25 Horror Stories From Wrestlers' Court
Friendly hazing or pure hell? The worst (and then some) of Wrestler's Court
At this point something of a dated concept - and more on that later - Wrestler's Court was for years known by those on the outside of locker rooms as something those on the inside had to endure should they commit something deemed an infraction by company elders.
The literal interpretation of it all was extremely pro wrestling. An industry not known for its subtlety seemed to revel in how on-the-nose the whole procedure was. From imagined visuals of The Undertaker as a "judge", a Bradshaw or whoever stood at his beck and call grabbing a gavel while screaming in the faces f the accused, to the fabled crates of beers purchased as per a "sentence", the stories put the lore in Law & Order.
Waved away as hazing by some and called hellish by others, it survived generations before seemingly going the way of a lot of old traditions and at long last being put out to pasture.
Good riddance? Mostly.
Some wrestlers speak of the importance of a system like a Wrestler's Court - a system that enforces camaraderie and trust amongst athletes with big bodies and even bigger egos. The title is only slightly misleading - while all the tales aren't necessarily personal horror stories survived by the defendant, they do speak to a certain horror attached to being part of a culture that polices itself in such a way. Like taking bumps for a living, it's not for everybody. And it wasn't the best of times for...
25. Muhammad Hassan: Punished For Doing His Job
Early into his ill-fated 2004/05 WWE run, Marc "Muhammad Hassan" Copani was called to WWE’s Wrestler’s Court for allegedly failing to sell enough against Sgt. Slaughter during a Raw match in January 2005. A Raw match that lasted less than three minutes that he was booked to win, because Slaughter was dated easy pickings for the young star.
According to various sources from the locker room at the time, the issue arose because Hassan didn’t adequately react to Slaughter’s offence when the former WWE Champion was briefly on offence, which many veterans saw as disrespectful.
Booked to dominate and then bollocked and "charged" for being too dominant, Hassan was able to apologise in order to keep the peace. But the heat was rising and it was going to get worse before it got better...
24. Muhammad Hassan Is Left Thousands Of Dollars Out Of Pocket
Hassan's follow-up experience in Wrestler’s Court is often recounted as a moment where backstage tension with the man and his controversial gimmick reached a peak.
Early in his WWE career, the newcomer was advised by Kurt Angle as a rib to ask Eddie Guerrero to stop using the camel clutch, as it was Hassan's finishing move. Eddie took the request in stride and reassured Hassan that there were no hard feelings, even embracing him afterwards. It was all part of a cruel prank that was going to get worse for the newcomer before it got better - unbeknownst to Copani, Guerrero's Father had invented the move. While Eddie no-sold it, the locker room didn't, and Wrestler's Court beckoned.
This perceived disrespect toward Guerrero led to Hassan being ordered to cover a bar tab that the wrestlers worked up to a whopping $2,000. Reflecting on the incident, Hassan expressed that while Eddie himself was understanding, the locker room dynamics and perceptions left him bang to rights. He was happily gone from the organisation months later.
23. Teddy Long Is Cheap
Teddy Long’s trip to Wrestler’s Court illustrated just how unpredictable it could be, illuminating the light-hearted side of the concept that the likes of The Undertaker and JBL could lean on when they wanted to be far crueler to those they had shoot problems with.
Former roster member Pete Gas (amongst others), shared the tale, noting that along with being notoriously cheap, he was using what cash he did have to buy viagra to upsell in the locker room.
Per those in the room, Long tried to turn the tables by selecting WWE legend Mae Young as his “lawyer,” hoping her humour would sway the group. True to form, Mae Young stole the show, referring to the pills as “Niagara”, which had everyone in stitches. Naturally, the verdict still didn’t go in Long’s favour. He was found guilty and had to buy buckets of chicken and cases of beer for his fellow wrestlers. Despite the outcome, Long enjoyed the experience, explaining that Wrestler’s Court provided the talent a chance to entertain each other and bond outside the ring. Long recalled that the camaraderie strengthened the locker room culture.
