10 Times WWE Went Too Far
5. Exploiting Hawk's Alcoholism
Substance abuse and alcoholism plagued Road Warrior Hawk's life for years before his October 2003 passing, when the tag wrestling legend suffered a heart attack in his Floridian home.
WWE turned Hawk's problems into a storyline five years prior. It was the Attitude Era, and the promotion was still transitioning towards a more adult-themed product. Harder, edgier storylines led Vince McMahon's new list of demands, and forcing Hawk to work this programme (despite his and partner Animal's protestations) was part of the agenda.
A storyline saw an intoxicated Hawk shambling his way through matches and segments escalated when he edged towards suicidal tendencies. The Legion of Doom's new member, Puke, was then the catalyst in an angle in which Hawk scaled the Titan Tron and attempted to kill himself by leaping from the top. Later, it was revealed that Puke had been plying him with intoxicants all along. His endgame? Killing Hawk and taking his place in LOD. Grim.
Things got so bad that Hawk and Animal quit the company shortly after, only returning for a one-off appearance six years later (though Animal had a later run with Heidenreich as his partner).