10 Wrestlers Who Ruined Their Own Legacy
No matter how hard you try, some black marks can't be washed off your legacy.
Living your life in the bright shining spotlight of the professional wrestling business isn't for everyone. It takes guts and a level-head to survive the pressures of being a public figure. Many crack under the pressure, and those that stick with it better think through every decision they make.
Being in the public gaze exposes you to hardcore fans that can be fickle, judgemental and have a collective memory that doesn't let go of the bad times.
You don't have to have ascended to the top to fall from grace. Anyone can do it. Fond memories can be tarnished by that mistake and some things are enough to ruin your entire public perception. And if you are on the top when you fall? Well, you're in for a long climb back into the good books...
After all, the phrase "if you've done something right then nobody will know you've done anything at all" comes to mind. If you've done something wrong, people will be sure to let you know about it every chance they get.
Whether it's ruined retirements, backstage issues or on-screen slip-ups the wrestlers on this list have done something that has left a black mark on their legacy...
10. John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield
Despite popularity as a member of the Acolytes, John Layfield's true renaissance came in 2004 when his character unexpectedly shifted completely into an egocentric, money-obsessed American patriot. It worked so well that he ascended to the WWE Championship.
Many people remember JBL more though for his presence on WWE commentary for the better part of ten years.
Stories about Layfield working stiff have always been rumoured but it was around 2017 that the allegations of bullying became much more vocal. Fans called for the man to be fired from TV and many got sick of hearing him commentate after reading the accounts of victims. Justin Roberts, the former WWE announcer, said in his autobiography that JBL had stolen his passport and many ex-WWE stars also described Layfield as a bully.
In April 2017, NXT announcer Mauro Ranallo left the company and, whilst he claimed it wasn’t the case, many viewers felt that comments JBL had made on air about Mauro had affected the commentator’s mental wellbeing.
JBL was forced to make a statement claiming that he had pranked many stars but that the WWE “had addressed” his actions years ago. In September of the same year, with the wrestling community sick of the sound of him, Layfield opted to leave the company to pursue other interests.