Yes, even wrestlers are capable of love. In this article, we highlight specific relationships that feature one member of the couple significantly older than the other. All the relationships feature current couples; some are retired wrestlers while others are still very much in the business and active on the main WWE roster. The likes of Finn Balor, Sasha Banks, Matt Hardy and Zack Ryder are some of the active stars we’ll discuss. We’ll also look at retired stars and their significantly younger partners. For that side, we’ll feature Hulk Hogan, Jerry Lawler, Bret Hart and various others.
We’ll also feature some peculiar age gaps that show the female as the elder. Mickie James and Sable are a couple of those names. What can we say, they like their men young. But for the most part, these men like their ladies of a more youthful age. In one instance, we have a couple that has a near 40 year age gap! Scroll down to number one for the answer.
Enjoy folks and like always, be sure to share the article with a friend. Without further ado, here are 17 of the most shocking age gaps among current wrestling couples. Let’s get started with a current main roster talent!
17 Finn Balor & Cathy Kelley – 7 Years
Looking at these two, you might not think of an age gap but there is. Balor is seven years older than Cathy despite the fact that he rocks a youthful look. Cathy’s still in her 20s at this point while Balor’s on the other end of his 30s at the age of 36. Putting things into perspective, when Balor began to wrestle in 2000, Kelly was a 12 year old still in elementary school.
For Finn, his destiny was always in pro wrestling. The WWE pursued Balor for quite some time before he finally decided to sign with the company. As for Cathy, she worked a couple of hosting gigs with the likes of AfterBuzz TV before joining the WWE. The couple has kept things on the down low since they started to date. Both are residing out of New York.
16 Sasha Banks & Sarath Ton - 8.5 Years
Known as Mikaze behind the scenes, Sasha’s husband started to wrestle back in 2002. At that point, Banks was only ten and perhaps dreaming of one day becoming a WWE Superstar. Ton would earn himself a permanent deal with the WWE but not as a wrestler, instead, he was brought in as the company’s costume designer. Ever wonder why Sasha’s gear is always so darn flawless? Yea, you got your answer.
Like Balor and Kelley, the two keep the relationship on the down low. Banks admitted a big reason for that is due to the nastiness of wrestling fans at times. The couple’s happily married and enjoy living a low profile life away from the ring. It’s hard to believe that such an accomplished wrestler like Sasha is still in her mid 20s.
15 Paige & Kalan Blehm – 8 Years
Most fans might tell you that this age gap really isn’t all that bad in comparison to Paige’s previous relationship. Of course, we’re referring to her ex, Alberto Del Rio. The two had a significant age difference and one that showed visually. The age gap between the two was of 15 years. Paige is still in her youth at 25 while Del Rio had kids to take care of at the age of 40. It was truly a bizarre relationship and one that both want to forget about.
Paige has moved on toady. She’s posted various photos alongside musician Kalan Blehm and it appears as though the two are now happily dating. Blehm is a bass player spending time with groups Attila and For the Fallen Dreams.
14 Zack Ryder & Laurel Van Ness – 6 Years
In terms of actual years, the comparison is quite tame to others you’ll see on the list. However, in terms of wrestling experience, the difference is quite substantial. Some find it hard to believe Ryder’s only 32 given the fact that he’s been around forever as it seems. He signed with the WWE way back in 2005 joining the developmental branch. By 2007, he was on the main roster and it’s over a decade now that he’s appearing on our television sets.
As for his girlfriend, she was nowhere near the wrestling business in 2005 and instead, enjoying her high school days as a 14 year old. She took to wrestling in 2014 and was featured on WWE programming in both a segment with Stephanie and Brie, along with taking part in the Tough Enough reality show. She’s currently earning her stripes on the indie scene and we won’t be surprised if she rejoins the WWE at some point.
13 Mickie James & Nick Aldis – 7 Years
This age gap is a lot more noticeable due to the fact that the female in the relationship is the elder of the two. However, Mickie continues to look extremely young and because of that, you wouldn’t think she’s seven years older than her man Nick Aldis, another indie wrestler.
