10 Wrestlers Whose Careers Were Destroyed By A Single Mistake
Botched, bashed and banished from super-stardom to the unemployment line.
A wrestling career can change in a moment. It can bask in the glory of a championship win or drown in a missed move. Often there are political forces at play ensuring that a snapshot in time can live to define.
Randy Orton recently hit the headlines as allegations surfaced about his backstage antics. WWE has thus far remained quiet on the matter. Orton, after all, is a star. He has received a continued push and a high-level feud on TV. Whilst Orton's trunks are seemingly made of Teflon, others are not so lucky. Many WWE employees walk around on eggshells knowing that a trip or slip could cost them their job.
This has always been the case with big stars treated differently. 'Superfly' Jimmy Snuka was accused of murder. McMahon still found a spot on the roster for the charismatic act. Now that WWE believes he has served his time, Hulk Hogan's insidious comments will no doubt be brushed under the carpet.
In the whacky world of professional wrestling, some superstars are given chance after chance. Other lesser known stars are cast out into the wilderness. It depends on marquee value, the lower down the card you are the less forgiving the employer tends to be.
10. Bart Gunn
Viagra on a pole wasn't Vince Russo's only dubious idea. Even in WWE with Vince McMahon as a filter, the odd stinker would seep through. During 1998 the popularity of mixed martial arts was growing in the US and Japan. WWE were eager to cash in on this trend and boost the profile of new signing 'Dr Death' Steve Williams. Russo came up with the Brawl for All tournament. Brawl for All matches would consist of three one minute rounds with points scored for punches and take-downs.
WWE management expected Williams to win the tournament. The grizzled veteran had a reputation as one of wrestling's hard-men, and several lower mid-card performers thrust into the fray as cannon fodder for the star. Enter former tag team champion Bart Gunn who handily defeated Williams via knockout. Bart would go on to defeat self-proclaimed hard-man Bradshaw in the final. The tournament had been a disaster for WWE with several performers picking up injuries.
The winner was ultimately punished by Russo's mistake. At WrestleMania XV Gunn was fed to the super-heavyweight boxer, Butterbean. The former Toughman contestant knocked out the wrestler in a mere 35 seconds. Gunn was released shortly thereafter never to be heard of in WWE again.