Zach Gowen Thanks Vince McMahon For Buying Him Prosthetic Legs As His Career Winds Down

Former WWE Superstar Zach Gowen has taken to his official Facebook page to express his thanks to those who have helped him as his in-ring career winds down. WWE Fans will remember Gowen competing on the SmackDown brand in 2003/4. He was the company's first one-legged star, having lost it due to amputation at the age of eight as a result of cancer. Vince McMahon actually bought him 2 prosthetic legs and also sponsored him through rehab several years later.

Below is what Gowen posted:

"Worked my first full match since June last night. As my in-ring career winds down I just wanted to express gratitude for the platform God has given me to inspire and carry a message. Seeing Ric Flair win the '92 Royal Rumble literally killed the pain of battling cancer 2 weeks after my amputation. Watching the Monday Night Wars in real time carried me through a miserable adolescent existence. Sharing a ring with Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper in my WWE debut (wtf?!?). Vince McMahon buying 2 prosthetic legs for me ($30,000). WWE sponsoring my inpatient rehab stay all those years ago when I was knocking on death's door (another $30,000 even though I hadn't made a dime for the company in 6 years). Wrestling has literally saved my life!! This is a love letter to the greatest form of entertainment there is. I'm so grateful I've been able to be a small part of it for the past 17 years. I'm grateful my involvement in the business has allowed me to inspire and has served as a springboard to other platforms of inspiration. This isn't the end by any means but at as a 35 year old father of 2 and amputee of 27 years, I think I've earned the right to be picky about the bookings I take. I'll tell ya this though: the nerves, the passion, and the desire to be the best and outwork every wrestler in the locker room still hasn't left. And it never will."