Big Boom AJ Says He Was About 30 Years Old When He Realized He Wanted To Walk Away From Full Time Pro Wrestling

Big Boom AJ talks about his decision to walk away from professional wrestling.

Big Boom AJ has been a celebrity turned wrestler since his debut with All Elite Wrestling last year, but what some fans may not know is AJ was previously an independent pro wrestler in the past before walking away from the sport for several years.

While speaking to Renee Paquette on the latest episode of Close Up, AJ spoke about his decision to walk away from pro wrestling full time.

“The good news about it, Renee, was I very much did it on my terms. So I was about 30 years old when that happened. So I had a good 10-year run in pro wrestling. It very much was on my terms. We had just gotten married. I had opened up a successful business. We were starting to plan to have kids, and I was good at that point. I was like, ‘you know what? I absolutely loved wrestling. I accomplished so much. I made some great friends, made some great people.’ I was like, ‘you know what? Now it’s time for me to have a little bit more relaxing weekends.’ I mean, the independents are going to be- you’re driving five, six hours every weekend and, you’re just out there. But, it’s a great time and I wouldn’t change it for anything. So, it was at that point in my life where I did it on my own terms say, ‘okay, I’ve done all I want to do at this point. Now I’m onto this.’ But, I mean, for whatever it was, 15, 20 years later to come back to all this, I mean, who would have ever thought? But, I mean, it’s unbelievable.”

Elsewhere in the same interview, AJ spoke about the difference between himself and his entertainment persona. You can read more about that here.

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