By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

One of Ring of Honor's top stars, Davey Richards, says he plans to retire from pro wrestling at the end of the year.

Richards, who is headlining this weekend's "Death Before Dishonor VIII" Internet PPV, told Alex Marvez for his weekly wrestling column that he plans to retire after ROH's annual "Final Battle" event in December.

"I didn't plan to do this for my career," Richards said. "I've gotten done with paramedic school and have other things I want to concentrate on. I want to get my black belt in jiujitsu and finish the fire academy. I'm married now, too. Ring of Honor has so many talented guys that they don't need me anymore."

Richards said he doesn't want to call it a retirement, though. "For me, I'm just not going to show up anymore," he said. Richards added that he's not leaving wrestling with any bitterness.

"You hear a lot of guys who 'retire' being very bitter at the business because they're beat up or don't feel they got their just desserts. I'm nothing but thankful," Richards said. "I'm not broken down. I used my wrestling money to put me through school. It really goes no higher for me."

-- Read Richards's entire interview with Alex Marvez on ScrippsNews.com.

Caldwell's Analysis: I'm not surprised by this at all. I've written about this before and talked about it on the PWTorch Livecast that Richards is not your typical wrestler whose only career aspiration is pro wrestling. Covering a PWG show in California a few years ago, Richards was telling a group of people after a show that he was planning to be in the business only for a short period of time. He hates the comparison to the Dynamite Kid, mainly because he never wanted to get to a point in his life where he was so broken down after his wrestling career that he couldn't do anything else in life. He's one of the most-talented wrestlers in the business, but he's just not your typical pro wrestler.

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