WWE Retirement News: Wade Barrett Rumored To Be Leaving; Big Show Addresses Retirement Rumors
World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Wade Barrett is reportedly part of the growing list of retiring talents for the year.
Early this month, former champion Daniel Bryan announced his retirement from professional wrestling due to injuries. Soon after, his wife Brie Bella also declared her intent to "hang up her boots," airing out the same concerns as her husband did.
In a report by Sean Rueter for Cageside Seats, the 35-year-old Barrett (Stu Bennett in real life) may not re-sign with the WWE once his contract expires this year.
The same report also stated that Barrett may leave the company around June or July of this year, but will still be under a Legends contract, which makes his name and likeness still eligible for use in digital products such as video games and the like.
Barrett began his professional wrestling career in 2003, under the NWA UK Hammerlock Wrestling. He was then signed by the WWE in 2006, but left in 2008 when the company severed its ties with Ohio Valley Wrestling.
He then competed under the Florida Championship Wrestling banner from 2008 until 2010, before getting back with the WWE through its developmental branch NXT in 2010.
Barrett also had a small role in the 2013 crime-thriller entitled "Dead Man Down."
Another name on the potential retirement list is that of veteran talent The Big Show. In a report by Geno Mrosko for Cageside Seats, the 44-year-old wrestler (Paul Wight in real life) is also rumored to be retiring soon.
But it was immediately squashed by Wight himself, noting that he still has two more years left before calling it quits.
"No, I'm not going to retire anytime soon, barring injuries," the Big Show said in an interview with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin for the "Stone Cold Podcast." "I love what I do every day and I think if you take an honest consensus poll of all the guys that I work with they're very happy to have me here."
