Retired Former WWE Wrestler Lands Role As An American Gladiator. Rick Boogs was released by WWE on September 21st, 2023, having not wrestled since the Slim Jim Battle Royal at that year’s SummerSlam. Yet, despite coming off a somewhat memorable WWE run, he has seemingly decided to retire from the ring to focus on his career as a fitness YouTuber.
However, Fightful Select has reported that the former collegiate wrestler is set to return to the world of entertainment. This is thanks to being cast as an American Gladiator in the show’s upcoming reboot for Prime Video. This will now double the number of those featured on the show with WWE fame, as The Miz has already been announced as the host.
37-year-old Boogs, real name Eric Bugenhagen, signed with WWE in 2017 after a successful tryout. Initially, as an NXT wrestler, he would be called up to SmackDown in 2021 and received his big break when he was put alongside Shinsuke Nakamura, playing the Japanese star to the ring with an electric guitar. Still, at the peak of his success, he suffered a series injury while wrestling at WrestleMania 38, which sidelined him for nine months and effectively ended his push.
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