AEW Original’s Marco Stunt announces retirement to ‘prioritize his long-term health’

All Elite Wrestling’s favorite performer, Marco Stunt, announced his surprise retirement from the ring in a social media post.

In the post (which was captioned with one heart), Stunt revealed that his doctor advised him to retire from professional wrestling and that his body was beginning to suffer long-term effects.

He wrote: “Today I write this with a heavy but grateful heart as I announce my retirement from professional wrestling. This decision was not easy as wrestling has been the biggest part of my life for so long, filled with moments that have shaped who I am today. It has been an incredible journey, full of passion, sweat, tears and unparalleled joy.”

Stunt is best known for his tenure in AEW, which he joined in 2015 after making a name for himself in Game Changer Wrestling. During his time in AEW, he became part of the Jurassic Express faction along with Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus.

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Standing just 5’2″ tall, he attracted attention with his underdog image and energetic in-ring style; his diminutive size also made him visually different from most wrestlers and helped make him a fan favorite. As a fan noted regarding his retirement:

Brodie Lee knew how to overcome it. Marko Stunt was a short cut. His bullies looked like devils and his older brothers looked like superheroes.

This retirement stings a little. Marko Stunt could be a star, but when he gets dumped, it takes a toll on his body. pic.twitter.com/AGdKQWo5nN

— AEWDefender (@AewDefender) November 2, 2024

This also seems to have been one of the reasons for his retirement, as he was often tossed around by other performers. He said: “For many years I gave my body to professional wrestling. I’m obviously not the biggest and I used it and I got beat up, but damn I loved it.”

“However, after consulting with my doctor, I was advised to prioritize my long-term health and withdraw from in-ring competition. Accepting this reality has been one of the hardest moments of my career, but I know it is the right decision. “

Stunt’s post continued by thanking AEW, GCW and GCW owner Brett Lauderdale for helping him launch his career. He wrote: “First of all, I want to express my deepest gratitude to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Thank you for giving me the opportunity to showcase my abilities and share my passion with fans around the world.”

“Being able to perform on national television was a dream I could barely imagine when I first got into this business, and AEW is what made that dream a reality. To everyone involved in AEW, from the production crew to the fellow wrestlers who have become my family, thank you for believing in me and giving me a place to call home.”

To GCW and Lauderdale he said, “I also want to thank Brett Lauderdale and Game Changer Wrestling (GCW). Brett, you gave me my start and GCW was the launching pad for my career. It was there that I discovered my abilities. voice, learned to embrace my uniqueness and developed into the person and fighter I am today. You provided me with opportunities that changed the course of my life, and for that I will always be in your debt.”

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Although Stunt is retiring from live action, it is possible that he will continue to work with AEW (and/or GCW) outside of the ring.

Retired wrestlers often appear in promotions and serve as commentators, and while Stunt’s career may have ended earlier than most, the good will of fans could make him an ideal candidate for a new role in the sport.

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