8 Times Wrestlers Were Rewarded For Bad Behaviour

7. Hardcore Holly - Given WWE Championship Match After Stiffing Tough Enough Competitors

Shawn Michaels euro title
WWE

2002-2003 was an intense time in the career and life of Bob "Hardcore" Holly in WWE.

After appearing as a Tough Enough trainer during the second season of the show, and earning a reputation for being something of a bully, Holly found himself sidelined with a neck injury due to the timing being off (in his own words) as Brock Lesnar attempted to power-bomb him into the mat.

This serious injury led to Holly needing to take a substantial amount of time off, but it still didn't stop him from returning to Tough Enough for its third season. It was here where Holly infamously stiffed one of the show's competitors Matt Cappotelli in the ring, leaving him with a busted mouth and black eye. Holly's misguided attempts to "teach" the hopefuls that "wrestling is not an easy game" stank of a veteran abusing his power.

Yet, instead of reprimanding Holly, the star was gifted with a WWE Championship programme with Lesnar upon returning to action in 2003. Kayfabe revenge angle or not, had this incident gone down today, there's no way WWE would be caught rewarding a talent with a high profile spot after such despicable behaviour.

Contributor
Contributor

Lifts rubber and metal. Watches people flip in spandex and pretends to be other individuals from time to time...