Beth Phoenix retires from WWE

blog by S.J. Velasquez • November 05, 2012 @ 11:09am

WWE pro wrestler and Western New Yorker Beth Phoenix is throwing in the towel after years of battling brutes in the ring.

Last week, Phoenix was “fired” from WWE during a taping of “Raw,” but wrestling bloggers report that she actually didn’t renew her contract so that she could spend time with fellow former wrestler Adam Copeland (Edge), who is to undergo neck surgery this month.

Beth Phoenix explains wrestling retirement decision

Born Elizabeth Kocianski, Phoenix began her wrestling career on the boys wrestling team in Elmira, becoming the first girl on Notre Dame High School’s varsity squad. In a 2011 Buffalo.com interview, she said that her Buffalo upbringing is what contributed to her toughness and perseverance.

“I think the winters are what make Buffalonians the toughest people in the entire planet,” said the Canisius College alumna, who maintains close ties to Buffalo and college friends.

Phoenix tweeted the above photo Tuesday afternoon, along with this caption:

Beth Phoenix retires from WWE