8 Famous Wrestlers Whose Last Matches Were A Total Disaster

Rick "The Model" Martel was one of Vince McMahon's most underrated performers during the late 80s and one of many technically-gifted wrestlers to get blown over during the Hulkamania craze. But as overlooked as he may have been in WWE, he was practically invisible in his short run with WCW in the late 90s.

Martel put on some solid matches against Booker T and Perry Saturn for the World Television Title, but in one of those matches with Booker, he fractured his knee after landing awkwardly on the receiving end of a hip toss. That required surgery, which put him out of action for a few months.

When he returned, it would unexpectedly be for just one match against Booker's brother, Stevie Ray. Sporting a knee brace, Martel looked uncomfortable and much clumsier than usual. And then he hurt himself again. The match ended unceremoniously, with Martel attempting a Boston Crab and his leg completely giving out on him. Then Bret Hart ran in and gave him a chair shot to the head, and Stevie Ray pinned him.

Suddenly, that was it. Martel's lengthy, underappreciated career was over. He went out not with a bang, but with a whimper and a bum knee. For a guy who was, pardon the pun, "the model" of consistency inside the ring, it's a shame his career had to end like that.