The only major drawback here? Long avoided going one-on-one with The Undertaker because Triple H happened to be the judge this time around.
22. Edge & Christian Win The Locker Room Back
Back in 2000, Edge gifted WWE writer Brian Gewirtz a Flash action figure, which would have already been interpreted as an attempt to curry favour with the locker room even before it was witnessed by the worst person to spot it - Bob Holly.
Per 'The Rated-R Superstar's own autobiography, when the Canadians learned they were headed to Wrestler’s Court, they decided to take a humorous approach. They arrived armed with a mock "how-to" book titled "Edge & Christian: How to Kiss Ass - Our Road to the Top". This comedic self-parody caught the locker room off guard, turning accusations into laughter. Several locker room figureheads praised their quick thinking, with Triple H remarking that it was the “best defence” he’d ever seen in the Wrestler’s Court setting.
To ensure further leniency, Edge and Christian even left a “settlement” of Harley Davidson and boxing memorabilia in Undertaker's locker, playing to his interests. Their sentence was light, while Gewirtz, lacking similar charm, was tasked with writing a sincere essay on respecting the wrestling business.
21. A Rollercoaster Of A Week For Mick Foley & Al Snow
Known for blowing up at minor infractions let alone genuine inconveniences, Bob Holly was predictably raging when Mick Foley and Al Snow left him stranded at an airport to hit the rides at a local carnival. It was a miscommunication of course, but the slight couldn't and wouldn't stand when everybody was back to work.
As if things couldn't get any worse for the pair, the case made it as far as The Undertaker's desk after fellow hothead Road Warrior Hawk had gotten wind of it and ensured the infraction couldn't stand. They were in deep.
To avoid the full court treatment, Foley and Snow ultimately paid Holly’s travel expenses and offered additional compensation, covering hotel, food, and gas costs. Foley really didn't want to accept any blame, recounting in his autobiography that this “out-of-court” settlement cost him over $500, which was a blow for the notoriously frugal former WWE Champion.
20. First Class Charges Brought Against The Hardy Boyz
As outlined in their shared autobiography published while still with the company in the mid-2000s, The Hardy Boyz were summoned to Wrestler's Court for a memorable dressing down following a flight where they were seated in first class at the direction of Michael Hayes.
Hayes had become their on-and-off-screen mentor at the time, but had doled out some advice that would cost them dearly, even if the trip was set to be the most comfortable they'd ever experienced.
Taking the extra legroom upset several wrestlers as tenured locker room member Kane - who was supposed to be seated there - ended up in coach as a result. Matt and Jeff attempted to relinquish their seats, but Wrestler's Court proceeded, largely to address the perceived overstepping of hierarchy.
According to Matt, prosecutor JBL exaggerated the accusations then insisted the brothers pay off The Undertaker with Jack Daniels. The punishment also included a sentence for Hayes, who was ordered to buy Kane lunch regularly until supposed order had been restored.
19. Dodging Charges With The Divas
In one of the more unique Wrestler’s Court cases, the bulk of the WWE’s Divas division faced judgment following their loss to the Diva Search contestants in a dodgeball game at SummerSlam 2004.
The established women’s roster, including prominent wrestlers like then-Champion Trish Stratus and Victoria, was embarrassed by the shoot defeat and many backstage perceived it as legitimate failure rather than anything that could service a story.
Yes - male talent summoned already overworked and underpushed females to their stupid courtroom for tarnishing the credibility of a division the wrestlers had to work twice has hard to preserve. Rigged game.
Speaking of which, Triple H presided over the case as judge, with veteran Ivory taking on the role of defence. She argued that the dodgeball match was meant to elevate the newcomers anyway; a concept familiar in wrestling storytelling. This was met with skepticism from the male roster and was ultimately rejected. The charges were only dropped after some clever backstage bartering, which included bribing 'The King Of Kings' with gift certificates.
Ivory later reflected on the proceedings, noting the preposterous theatricality of Wrestler’s Court and expressed her bemusement at being involved in such an absurd case.
