10 Wrestlers That Lost Titles Due To Serious Contract Disputes

8. Ric Flair (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)

‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair had a major falling out with WCW in the early ‘90s over money and creative issues that led to his contract being terminated. Jim Herd had taken over the reins of WCW and wanted to cut Flair’s annual pay by more than half to save company costs, with Flair not willing to budge on the issue, knowing his worth and work ethic for the promotion.

Herd wanted Flair to lose the WCW World title to Lex Luger when they couldn’t come to terms, but Flair wanted Sting or Barry Windham to beat him for the belt, believing they deserved it more. Not finding a way around the issue, WCW outright fired Flair. Unfortunately for WCW though, Flair was still recognized as their World Champion when they fired him and was still in possession of the Big Gold Belt. WCW stripped him of the title but Flair debuted for WWF with the WCW title in hand, calling himself "The Real World's Champion".

It was a hugely embarrassing incident for WCW and one they weren’t looking to replicate again.