The following is a press release, written by Indy wrestler Kurt Andonis:
Well, first I’d like to thank everyone for taking the time to read this announcement. 2008 certainly has been an amazing year for me! I’ve had some unbelievable matches and moments, and with that said this next statement is certainly difficult to makeâ¦
Today, I am announcing my retirement from professional wrestling. My last match will take place on Saturday night, March 28, 2009 at Wrestlefest 13 in Bristol, Connecticut. This Northeast Wrestling show will also include “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, which is an amazing feat for NEW!!
My retirement stems from a herniated disc I have in my back. While 2008 has been a great year, it certainly has not gone without a lot of pain and agony. I have hurt my shoulder, hurt my knee and now, this back injury which at times has had me in so much pain I couldn’t even put my own shoes and socks onâ¦and to be honest, this is no way for me to live. I love wrestling more than anyone will ever know, however this injury is causing my real life to fall apart, so something has to give.
I have been responding well to therapy, however each time I wrestle, I risk going right back to the pain which has prevented me from training properly and puts me at risk for long-term health issues. I don’t wish this pain on my worst enemy, let alone living it each day. Those who are close to me know the extent, so I truly believe this is the best decision.
I’ve done everything someone at my level can possibly imagine in wrestling. Working with Northeast Wrestling in 2008 I’ve made headlines in the Associated Press when I wrestled against Torrington Mayor, Ryan Bingham. With that match I had a feature article in the pages of Pro Wrestling Illustrated, a magazine I read monthly as a kid! I was rated #500 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Top 500 (which was the greatest number I could have hoped for!). I got to work with the legendary ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper in my hometown! I had one of my favorite matches with Awesome Kong in Newburgh. I got to hold the Power and Glory Wrestling title twice and lost it to two of my favorite people in the whole wide world, Brian Anthony and Ron Zombie. I’ve got to work with the biggest names in wrestling like Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Brutus Beefcake, Jim Neidhart and a whole host of othersâ¦
So while its tough to say good-bye, I am looking forward to stepping away. I can assure everyone that this will indeed be itâ¦this will not be a hiatus or a temporary thing. I’ve contemplated this decision for over a year and because my way of life has been effected by this back injury and I can longer give 100% in the ring the only option is to step away.
I have loved performing for everyone over the past 10 yearsâ¦its been an amazing ride. From Baron’s CCW to the MWA to DPW, ACW, NECW, Mike Sparta’s WWA, PGW, Northeast Wrestling (and everywhere in between) I’ve had a blast each and every time I got to perform.
Now that NEW has Ric Flair coming to my hometown of Bristolâ¦nothing can top this. I would love to see everyone come out for one last dance, one last strut and one last smile on March 28th. I’m looking forward to celebrating a lack-luster career that will soon come to an end.
I could be here forever if I thanked everyone for their support and help over the yearsâ¦I’m working on that list and will certainly post it soon. I’m doing my best not to leave anyone out, so that will take a bit of time. First and foremost I want to thank the fans for coming out and supporting pro wrestling!!!! I also need to thank Nick Richards for taking the time to train me (or else I wouldnât writing this) and Northeast Wrestling, especially Michael O’Brien for giving me the opportunities to live my wrestling dreams! I have to thank my Marla for believing in me and giving me the strength to continue to this point! There are MANY MANY more people to thank, which include fans, friends and workers and I will be working on that list soon!
In closing, its been an amazing ride that I will never forget.
Thank you again to everyone who is reading this and I hope to see everyone on March 28th!