By the time Aldis decided to take up pro wrestling training, James was already under contract with the WWE. Prior to inking the deal, she spent some time on the indie scene along with a quick stop at TNA. In 2003 she joined OVW and later, was a prime fixture in the division taking on Trish Stratus in a memorable feud. Things ultimately went south for Mickie but at the very least, she met the man of her dreams while wrestling with Impact. The two got married in the winter of 2015 and had their first child, Donavan Patrick Aldis.
12 Triple H & Stephanie McMahon – 7 Years
So what was Stephanie doing when Triple H decided he wanted to be a wrestler? Considering he made that decision in 1992, the 16 year old teen Stephanie likely wasn’t thinking of her future and instead, crushing on some high school boys – we assume. Hunter had a lengthy run on the indie scene and with WCW before finally inking a contract with the WWE. His career really took off once he was introduced to Stephanie in the later part of 1999. They would dominate the 2000s becoming the most hated heels on-screen.
Not only have the two played a major role in building and modernizing the WWE but they’ve also raised a family at the same time. The couple has three daughters, not to mention the fact that they’re still in fantastic shape despite the fact that Triple H’s inching towards his 50s while Stephanie recently entered her 40s.
11 Edge & Beth Phoenix – 7 years
The age gap between these two might not appear to be too far apart considering they retired pretty close to another. Edge was forced to retire due to a career ending neck injury, he was inducted into the Hall Of Fame class of 2012. As for Beth, she called it a career the same year listing family reasons for her motives on leaving the company. She was inducted into the Hall Of Fame class of 2017 becoming one of the youngest inductees ever.
Despite the fact that both left the business at the same time, Edge has seven years on his wife. The gap is just as substantial in terms of in-ring experience with Edge getting his first taste of training back in the early 90s while Beth began in 2001. Both are now enjoying the retired life from in-ring competition while happily raising two children.
10 CM Punk & AJ Lee – 8 Years
The age difference matches their in-ring experience gap ironically. Punk got his start in the business back in 1999 working IWA Mid-South while AJ got her start eight years later in 2007. Ironic to see footage of AJ weeping as a teen when she met her idol Lita – at that point, Punk was already actively wrestling and later, would actually date Lita. Yup, the world of pro wrestling isn’t normal that’s for darn sure.
Both decided to end their in-ring careers prematurely, especially AJ. She left the WWE in 2015 - at that point she wasn’t even in her 30s yet. Punk parted ways in 2014 in his mid 30s and there’s still no sign he’ll ever come back. On the other hand, Lee has admitted to missing the business.
9 Brock Lesnar & Sable – 10 Years
We are now getting down to the nitty-gritty as we feature double digit age gaps. This one is peculiar as it features the female substantially older than the male. Putting things into perspective, Sable was gone from the WWE and suing the company while Brock barely knew anything about the field at that point. He was recruited by the WWE as an amateur wrestler and admits he took the deal due to the money (something’s never change).
Sable and the WWE would patch things up. During her return, she met Brock and the two would marry while starting a family. The two live a quiet life in Saskatchewan nowadays. Lesnar just entered his 40s last year while Sable did the same entering her 50s.
8 Matt Hardy & Reby Sky – 12 Years
In terms of his previous relationships, Matt usually kept the gap pretty close to his age of 43. He dated Ashley Massaro who’s now 38 and Lita who’s also in her 40s at the age of 42. It looks like he decided to change things up with Reby going for a chick a lot younger than he was accustomed to dating. His beautiful wife just entered her 30s at the age of 31. At 31, Matt was leaving the WWE and hitting the indie circuit only to return and have that memorable feud with Edge. Yea, he was in a different place as a 31 year old compared to his wife.
Reby and Matt are now proud parents of two children nowadays. She returned to wrestling appearing in Matt’s Ultimate Deletion match against Bray Wyatt. We’ll be seeing more of her in the future.
7 The Rock & Lauren Hashian – 13 Years
Wrestling fans have seen The Rock grow into a fine man since his days as a member of the Nation of Domination. He took the WWE by storm and later, rocked Hollywood as one of the most charismatic and entertaining figures. Age 45, it brings wrestling fans chills knowing he’s on top of the Hollywood world nowadays. Heck there’s even a rumor that he plans on running for President but that’s a topic for another day.
He was married to Dany Garcia from 1997 to 2007. The couple had a child. He met his current partner the very same year of the divorce and the two also have a child together. They share a significant age difference of 13 years as Dwayne looks to celebrate his 46th birthday in just a couple of weeks.