18. CM Punk BLASTS The Very Idea Of Wrestler's Court
Ironically, CM Punk’s opinions on the infamous Wrestler’s Court emerged via an online exchange of views with Hangman Page, though perhaps not for reasons you might first assume.
Having binge-watched some Barry Windham, Punk had enquired about wearing chaps and other cowboy paraphernalia, going as far as to ask Page about borrowing his gear. When a fan joked that he'd end up in Wrestler's Court for gimmick infringement, 'The Voice Of The Voiceless' referred to it as "the most insecure small d*ck energy average white man embarrassment to the wrestling business".
His comments reflected a rejection of what he saw as one of the more toxic aspects of wrestling culture, possibly influenced by his own conflicts with WWE norms and date authority figures during his original tenure.
17. Melina's Cry For Help
Having already developed what plenty of sources considered "nuclear" heat at the time, Melina was summoned to court for being difficult to work with. Allegedly, confrontations with Lita, Sharmell (more on that elsewhere), and Candice Michelle had all represented individual tipping points, and contributed to perceptions that she was not a team player within the notoriously tight locker room.
As noted, wrestler’s court often involved what wrestlers considered to be light-hearted punishments, but Melina's story was a reminder how it also fostered a climate where peers could unleash their nastiest side in the name of supposed camaraderie.
As part of the process, it was confirmed wrestlers even placed bets on when Melina would cry during the session, relying on peer-driven pressure tactics that left lasting impacts on those involved. Melina has since expressed discomfort with her experience, describing the environment as intense and emotionally taxing.
She experienced it once too often...
16. Melina & Sharmell Almost Come To Blows
The tension between Melina and Sharmell during the mid-2000s had once reached such a peak that the only destination for the beef was deemed to be the mock trial format laid out by Wrestler's Court.
According to former referee WWE Nick Patrick, Sharmell had a "significant grievance" with Melina, which nearly escalated to a physical altercation during the courtroom clash. Wrestlers - including the Undertaker in his capacity as judge (!) - had to step in to address and soothe matters. Of note, the dispute was reportedly tied to Melina’s relationship with Batista and his own backstage issues with Sharmell's husband Booker T.
The men themselves ended up fighting during a SummerSlam commercial in 2006, but neither ended up in the dock for their misdeeds.
15. Bill Goldberg's Welcoming Committee
Bill Goldberg'a dominance in WCW was always going to make him a target when he signed for WWE two years after the former closed its doors. Which is stupid obviously, but then so is Wrestler's Court maybe those outside of the company's walled garden just don't get what it means to respect the business.
Regardless, Goldberg had more than a few enemies in the locker room dating back to his WWE days, and he was summoned following a clash with one. Chris Jericho - by then a respected WWE veteran - and 'Da Man' got into it physically in a failed attempt to amicably deal with an old WCW beef, and the skirmish ended with with the smaller 'Y2J' putting Goldberg in a legitimate headlock during their confrontation. This surprised those around them, and most of the witnesses predictably felt Goldberg disrespected Jericho to trigger it in the first place. Gavel time.
Judge Triple H ruled against Goldberg, emphasising how he'd not shown respect for WWE's established hierarchy. While Goldberg wasn’t fined, he was quickly made aware of locker-room dynamics and expected respect for seasoned talents.
14. JTG Is Court Out
JTG's "Damn! Why Did I Write This Book?" was a remarkably light-hearted look at a lot of fairly dark tales JTG experienced during his extended tenure with WWE, and his story of how he wound up in Wrestler's Court - and what broke the session up - speaks to a time that has hopefully passed nearly two decades later.
To cut a fairly grim story short, the Cryme Tyme man was pressured in to a (consensual) sexual experience with a woman at a hotel during a European tour, orchestrated by a wrestler he nicknames "The Champ" just in case you can't see who he might be talking about. He alluded to worrying about the heat had he not engaged as requested, but the situation somehow got worse when a prominent figure took issue with him sleeping with "his" (!) "personal road chick".
