Atlas was one of the biggest stars in the 1980s as he turned out for WWF(E), WCW, the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions, the World Wrestling Council, World Class Championship Wrestling and the American Wrestling Association (AWA). However, speaking on WWE's Legends of Wrestling, Atlas spoke of how his career was: " Too much, too soon." Mr USA won numerous titles throughout his career including becoming the first Afro-American team to hold the WWF Tag Team Championships alongside Rocky Johnson. Infamously, he was all set for a run as Intercontinental Champion before persistent drug use got in the way, causing him to miss numerous dates. Leaving the company in 1987, Atlas returned in late 1990 following another battle with drug addiction. Reinvented as Saba Simba, a spot in the 1991 Royal Rumble was the highlight. However, Atlas was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006 before returning as a manager to ECW in 2008 and appearing on the WWE Newtwork's Legend's House earlier this year. Atlas' place on our list comes as a result of MTV's 1999 documentary, True Life - I'm a Pro Wrestler. This show's depicts Atlas' decline as he's bankrupt, going through the mire as an independent wrestler and part-time promoter, once again proving how harsh life as a wrestler can be.
