Spike Dudley stated he believes he would not be alive today if he had continued his professional wrestling career. During an interview on Chris Van Vliet’s podcast, the former multi-time champion gave a candid assessment of the path he was on, suggesting a grim outcome had he not stepped away from the ring when he did.
“If I were still in [the business,] I wouldn’t – I don’t think I’d be alive, I’ll be honest with you,” Dudley said. “I think I would have either drank myself to dath or I would have taken some sort of crippling bump.”
The comment carries significant weight given Dudley’s reputation, built during his time in ECW and WWE, for enduring immense physical punishment. He was a cornerstone of the cruiserweight and hardcore divisions, where his high-risk bumps became a signature part of his character, leading to eight separate reigns as the WWF/E Hardcore Champion.
His career in the then-WWF began in 2001, where he initially aligned with his storyline brothers, Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley. He later captured the WWF Tag Team Championship with Tazz before embarking on a singles run that included winning the European Championship. A 2004 move to the SmackDown! brand saw him execute a heel turn, becoming the “boss” of the Dudley Boyz and defeating Rey Mysterio for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
Dudley’s final WWE appearance was at ECW One Night Stand in June 2005, and he was released from his contract the following month. He later noted his decision to retire was influenced by meeting his future wife and wanting to start a family, a choice that pulled him away from the demanding and dangerous lifestyle he described.
Now working as a financial planner, Dudley has expressed a desire to help current wrestlers prepare for life after their careers conclude. He has also shown indifference toward a potential WWE Hall of Fame induction, indicating his focus is firmly on the life he built after leaving the business.