It was that that landed him in Wrestler's Court, but the punishment wasn't forthcoming due to yet another ice cold dose of reality - the procedure was broken up by the news that Chris Benoit had died.
13. Johnny Has A Little Too Much Spirit
There's a million unique hypocrisies attached to pro wrestling, and a couple extend to how you are booked despite potentially not having the power to do anything about it.
You're supposed to fight for your spot if you believe yourself worthy of it, but respect the business and do your job even if you hate it. How can both things be true? Question that and you're questioning your bosses - and the sanctity of the industry depending on who might be in earshot. Ultimately, things will go well as much because of luck as anything else. And back in 2006, the Spirit Squad didn't have much of that.
Squad member Johnny faced Wrestler’s Court over a perceived attitude problem related to his displeasure with being given the cheerleader gimmick and consistently eating damaging defeats to an ancient-feeling DX and actually-ancient legend figures such as Sgt Slaughter and Ric Flair. In Wrestler’s Court, many veteran wrestlers reportedly took issue with Jeter’s visible dissatisfaction, interpreting it as disrespectful to the creative team and the locker room culture.
JBL and The Undertaker led the proceedings and the public shaming exercise featured several of the old-timers he'd supposedly slighted in an effort to emphasise importance of team unity and to maintain respect even when dealing with unpopular or challenging storylines. Presumably, he'd have been berated for not standing up for himself had he simply (and silently) ate the pins.
12. Daivari Does Squats
Thought not quite on par with his on-screen ally Muhammad Hassan, Shawn Daivari got too close to the heat early in his run for - say it again - accusations that he didn't respect the locker room veterans.
It had been Chris Benoit to first flag it up then drag it into court, particularly after spying what he saw as an infraction against Shawn Michaels, and in turn the established hierarchy behind the scenes.
On Benoit's urging, Daivari's punishment was thousands of squats - the pain of which was supposed to mirror that of all the men and women that had paid the physical price in order for the stage to even exist. Already an unpleasant-sounding form of discipline gets worse when considering the deeply and eventually fatally damaged man at the heart of the charge,
11. What About Raven?
For a wrestler allegedly smart enough to be a part of MENSA, Scott Levy wasn't sharp enough to avoid Wrestler's Court when he returned to the company in 2000.
Having completely reinvented himself since leaving the market leader for the first time in 1994, the artist now known as Raven came back with a penchant for self-promotion and generated the perception in the locker room that he was perhaps too big for the "big-time". According to longtime friend and on-screen rival Tommy Dreamer, Levy had heat with colleagues anyway for his aloof and independent personality, often disregarding backstage etiquette.
Wrestler's Court and Judge Undertaker ended up enforcing a unique punishment that was of particular difficulty to the known motormouth; Raven was barred from speaking in the locker room for two months.
10. Palmer Cannon Almost Fires Back
Palmer Cannon was a "network representative" in WWE for a brief period in 2005, but had absolutely no power when he found himself in the crosshairs of Wrestler's Court alongside the ongoing harassment from fellow wrestlers and supposed locker room leaders JBL and Chris Benoit. Cannon's character was designed to be a heelish foil to Teddy Long. However, his tenure was marred by a backstage culture far more toxic than anything he was capable of on screen.
In April 2006, after experiencing significant bullying for several months , Cannon abruptly resigned during a European tour, flying home by himself and citing the harassment he endured as a primary reason for his departure. Reports indicate that tensions escalated to the point where he and Bradshaw nearly came to blows following yet another court summons for the usual respect-adjacent claims.
Cannon's resignation was obviously not just a personal decision; it illustrated the larger issue of bullying and hostility within the WWE locker room, a culture that often pressured talent and staff alike to conform to aggressive social norms. Following his exit, WWE attempted to persuade him to return, but Cannon stood firm in his decision.
9. A Black Eye On The Business
Having survived his initial summons, Matt Hardy was back in Wrestler's Court almost a decade later following an embarrasing incident on a 2008 European tour.
