10 Surprising Wrestlers Retiring Sooner Than You Think

6. FTR

The Young Bucks DONE
AEW

Dax Harwood's social media activity is an impenetrable, twisting mystery that he wants you to solve.

"Where are FTR going next?" is hardly "Who killed Laura Palmer?" - it can get as tedious as FTR matches are exciting, and FTR matches are exciting - but if his aim is to get people talking, it's just about working. Not that the attention he draws is altogether positive these days.

Is he going to WWE?

Is he staying with AEW?

Was that a new WWE contract offer in shot on his latest Instagram post?

Does he realise, when adding an ellipsis to his posts, that it conveys suspense?

Does he not realise that, after three years of this sort of thing, it prevents some fans from fantasy booking and basking in the anticipation of a title run?

What's surprising about this one is that FTR - despite working a big-bumping style that requires cardiovascular conditioning so impressive that Nick Jackson described them as "machines" - have long ago learned the dark arts of tag team wrestling. They could easily work a smoke and mirrors match long into their 40s, but that isn't happening: Dax has insisted for a long time that he's near the end. Speaking on his FTR podcast, Dax said:

"Whatever we decide to do next, will be the absolute last thing we do. Period."

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!