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An ex-WWE Superstar who is now retired has been quite active on social media with his workout posts. His latest video on Instagram was not only impressive, but he looked nearly unrecognizable six months post-retirement.
The superstar is none other than Rick Boogs - who is most famously remembered for his time with Shinsuke Nakamura on the main roster. They enjoyed a lot of TV time and even competed for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 38. Unfortunately for Boogs, not only did that match end in a defeat, but he suffered a quadriceps tear and patellar tendon tear.
Boogs had even shaved off his mustache six months after his WWE release and arguably looked even more unrecognizable then.
Rick Boogs believes his career ended because WWE put Triple H in charge of creative
Boogs believed the end of his wrestling career came as a result of Vince McMahon's removal and retirement from his position of power. He thought Triple H being in charge meant that he got fewer opportunities.
In an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Boogs even claimed that he saw the writing on the wall that his WWE career was coming to a close.
"Well, dude, I mean, if you want to talk about my second run on the main roster, I mean, I kind of saw the writing on the wall, but it wasn’t like, ‘Alright, well let me get ready for it.’ This is just, basically, thank God for my YouTube community and stuff because I always knew I had that. I have an awesome community."
Considering how deflating the experience must have been, it's not surprising that Rick Boogs has opted not to wrestle post-release.
Even Nia Jax had previously hinted at not wrestling outside of WWE, which to many was a sign that her wrestling career was over. However, she has come back and had the best run of her wrestling career so far in the Triple H regime. But she seems to be more of the exception than the rule.
It's unlikely that we'll see something similar with Rick Boogs, but you can never say never.