Per witnesses at the time, Hardy - reportedly inebriated following a show - engaged in some light-hearted playfighting with Eve Torres. Torres was relatively new to WWE at the time, working primarily as a backstage interviewer before eventually transitioning to a wrestling role. She had some of the ncessary skills though, and when she found herself accidentally gaining a black eye, she responded by locking Hardy in a rear-naked chokehold, putting him to sleep in front of onlookers.
This awkward and embarrassing moment quickly became fodder for jokes among the locker room, and Hardy found himself summoned to court to face the mock indignation of his peers. The atmosphere was said to be light-hearted at points, but with a measure of seriousness about respecting the locker room dynamics and especially the behaviour of superstars in public
Hardy later reflected on the incident, acknowledging that he justifiably had to apologise to Torres again for the indiscretion.
8. Enzo Amore Booted Off A Bus
In an era where the concept barely even existed, Enzo Amore still had enough heat to generate the scrutiny and fury of almost the entire locker room.
One of the key reasons was related to his reputation for being overly vocal and for not always respecting the boundaries of others. Sources close to the situation indicated that Amore's antics often put him at odds with others, creating a sense of tension within the locker room. He was known for being brash and sometimes disruptive, which didn't sit well with many veterans who believed in maintaining a level of decorum.
His failure to gauge when a joke had gone too far or when he was crossing a line with fellow talent contributed to his involvement in a makeshift Wrestler's Court punishment occurring on a tour bus in Europe in 2017. After speaking loudly on his phone to someone and saying negative things about the industry well in earshot of others while also bragging about how much money he was making, it fell to Roman Reigns to lead the charge and kick him off the bus completely.
Amore left under a cloud in 2018, but an exit felt increasingly inevitable before his departure.
7. Roman Reigns' Informal Visit
Even Roman Reigns wasn't immune to experiencing Wrestler's Court-style punishment following his 30-day suspension in June 2016 for violating WWE's Wellness Policy.
The situation was particularly sensitive as Reigns had recently main-evented WrestleMania 32, was at long last WWE Champion, and continued to be WWE's biggest and most marketed star. In order to get across any potential controversy or additional punishments, he effectively summoned himself to court.
Upon returning from his suspension, he addressed the locker room to discuss the issue directly, emphasising the need for professionalism and accountability. Recent returnee and longtime Shield collaborator Seth Rollins later clarified that it was more about Reigns taking responsibility rather than being put on trial, but the whole thing highlighted that it was possible for consequences to be faced with a focus on open communication rather than unnecessary hazing. The incident showed how much pressure there was on top talents to maintain their status in the locker room. And the locker room seemed to be glad to see the cycle of accountability changing for good...
6. Xavier Woods Is The Voice For Change
Xavier Woods has been one of the most vocal about what a modern version of Wrestler's Court can be, sharing his insightful comments about the concept of "Wrestler's Court," an informal system within the wrestling locker room used to resolve disputes among wrestlers.
Speaking about it during an edition of UpUpDownDown, Woods noted the structure was the same but the tone has changed, commenting that the dynamic within the locker room has shifted over time, and indicating that the concept has diminished in importance. He remarked, “It’s not really a thing anymore... The locker room environment has changed”.
This evolution is one of many that reflects broader changes in wrestling culture, moving away from informal disciplinary systems towards a more professional atmosphere.
If only it had arrived in time to save an 'A-Lister' from his almost-inevitable doom...
5. The Chicken Dance
The Miz infamously ended up in Wrestler's Court after he committed major locker-room faux pas; eating chicken over Chris Benoit's bag, accidentally dropping crumbs on it.
Such behaviour was seen as disrespectful to the locker room’s unwritten rules, particularly as The Miz was new, hadn't previously had a background in wrestling, and was a long way from earning the respect of his peers. The court deemed he had to prove himself, and his equally infamous and well-documented sentence was to change outside the locker room, forcing him to find his own private areas (such as janitors’ closets) until he gained acceptance.
