Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

JDC retired at TNA Genesis

TNA Wrestling’s JDC on His Retirement: “Nobody Ever Leaves the Wrestling Business. I Know That”

At TNA Genesis 2026, JDC retired from wrestling. After being defeated by his friend Eddie Edwards, JDC said goodbye to TNA Wrestling and the System. He announced the news live on Thursday Night iMPACT, a month after The System defeated Order 4 in a Hardcore War match at TNA Bound for Glory 2025. He said that he just got married and now wanted to focus on his life. TNA Wrestling recently put online an “Immersed” documentary on JDC (to watch on Fight Network, TNA+, and here).

Immersed follows the veteran wrestler JDC as he prepares for the final chapter of his career, reflecting on his journey through WWE, his battles with addiction, and the personal redemption he found after reinventing himself in TNA. As his retirement date approaches, JDC confronts what wrestling has meant to him and why ending his career against his oldest friend, Eddie Edwards, is the only way this story could truly end.

Saying it’s over

We are in Orlando, a few hours before JDC threw the bomb. “It’s an emotional day. The guys don’t know it yet, but I’m going to announce my retirement from in-ring action on TV tonight. We decided that after Genesis in January, I’m going to be retiring from the ring.” Eddie Edwards says, “I was getting chills as he was doing it. He’s one of my best friends.” Brian Myers confirms, “He’s going to be irreplaceable in the locker room. And I think anybody pulls a random guy out there right now and asks him, he’s just so freaking funny. It’s tough to replace a personality like that, that’s for sure.”

JDC is very aware of what his retirement means. “I’ve watched some of my matches over the last year, and I don’t move as I used to, and I don’t want to be remembered for my work. (Moose confirms JDC has hip problems) I just got married a couple of months ago, so it’s really not just me making the decision anymore. It’s my wife and I. So ultimately, at the end of the day, there needs to be a life after wrestling, and what does that life look like? Am I able to play catch or play with my kids?”

From Johnny Curtis to Dirty Dango/JDC

Eddie Edwards talks about his funny friend. “He’s friends with everybody. I don’t think you’re going to find anybody who will say a bad word about him.” Moose adds, “I feel like he’s the guy that keeps the company, the locker room morale up.” Alisha Edwards confirms, “He knows when we’re off a little bit, when he kind of needs to bring everyone in. So I really think he’s the glue to the System.”

JDC comes back on his WWE time. Frankie Kazarian remembers he debuted at WrestleMania, against Chris Jericho, “a Mount Rushmore guy.” With the good comes the bad. JDC was drinking and partying too much. He did not deal with pressure well at all. He decided to party for three or four days straight, and then almost died in a hotel room.

“I went into treatment for 60 days, and it was the best decision I ever made, besides marrying my wife. I definitely took it for granted. So with that being said, my journey has made me into who I am today.”

Eddie Edwards sees his example as a way to help people.”I’m very happy for him, for the man that he is, that he’s become. He’s done a lot of work on himself, and we’re all very proud of who he is, and he’s one of the best dudes you’ll ever know.”

Brian Myers made him come to TNA Wrestling at Bound for Glory 2022. JDC never regretted it, “I’ve known or worked with 75% of the people in the locker room, it’s not like I didn’t know everybody. Management at the time offered me a contract, and it’s been three years, roughly three years, and I’ve been, I’ve been here since, and seen the company grow so much in those three years. It’s just really cool to see.”

JDC after his retirement match at TNA Genesis
Courtesy of Jorge Barbosa/TNA Wrestling

About Steph Franchomme

Steph, for Stephanie, is not only eNYGMAtic, charismatic, but also “très chic.” Living in France, her birth country, she broke the language barrier to become a respected writer and interviewer on many wrestling promotions. She has developed a very special bond with TNA Wrestling over time to the point of becoming an Authority on the company. The French Nygma, as she loves to call herself, has been a wrestling writer and editor for nearly a decade for SteelChair Magazine/Wrestling SC, TWM and Distortion Media. She has interviewed hundreds of wrestlers from WWE, MLW, TNA, NXT, AEW, and many more promotions. The Nygma is now the new “Authority” on TNA Wrestling and NXT for Last Word on Pro Wrestling. The writer/editor also runs @3WWrestling, her own platform.