6 The Undertaker & Michelle McCool – 15 Years
You might think the age gap is even worse considering how badly ‘Taker has aged while Michelle McCool seems to be getting better the older she gets. Her appearance during the women’s Royal Rumble showed Michelle looking exactly the same in comparison to her in-ring prime. Yes, Taker’s a lucky son of a gun.
Let’s give The Deadman some love, he’s got serious miles on his body due to the fact that he’s been in the business forever as it seems. He started back in the mid 80s, 1984 to be exact. At that point, McCool was a four year old! She started in the business two decades after The Undertaker. Putting things into perspective, before McCool debuted, we already saw the original Deadman, the Lord of Darkness, the Ministry of Darkness leader, American Bada$$, Big Evil and back to The Deadman!
5 Kurt Angle & Giovanna Yannotti – 18 Years
Before Giovanna entered the mix, Angle was married to Karen Smedley, now known as Karen Jarrett. The age gap between the two was minor as Angle’s four years the elder of his ex-wife. It’s going to make for an awkward moment when the two reunite at the upcoming Hall of Fame ceremony. Oh it’s true, it’s damn true!
Kurt ultimately remarried but like Matt Hardy, he chose to tie the knot with a younger female, Giovanna Yannotti. The two share a significant age gap of 18 years. She’s currently on the younger side of her 30s while Angle is set to enter his 50s in December. Angle and his actress wife have three children, the most recent coming into the world in December of 2016.
4 Ric Flair & Wendy Barlow – 19 Years
Ironically this relationship isn’t Flair’s most lopsided age gap. His recent marriage to Jackie Beems saw Flair 20 years the elder of his ex-wife. The age gap with his current partner is still quite large with Barlow recently turning 50, while Flair, recently inched closer to his 70s at the age of 69. Surreal to think that he’ll turn 70 next February - that deserves a big time WOOOOO!
We all know Flair and marriages do not mix in well together. His first marriage was back in 1971 to Leslie Goodman. His longest was to Elizabeth Harrell, the mother of Charlotte Flair. The two spent almost two decades together before filing the divorce papers. He had two other divorces that followed, one to Jackie Beems who we discussed earlier and another to Tiffany VanDemark.
3 Hulk Hogan & Jennifer McDaniel – 21 Years
You know you opted for a young female when the press compares her to your daughter who’s still in her 20s. Yes, the media had a field day when Jennifer McDaniel was revealed as the Hulkster’s newest love interest. She continues to look eerily similar to Brooke and most would admit she looks more like Brooke than her actual mom Linda. What doesn’t help is the fact that Hulk has gotten bashed in the past for his twisted relationship with Brooke. Seriously, the dude just can’t catch a break in any aspect of life.
His prior relationship to Linda saw a closer age gap of six years. Like Undertaker and Matt Hardy, Hulk decided to go young in his next marriage. The couple continue to live a low key life in the Florida area married since 2010.
2 Bret Hart & Stephanie Washington – 26 Years
Before we begin, everyone get up and start clapping. The Hitman has a significant other that’s 26 years younger than the Excellence of Execution. Do the math, Bret’s 60 set to turn 61 in the summer, meaning his wife, is still in her mid 30s at the age of 35, oh Bret!
When she was born, Bret was already under contract with the WWE and by the time he left the company in a controversial manner, she was barely a teen. Hart left the business for good following his WCW stint in 2000, at that point when his career was done she was still a darn teen. Nonetheless, despite the age difference, the two seem to be very much in love with Hart posting pics of her on the regular. They got married in 2010; it’s Bret’s third marriage.
1 Jerry Lawler & Lauryn McBride – 39 Years
Some just love their woman young and that’s the case for Hall Of Famer Jerry Lawler. Even during his prior marriage to Stacy Carter, Lawler was the elder by 21 years. Now that’s a huge gap but nothing compared to this one as Lawler’s near 40 years older than his current partner Lauryn McBride. Photos of the two at conventions alongside one another makes it seem like Lawler’s hanging around his daughter at first glance. Like he says, “it’s good to be the King”.
He’s featured less on WWE programming nowadays, however, he’s still actively wrestling on the indie scene despite the fact that he’s nearing his 70s. In terms of underappreciated talents, Lawler is certainly up there.
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