Reflecting on the incident, Miz noted how “tough love” played a part, with wrestlers enforcing these standards to help newcomers respect the wrestling culture. Over time, he managed to earn respect, proving his dedication to WWE despite initial challenges from seasoned wrestlers who questioned his commitment to the sport
4. Bob Holly Drives The Point Home With René Duprée
René Duprée found himself on the wrong side of Wrestler’s Court after picking the wrong man to slight in all-time known misery Bob Holly.
The incident began when Duprée allegedly received a traffic ticket in Holly’s rental car without informing him, leading to an unexpected bill that understandably angered the veteran. Again, somewhat reasonably, Holly felt that Duprée’s lack of accountability disrespected both him and the typical wrestling code of conduct, and the former La Resistance man was found guilty of not showing proper respect to a senior wrestler.
The punishment, however, went beyond the usual locker-room reprimand. Holly took matters into his own hands and confronted Duprée physically during a live event. He targeted Duprée in a match, inflicting stiff blows and legitimate injuries as a lesson, which some considered crossing a line. Not one that resulted in Bob himself ending up in court, of course.
3. Umaga Doubles Down With D-Generation X
More a case of an impromptu courtroom drama due to location than a wrestler being punished to the full extent of the locker room law, Umaga pushed back on traditional locker room leaders and inadvertently helped make a new one.
It was backstage at Iraq's Tribute To The Troops 2007 where Shawn Michaels allegedly took significant issue with a sartorial choice 'The Samoan Bulldozer' had made, specifically the decision to add a shade of green to his gear that 'HBK' thought too similar to the D-Generation X branding. Per sources at the time, "Apparently the seamstress told Umaga that he could not use the colours that he wanted for his tights because they were the colours that Triple H uses. However, Umaga insisted that the seamstress fulfill his request".
The boldness from the Samoan obviously stirred something in then-WWE Champion Randy Orton, who stood up for Umaga after Michaels supposedly threw a 1990s-brand strop about the whole thing. Narrowly avoiding further punishment and with the backing of the current top man, Umaga went out there with white detailing rather than green, though his team with Mr Kennedy were required to job as per the usual babyfaces-go-over policy on those specific shows.
Notably, a punishment was still served - Umaga's proximity to the WWE Champion was backstage only. He never really ascended to the top of the card again, but did at toast the HD era with some pointedly bright new red tights as the company moved into 2008.
2. Brock Lesnar Nopes The Nonsense
Unlike most wrestlers who complied with the informal ritual to maintain harmony and respect, Brock Lesnar was known for his willingness to ignore these unspoken codes and then refuse to engage with the stupidity of it all.
His exclusive treatment - including over the years such things as a private locker room, private planes and a flexible schedule - led some to view him as untouchable, creating tension among other wrestlers who felt he was given special privileges. 'The Beast' didn't care. He was given summons to appear and is reported to have given a deadpan "No", likely infuriating lots of his colleagues but not enough for any of them to force his hand.
That's where a specific kind of power gets you, but it's a shame the same couldn't be said for those with tenure...
1. Howard's Way
Beloved WWE ring announcer and Vince McMahon's first employee Howard Finkel found himself facing an infamous Wrestler's Court session due to a rather humiliating incident that occurred during the Invasion storyline in 2001. Finkel - a non-wrestler, remember - was reportedly supposed to take a slap from a female talent but flinched when the moment came, which prompted fellow wrestlers to bring him to court for his reaction. This incident was not only a test of bravery but also a way for the locker room to establish a pecking order, especially to intimidate the newly integrated WCW talent.
Witnesses described the atmosphere during Finkel's "trial" as harsh and rooted in bullying. One WCW name new to the company saw the situation for what it was, noting that "they wanted to show us, the outsiders, what lay ahead if we acted up". Reportedly, Finkel was on the verge of tears. After the court session, he was punished further by having to go through the same slap scenario again, which he flinched from once more. This led to additional humiliation, highlighting how cruel the process could be.
Lance Storm was one of many who witnessed the event and later expressed regret for not standing up for him, calling it "one of the most immature and cruel things" he'd seen in wrestling.