WWE Hall of Famer D-Von Dudley is coming out of retirement for one more match, teaming with Bully Ray to reform Team 3D against their legendary rivals, The Hardys, at TNA Bound for Glory. On his official YouTube channel, D-Von explained his motivation for returning and detailed the incredible health journey he undertook to make it possible.
“An Itch That I Had To Scratch”
D-Von explained that when he and Bully Ray departed WWE in 2016, he transitioned into a backstage producer role but always felt he had “some left in the tank.” He is doing this final match for himself, his children, and for the fans who supported him for over 30 years.
“Some of you are probably wondering, why am I doing this? Why am I doing this one more match? In 2016, when we did our departure from the WWE, I still had some left in the tank… There was always that itch that I felt that I had to scratch. And that was to get back in the ring and have my last match… So, what better place than to have my last match, my last hurrah. And I will say this, it will be my last. What better place than TNA… I’m doing it for my kids. They get a chance to see their dad do something that he loved and they could say they were there… God is in my corner… So again, it’s my way of saying thank you to the fans for putting us where we are today and being able to give that one last hurrah for you.”
The Road to Recovery
A major back surgery in 2021 made a return seem impossible. D-Von detailed his difficult rehabilitation, his subsequent weight gain, and how a phone call to Diamond Dallas Page changed everything. He also sought advice from fellow WWE star Randy Orton, who underwent the same procedure.
“I got my back surgery in 2021 and the rehab was no joke. I spent literally about a year, maybe a year and a half of doing rehab… The pain got a little bit more intense. And after it got more intense, I kind of got up to about almost 300 lb… That was when I called Dallas… I said, ‘Dallas, I need your help’… He gave me his DDPY. I downloaded it, did everything they told me to do. I started to feel the body change… I went from almost 300 lb to 227… I also called Randy Orton because I heard Randy had the same back surgery that I did… he told me, he goes, ‘D-Von,’ he goes, ‘I go out there and I take care of myself. I think smart. I don’t do the stuff that I used to do that I had no care for my body.’ So, if you ever plan on getting back, Devon, that’s the way you got to think. Think smart.”
The legendary encounter between Team 3D and The Hardys is scheduled for TNA Bound for Glory on October 26, 2025, in Detroit, Michigan. The event is being billed as the final chapter in the storied rivalry between the two iconic tag teams.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit D-Von Dudley’s YouTube channel with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
