Former WWE superstar claims he was forced into retirement

D-Von Dudley has revealed for the first time the full story behind how his in-ring career came to an end, and it was not a decision he made willingly.

Speaking in an interview with DJ Vlad, D-Von explained that his wrestling career was effectively terminated in 2016 when Bubba Ray Dudley refused to re-sign with WWE, rendering D-Von’s own signed contract null and void.

“Bubba didn’t want to re-sign. Me and Bubba kind of went at it a couple of, not physically, not in a fight, but we were kind of upset with each other because he wanted to leave and I wanted to stay,” D-Von said.

D-Von said he signed his deal and submitted it to then-head of Talent Relations Mark Carrano, only to be told it meant nothing without his partner’s signature alongside it.

“As I signed it, he says, ‘All right, now all we need is Bubba’s signature.’ I said, ‘What do you mean we need Bubba’s signature? I signed.’ He goes, ‘Yeah, D-Von, and we thank you for signing, but it’s going to be a null and void contract if Bubba doesn’t sign,'” D-Von said.

He said he pleaded with Bubba to commit to just one more year. “I said, ‘Man, just do it for me just one year. Just suck it up for one year, that’s all I need. And then if you still want to go your way, you go your way and I go my way.’ And he just said no, he wasn’t doing it,” D-Von said.

Vince McMahon then personally called D-Von at SummerSlam in Brooklyn to deliver the news. D-Von asked to be used as a singles performer, but McMahon declined.

“I said, ‘Vince, this is not right. I have a family. I signed that contract and gave it to you. Why don’t you just put me in singles?’ He said, ‘Well, I’d rather have you both together. If I can’t have one, then I can’t do the other,'” D-Von said (H/T to WrestlingNews.co).

More WWE News: Becky Lynch Gets Called Out Over Big Mistake in AJ Lee Feud

D-Von described it as the only time he ever got heated with McMahon directly. “I said, ‘Vince, I kept my mouth shut for all those years I worked for you. Even when I didn’t want to do things, I did it. I did it with a smile on my face. And now my money, my life is being jeopardized because Bubba doesn’t want to stay,'” D-Von said.

When WWE gave him a scripted farewell promo for Raw, D-Von threw out the script entirely. “What’s the worst you can do, you already fired me,” he said. “I went out there and said what I felt because it came from the heart.”

Triple H subsequently approached him about transitioning into a producer role. D-Von said he pushed back, wanting to continue performing. “I said, ‘Hunter, I’m going to be honest with you. I’m not ready to be a producer yet. I still have stuff in the tank I want to get out. Can you put me with somebody that I can help them advance to the next level?'” D-Von said.

Triple H told him it was McMahon’s preference, and that declining would close the door entirely. D-Von accepted for the sake of his family’s financial security. Stephanie McMahon pulled him aside afterward with a message he said stayed with him. “She took my chin, she said, ‘D-Von, it’s not goodbye. It’s see you later. We will do business again,'” D-Von said.

He also revealed that he repeatedly requested to be allowed to work with younger talent in a performing capacity to help get them over, only to be turned down each time. D-Von was clear that despite the disagreement, the situation never damaged his relationship with Bubba permanently and never came to blows.

More WWE News: