Beloved 45-year-old AEW veteran gives real reason why he retired

A major figure within AEW has recently opened up about his in-ring career and why it ended earlier than expected. After realizing it was time to retire, he shifted his full focus to another aspect of the company — commentary.

### Ad Excalibur: The Voice of AEW

Ad Excalibur has been a cornerstone of AEW’s commentary team since their inaugural show in 2019. He continues to lead the desk on AEW Dynamite and during pay-per-view events alongside notable names such as Taz, Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, and many others.

### Reflecting on His In-Ring Career

During a recent appearance on Tony Schiavone’s *What Happened When?* podcast, Excalibur discussed his wrestling days and the reasons behind his early retirement. He revealed that years of competing took a toll on his body due to multiple injuries.

“I wrestled for a number of years, but in doing so, picked up a lot of injuries you know? Knees, lower back, shoulder, and then the thing that scared me the most was the head injuries, and I had quite a few concussions throughout my career,” he shared. “So I think it was 2008 when I finally decided, just for my long-term health, I was never going to be a pro wrestler.”

He went on to explain how commentary became his backup plan, allowing him to stay connected to wrestling without risking further injury.

“I was—that was never going to be my full-time income, my full-time vocation. For my long-term health, it was something I kind of needed to stop doing, and luckily I had commentary. So that kept me involved, that kind of scratched the itch. I don’t want to say I never missed getting into the ring, but time went on, I realized I was a lot better at talking about wrestling than I ever was doing it, and so that made me feel a lot better.”

### A Hilarious Story with Sofia Vergara

Before joining AEW, Excalibur was a key figure in Pro-Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), an independent promotion he co-founded that featured many top wrestling talents worldwide. On the same podcast, the 45-year-old shared a humorous anecdote involving actress Sofia Vergara and the cast of the hit TV series *True Blood* attending a PWG show.

Sofia Vergara, who was married to *True Blood* actor Joe Manganiello at the time, posted pictures from the event. One of the photos shows Excalibur lying on the mat with his backside exposed to the camera, just behind Sofia Vergara.

“The cast of *True Blood* came along with Chris, and Sofia Vergara was married to Joe Manganiello at the time. He was on *True Blood*, and that’s how she was there,” Excalibur recalled. “There is a photo she posted on Instagram where she’s looking pretty and is next to the ring, and it reads, ‘I think they’re dead.’ My claim to fame is that it is my exposed b**t crack that is right behind her.”

### Continuing His Legacy in AEW

Today, Ad Excalibur remains a vital part of AEW, working alongside some of the biggest names in professional wrestling, including many he has known for decades. His journey from a wrestler dealing with injuries to becoming one of the most respected voices in the industry showcases his passion and resilience in the world of sports entertainment.

[H/T WrestlingInc.]
https://www.sportskeeda.com/aew/news-beloved-45-year-old-aew-veteran-gives-real-reason-retired

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