Charlie Haas competed in the WWE between 2000 – 2005 and then was released, before re-joining
the WWE a year later in 2006 until his departure in 2010. Haas announced his retirement from
professional wrestling which coincided with him leaving Ring of Honor in 2013, although
he has continued to compete in various promotions in Texas, Oklahoma and Canada. But as well
as his occasional wrestling matches, Haas decided to become an entrepreneur. He and
his wife opened “Custom Muscle Nutrition and Smoothie Shop”, a nutritional store
in Frisco, Texas. His shop contains a smoothie bar, free Wi-Fi and high-definition plasma
TVs. The reasoning behind this is for it to be a place for people to come in, chat about
nutrition, learn what you should and should not be taking, and how to make your body more
fit and improve your overall health.
Victoria, who we actually included as an honourable mention in our 5 Strongest Women In WWE History
video (feel free to check it out if you haven’t already), competed in the WWE for 9 years,
winning the WWE Women’s Championship twice throughout her career. As well as her wrestling
career, she has had a fair few businesses in her past. Her first business was a restaurant
she owned in Louisville, Kentucky, named Fat Tony’s Pizzeria which she actually went
on to sell in 2007. Her second business was a custom car shop she opened with her husband
in 2008, called Black Widow Customs. However, the shop was “suspiciously destroyed”
in a fire, according to the authorities. The business she runs now is a wrestling themed
restaurant in Chicago, Illinois named The Squared Circle. Although she made the decision
that she would be moving back to California in 2015, thus leaving behind her restaurant,
she still makes continuous visits to the restaurant which is run by her husband and a friend.
It’s me, it’s me, it’s DDP! Although Diamond Dallas Page was probably more notable
during WCW, he did compete in the WWE between 2001 – 2002, as well as making brief appearances
after 2011. DDP developed a yoga fitness program after discovering the health benefits of yoga
through his former wife, Kimberly. The business, which is called DDP Yoga, became a global
phenomenon as he has not only changed lives, he has saved lives through his teaching. Mainstream
media picked up a story in particular of a war veteran called Arthur Boorman, who was
told he would never be able to walk again. Through DDP yoga, Boorman was not only able
to walk on his own, but also lost 140 pounds in 10 months. DDP also helped save the lives
of former wrestlers, Scott Hall and Jake Roberts, who were in disabled states.
For those of you who don’t remember Chuck Palumbo, he was in the tag team, “Billy
and Chuck” with Billy Gun, he formed the WWE faction, “The Full Blooded Italians,”
and who could forget his big badass biker gimmick! After retiring from professional
wrestling in 2014, Chuck Palumbo has done very well for himself. In fact, he runs his
own business called CP Customs, where he builds his own motorcycles as well as repairing and
customizing cars and motorcycles. What started as a hobby turned into a business and he has
even created several bikes for former WWE superstars such as Batista, Rey Mysterio and
Chavo Guerrero. If that wasn’t enough, Palumbo also opened up his own gym called Chuck Palumbo’s
Garage Gym, where he teaches cross-fit classes.
Hall of Famer Trish Stratus, is probably best known in the WWE for her sexually themed storylines,
such as managing the team, T & A, and who could forget her affair she had with the boss,
Mr McMahon. I’m sure Linda won’t forget that! After retiring in 2006, she found her
new passion which was yoga. With that passion, Stratus opened her very own yoga studio called
“Stratusphere” in Toronto, Canada. The studio received numerous amounts of praise
after its launch, and Stratusphere took home the award for Canada’s largest eco-friendly
yoga studio in 2009. As well as this award, Stratusphere took another award for being
the best new business in Canada and the following year, she won the award for Business Woman
of the Year. I’m guessing the yoga studio is doing well as her studio won the Top Choice
Awards' Best Yoga Studio in 2013. Lots and lots
of awards, yay!