Ace Rockwell Announces Retirement

From Larry Goodman: Ace Rockwell (Josh Massey) posted the following on Facebook. Since I was 6 years old, I've loved pro w...

From Larry Goodman:

Ace Rockwell (Josh Massey) posted the following on Facebook.

Since I was 6 years old, I've loved pro wrestling. It was something that attracted my eyes. I loved the bigger than life figures. I knew at an early age that I wanted to find a way to some how, some way get inside a wrestling ring. I had no idea how, but I was going to figure it out. This is my first post about pro wrestling in a long time so indulge me, if you have time or choose to.

When I was 16 years old, with some of the best friends a guy could ask for, I was given the opportunity to chase that dream. For 15 years, I lived that 6 year olds' dream. I met a lot of awesome people. I developed bad habits and overcame them. I learned real life lessons. I made mistakes. I learned from those mistakes bc I was given the opportunity to overcome them. I was booked and paid by the largest wrestling company in the world multiple times. I've been able to meet some of my childhood heroes. I was able to take my opportunities and share them with others to help them. I was able to point them in other directions than the ones I went in bc I went down the path they were going in.

This is extremely hard for me. I've thought about this. I've prayed about this. As I type this, I tear up. My wife and I haven't spoke about wrestling in months and she just brought up a wrestling related story. It made my mind race. She has no idea I'm typing this. My wife, more so than anyone anyone, has supported me. She has been to nearly every match I've had since we have been together bc she knows it makes me happy. It's my art. A passion. She would attend more in a heart beat and I love her for that.

I've had tough injuries I've had to over come just like everyone who has been in the squared circle, has probably had. In March of last year, I suffered what has proven to be, the toughest injury I've had to overcome. I tore all of the ligaments in my ankle and foot playing pick up basketball during a lunch break with some coworkers. I'm just now able to jog a little and move around more easily. I'm sure I'll eventually have to have surgery on it as it still swells anytime I'm up on it for an extended period of time. That said, I know if my heart was fully involved, I know I could put forth the work to get back in the shape I expect myself to be in and go.

The fact is that my heart is no longer in it. My heart is fully involved in my family. My wife. My son. My job to provide for them. I love all three. I still love wrestling but not enough to selfishly take someone's spot that wants it. In the eyes of some, maybe I didn't fully live the dream bc I didn't do certain things but I'm at peace. I lived it. I breathed it. I spent the long hours in the car. I wrestled in front of huge crowds. I performed to the best of my ability. I made some money. Most of all, I had a blast. I fulfilled the dream of that 6 year old kid in my eyes and no one can take that away.

My last match was with someone I love dearly. He's a guy that umpired my little league baseball games and eventually got to become the best of friends with. I initially had other plans of how I wanted to go out but the more I've thought about it, the more I realize that I had the perfect last match with the absolute perfect person. Thank you Tank, it was a pleasure and I love you.

Thanks to everyone that helped along the way and made me a better person. Thank you for the life lessons that prepared me to be a good husband and father. Thank you for making me a better son and friend. I certainly made mistakes along the way but you all helped me learn from them. Thank you to pro wrestling. When all else in my life before Claire and Sawyer seemed to be falling apart, you were there. You never turned your back on me. You were there with open arms to allow me to breathe the sweaty mat again. To let me sweat underneath the hot lights. To feel the energy of a crowd. Thank you to pro wrestling for taking care of me for so long but now it's time for you to take care of the others. I love you and the 6 year old kid inside me always will.