10 WWE Stars Who Were Never the Same After an Injury

From The British Bulldog and Brian Pillman to Stone Cold Steve Austin and Sid, these are 10 WWE Stars Who Were Never the Same After an Injury.
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[@davidjsaul]

Even stupider with Bulldog's injury is that it happened at Fall Brawl when there was an entire other ring set up which didn't have a trapdoor and could have been safely used instead.

[@aliciasimmons8473]

Omg there was another ring dam that's even worse could of used that ring

[@Scaramanga7]

I was there, it's absolutely true.

[@superrobz]

Personally I blame Warrior for this

[@zionkraze9965]

I blame Shawn Michaels more.

[@dougswamprat5275]

Blame backstage personnel for not telling any talent there was a trap door there.

[@cheezeofages]

Brian Pillman belongs on a "What Could Have Been?" List alongside Sean O'Haire.

[@KairiPrime]

Gods could you imagine Pillman at the height of the Attitude Era? I mean his character pretty much already was attitude era before the attitude era, but the matches we could have had. Breaks your heart.

[@grandmastermario3695]

I feel sorry for Pillman he had a pretty bad upbringing and then was involved in a car accident man how sad 😔

[@tonyreimer6804]

The worst thing about the Davey Boy’s injury is: THERE WERE 2 RINGS! Why did they have people wrestle on the trap door?

[@mox19380]

there are varied stories that he didn't know, or that he knew and forgot (because supposedly him and neidhart had spend the day doing crack)...but regardless you are right...why weren't they in the ring without the trap door?

[@randumbhero3033]

I’m a friend of Sid’s and I can personally attest to him doing quite a few matches in Osceola, Ar. which is about 45 minutes from where him and his son Gunnar live. Gunnar worked as Lord Humongous and Sid still works under his name. I worked a few matches with him and while he isn’t the Sid we know and love, he’s still got it.

[@TwizzlerC]

Leave it to Cultaholic to release a 24 hour compilation of 10 lists as well as a new 10 list on the same day

[@BFFR5150]

Candice was arguably about to be one of the diva search girls who actually became a damn good wrestler. But that injury ruined EVERYTHING. It’s so sad because I truly believe she was quickly entering her peak athletic ability and could’ve been one of the top women alongside Beth, Mickie, Michelle, Melina ETC

[@sevenempestfxntoolsoad3183]

So sad. She was likable af and over. And could go. Not to mention smokin hot

[@davidjsaul]

Bit similar to Trish Stratus IMO in that they both started with essentially zero wrestling talent but actually took it seriously and wanted to learn and so ended up improving massively.

[@BFFR5150]

@@davidjsaul agreed! Every match she showed noticeable improvement, kept getting better & better. Same thing happened with Christy Hemme in TNA, she started really training in the ring and started getting pretty damn good until her back & than eventual ankle injury retired her completely.

[@jacksonloram7887]

@@sevenempestfxntoolsoad3183 Facts. Back in 2007 9-year-old me and the neighbourhood kids thought she was the beautiful girl we had seen

[@sevenempestfxntoolsoad3183]

@@jacksonloram7887 haha fr bro. She was gr8. And her matches had us goin like the main events would. I remember watching that raw and sad she never really bounced back.

[@benespinosa6725]

Candice Michelle was so underrated in-ring

[@confirmkill]

I remember her improving leaps and bounds. She was really putting in the work as she got pushed.

[@benespinosa6725]

@@confirmkill that was awesome

[@chayden153]

Especially in a landscape littered with models

[@benespinosa6725]

@@chayden153 You're absolutely right about that

[@BubbafromSapperton]

Under-slayed 🤠

[@chrisbg99]

I knew that Sid Vicious picture was going to show up and I still watched and I still turned in pure revulsion. I feel bad for the man but my god.

[@shevwreck7815]

I remember watching Fall Brawl when Davey Boy Smith hurt his back. First off, it's sad to say but before the match started you could tell that he wasn't in a good place/way. But I vividly recall seeing him take the bump and immediately telling my friend that I was pretty sure something went wrong. As the match continued you can see how much pain the man was in.

[@paulpesamino99]

Imagine the storylines if there were no such thing as injuries, so many dream matches could have occurred 😭

[@TheIndustrialRevolution.]

But then so many good storylines are lost, so many opportunities lost

[@pauliewalnuts829]

Bret Hart vs Kurt Angle would of been great in the early 2000's. If Bret ended up back in WWE after WCW.

[@Itsametyler1993]

Brian Knobbs Vs Scott Steiner in March 2002!!

[@elchupanibre3653]

Shawn Michael's doing a swan bomb off the titantron like everyone wanted.

