phantasmo. During his time in MLW, he held the MLW Middleweight Championship, which he lost to Myron Reed in May.
I’m retiring from Pro Wrestling ??. It’s been a crazy ride, but it’s time to get off and do what truly makes me happy. Thank you @AEW @AEWonTNT @njpwglobal for everything. Full story – https://t.co/SkpCOhT7Bt pic.twitter.com/17jvjMeXSI
— Lio Rush (@TheLionelGreen) June 9, 2021
Pic courtesy of AEW