Ex-WWE Star Says She ISN'T Retired After All (WWE News)

This "retired" wrestler knows she has more to give the industry, but...where?

AEW Collision CJ Perry
AEW

Former WWE and AEW worker Lana/CJ Perry has revealed that she isn't actually retired from the ring after all. In fact, she claims she was "being sarcastic" when she said just that after being released by WWE in 2021. A shortlived spell in All Elite followed from 2023 onwards before Perry inked a legends deal with Triple H's group in April 2025.

CJ also told TMZ's Inside The Ring that she was pointing to her age when she joked she was retiring from active wrestling - Perry was only 36 years old when her time in WWE came to an end, and she wasn't sure what the future would hold for her after that. So, she reached for the retirement card, but now fancies retracting that and setting the record straight.

Perry hasn't worked a match since teaming with Naomi vs. Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose on the 31 May 2021 episode of Raw. In AEW, she was back to being a mouthpiece/manager, and that's something CJ says she'd love to explore again. She called "talking and promoting talent" her "money pocket".

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That's where the ex-Lana believes she could contribute again if anyone was interested.

CJ's husband Rusev returned to WWE in April (right around the time Perry signed her legends deal), and he's been ever-present on the Raw brand ever since. So, is there a chance that Perry will launch her own comeback under the Lana name and join him once again? Don't rule it out.

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She isn't, and admits she's been missing wrestling like crazy.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.