10 Times Wrestling Recklessly Abused Kayfabe On-Air
6. Buff Does His Job
Vince Russo's WCW was full of moments that annihilated the very concept of kayfabe in a flawed effort to mimic the times he'd strayed just close enough to the sun without burning during his lauded WWE tenure.
Under his leadership, Nitro became morbidly enjoyable but utterly impossible to watch as a television show designed to tell reasoned and well-threaded stories.
October 18th 1999 was his first night on the job (as viewers were informed on camera by Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan earlier in the broadcast, as if it remotely mattered), and Buff Bagwell became the first recipient of one of his most infamous 'edgy' plot devices.
Entering earlier in the night for an interview that 'wasn't on the format', Bagwell cut an enthusiastic promo about being 'the chosen one' by his 'new bosses', but looked thoroughly disinterested when he emerged for his match against La Parka later in the broadcast.
As the announcers alluded to him not looking his usual self, Buff cut a frustrated figure throughout the entire contest, basically mocking all his usual taunts and completely exposing the traditional rhythm of the match. Presenting himself for La Parka to kick him in the head, it later turned out that management had told him he wasn't their top guy after all, and that he was due to lose to the Mexican star. His display was thus entirely in protest, and completely contradicted the fundamental rules one has to accept about professional wrestling as a whole.
Again, it was Vince Russo's first Nitro.