Former WWE star Tony DeVito has confirmed his in-ring retirement following a brutal medical diagnosis.
Throughout the 1990s, DeVito was one of the biggest names in wrestling, facing several other major names in wrestling including the likes of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
The wrestling star also enjoyed an impressive career in Ring of Honor (ROH) as well, where he won the ROH Tag Team Championship.
Since then, DeVito has remained heavily involved in the independent scene, using his name to help build-up smaller fighters and organisations.
Advert
But the 53-year-old has now revealed that he has been forced to completely retire from competing because of a heartbreaking story.
During a recent ALW show in Cocoa, Florida, DeVito announced his in-ring retirement following advice from a medical professional.
The wrestling legend revealed that he had been diagnosed with a stroke in his eye, and has been told by the doctors that he wouldn't be able to wrestle anymore.
"I woke up that morning, and I could not see out of my left eye,' DeVito revealed.
"Now I was born, and I can’t see out of my right eye already. I was born that way. That day, I went to a doctor. I got diagnosed with a stroke in my eye. So basically, that means I had a blood clot, the blood leaked out. I have blood behind my retina.
"Doctors told me that wrestling is done."
Throughout his career, DeVito dealt with several major injuries including concussions, destroyed knees and shoulders that reuqired surgery, but he always came back to compete.
But unfortunately this injury is just too much and the veteran must prioritise his health and instead enjoy wrestling from the sidelines.
During the moment, DeVito reflected on his career and promised that he would find a way to return to the world of professional wrestling in some capacity in the future.
"I’ve been in the business longer than most of the guys in the locker room are old. I’ve done a lot of good stuff in this business, he added.
"This ain’t really a goodbye. This is I’ll see you later, because I’m not done with this business. I may not be able to come in here and compete and do what I love to do, but some way, somehow, I will be here."
Ben McCrum