Throughout WWE history the company has signed a number of interesting wrestlers and back in 2003, Zach Gowen made his debut with the company. Gowen was eventually released from his contract in February of 2004, but he continued to wrestle following his WWE departure.
Gowen went on to work for companies such as IWA Mid-South, ROH, JCW and more. He also made his AEW debut in 2025 and faced off against Ricochet on the special Beach Break episode of Dynamite in May of that same year. Gowen last wrestled on September 26 when he faced off against KC Kr’eme at the WrestleRave King Of The Mountain 20​26 event.
Now it seems that Zach Gowen is ready to call it a career as he recently took to social media to announce his retirement when he posted the following:
“First promo pic and last promo pic! My in-ring career has come to an end. Thank you to every promoter who gave me an opportunity to wrestle. I’ve had the privilege of performing for every major company over the past 24 years. Special thank you to the fans for not rejecting me. Pro wrestling provided a direction and outlet for a very lost kid. All I ever wanted to be was a professional wrestler and I accomplished that solely because you accepted me not as a sideshow act but as a legitimate pro wrestler. I’m deeply grateful.
The best moment of my career was wrestling for AEW in front of my wife, kids, and parents. That was the cherry on top after burning my career to the ground as a result of my crippling drug addiction then having the opportunity to not only rebuild my life but my passion then sharing that with the world while enjoying every second of it.
My victories are not the result of my talents but ultimately the result of God working through others allowing them to pour into and invest in me. I am the luckiest guy in the world.”