10 Times Ego Cost Wrestlers Everything

8. Dr. Death Believes His Own Hype

Shane McMahon Riddle WWE Royal Rumble 2022
WWE.com

File this one under, 'What the f*ck were they thinking?!' too.

Ageing veteran legend Steve Williams joined the WWF in 1998 and was immediately discussed in glowing terms. JR's buddy was renowned for being a wrasslin' hard man, and most figured he'd paste the rest of the entrants in a silly 'Brawl For All' shoot fighting tournament the promotion was trying on.

'Dr. Death' didn't. He squeezed past Quebecer Pierre (Jean-Pierre LaFitte) in the opening round, then got positively creamed by Bart Gunn in the second. Honestly, when Doc hit the mat, his run in Vinnie Mac's group was all-but-over. This was never going to end well, and it's baffling that Williams agreed to it.

Did he believe in his own tough reputation that much? This was a 16-year pro with bad knees, and he looked like a joke with the gloves on. The WWF instantly scrapped any plans for a proposed main event run vs. Steve Austin and looked elsewhere.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.