Davey Richards was one of the most highly regarded Independent wrestlers throughout his career, finding success in PWG, ROH, TNA, and other promotions during his time in the business.
In September 2017, Richards underwent knee surgery, putting him on the sidelines for the rest of the year. In 2018, he walked away from wrestling to pursue his studies, saying he would be back in 2019.
Richards never returned to wrestling, working his last match at CZW EVILution in July 2017.
Taking to social media, Richards opened up about his decision and sounded hopeful for a possible return to the ring.
I don’t know if anyone has any interest in this but I wanted to share a side of the story for why I stopped wrestling and missed so many shows.
— -- (@RichardsWesley) November 18, 2020
I’ve struggled with knee injuries throughout my amateur and professional wrestling career. 14 surgeries in all on my right knee.
During my run In Impact wrestling my right knee began to deteriorate badly.
— -- (@RichardsWesley) November 18, 2020
I remember the Dr for Impact at the time telling me I had the knee of a 70 yo. I went through numerous treatments: PRP, scopes, Stem Cells, Synvisc, etc. Nothing worked.
I thought I found the answer in 2017: Biojoint. They told me me knee would be like new again. Only downside was 1 year layoff from anything physical. So I did it - they sawed of ends of my femur and tibia and took bone and cartilage from a cadaver and inserted it in me.
— -- (@RichardsWesley) November 18, 2020
Months went by and nothing got better. At one year they said wait another year.
— -- (@RichardsWesley) November 18, 2020
Nothing got better.
More and more time extensions- which is why I had to cancel so many shows.
Then I had another surgery to correct that one.
Then another to correct that one.
Finally I owned up to the truth - I needed a total knee replacement.
— -- (@RichardsWesley) November 18, 2020
I researched the entire world and found Nanoknee. They said I would walk out of surgery, they said I would recover rapidly. They said I would be “me” again. I didn’t believe them.
Then it worked. The surgery worked. Then I found @SquatUniversity to help rehab me. Help rebuild what I had lost.
— -- (@RichardsWesley) November 18, 2020
Little by little, day by day I felt more like me. Until Today , when I realized I can not only do everything I used to, I can do it better.
To every snow I missed and every fan I let down - I am truly sorry, it is completely my fault. My ego would not let me admit that inside I was falling apart. I couldn’t admit to myself I couldn’t be the one thing I always identified myself as: wrestler.
— -- (@RichardsWesley) November 18, 2020
I’ll make no excuses, I own all of it. It’s funny - in 2 years I will be a Dr. I’ll have more money than I know what to do with, and I couldn’t care less. It wasn’t then, and isn’t now about the money. It was about the wrestling.
— -- (@RichardsWesley) November 18, 2020
I don’t know what will happen. But maybe, just maybe I will be fortunate to be able to again participate in the greatest sport on earth: wrestling. Thank you for reading.
— -- (@RichardsWesley) November 18, 2020
It is unknown if Richards will return to the ring.
During his time in wrestling, he was a five-time TNA World Tag Team Champion with Eddie Edwards, a two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion with Rocky Romero, and former ROH and PWG World Champion.