[@Itsametyler1993]

Scott & Rick Steiner vs Chris Benoit & Ric Flair

[@FFA441]

I was at the event that candice had that accident scary stuff

[@leigh7507]

This is actually a really good video. Felt like you guys were going through the motions for a while so I'm happy to see a great video again

[@jtp2007]

Whoever had the idea of having Sid jump off the top rope hopefully was fired on the spot. No reason to have a big man do that as anyone with a brain could have figured a broken leg was a possibility.

[@jakewhite3338]

Maybe they only had half the brain that he did.

[@jtp2007]

@@jakewhite3338 Well it was late WCW so lol

[@YourAverageFan]

I’ve always heard he did it himself. Mainly bc no one told him to do a BIG BOOT off the top. He could’ve done 10 other moves and been fine.

[@jarvaruscarter]

Apparently Johnny Ace was the one who came up with it

[@Itsametyler1993]

I never met Scott Steiner in February or May 2002. I don't care about Scott Steiner!!

[@hazardtriplezero]

That still shot of Sid's injury is still nightmare fuel all these years later...

[@BatFan1]

Man, the British Bulldogs were my favorite tag team in WWF, knowing the fate of both is kinda sad. Also, it was weird seeing DBS teaming with The Anvil knowing that the Hart Foundation and the BB were arch rivals in WWF.

[@DavidLee-iu7nd]

Candice Michelle went from eye candy to a great in ring wrestler, absolute shame that injuries is kept her from in ring performance she really improved with every match

[@lenn7272]

Lets not forget one of the best in ring performers, Bret Hart? Droz was never the same after his injury. Perry Saturn could have been on this list as well. Tazz is another good one.

[@vict4451]

I believe it was an interview the Hitman did years ago where he said that nobody in the back told any of the guys working that Fall Brawl tag match that there was a trapdoor in the ring.

[@lexiejames3514]

My grandad has drop foot and can barely walk. He has to use a stick and sometimes a walking frame it’s that bad. How Scott managed to wrestle with it (even badly wrestle) I’ll never know, it’s debilitating

[@talonthehand]

My dad had drop foot and that’s exactly what I was thinking when they said Steiner did

[@lenn7272]

It makes sense that he wrestled poorly. He didnt have the body control.

[@mox19380]

i had temporary drop foot due to nerve damage and could barely walk up steps without stubbing my toes (fixed by going up and down stairs backwards....how the hell you wrestle with it is beyond me

[@edman1357]

Watching Sid's injury makes me feel ill.

[@dougswamprat5275]

I got into WWE late 97', and Steve Austin was the greatest face since sliced bread. Going back and watching his earlier work when I got older was an eye opener as he was such a good technician compared to his hey day brawler style. What could have been if he hadn't broken his neck...

[@Skreppatada]

owen was a terrible wrestler so yeahh

[@jermainebrown8688]

Kerry Von Erich should have been on this. Look at his style in WCCW, compared to WWF and you see the difference

[@cchisolm92cc]

Dynamite Kid's steroid abuse made it easier for him to get injured as well. It's sad that a guy that good suffered by his own doing and made others endure that suffering as well.

[@Deeky76]

Yeah I don't condone pointing a shotgun at his wife either

[@mcj88]

How about Velveteen Dream? Even before the stuff about him being a sex pest surfaced, after returning from a back injury his wrestling ability just slowly got worse and worse, to say nothing of the baffling storylines he was involved in; and _then_ the allegations came out that, eventually, sealed his fate.

[@nullterm]

I was about to bring up Rude’s back and Bret’s concussion… but then I saw “WWE.” But then Sid made the list and he snapped his leg in WCW?

[@ThunderFist1978]

I’m pretty sure Scott Steiner wasn’t in WWE either when his injury surfaced.

[@ShiningEternity]

Warrior claims the trap door was only intended to be used one time.

[@Fanfan30303]

Sid said he never has and never will watch that video. That he didn’t look at it the whole time, and only really researched the injury years later. I couldn’t imagine, I’d be freaking out.

[@jkmoore1120]

Matt Cappotelli should have been included on the list.

[@claymathewselevator8121]

RIP

[@BLACULA-Skeewoah]

A brain tumor isn't an injury... It's a damn tragedy 💔

[@jkmoore1120]

@@BLACULA-Skeewoah that's true. I was going for general injury/illness that ended careers.

[@oskorei123]

@@jkmoore1120 in that case, Owen Hart takes top spot

[@mox19380]

love terry bam bam but it's very generous to say he suffered an injury when it was a self induced OD

[@logankerr8090]

would love to see Sid in the Rumble

[@kingbrahma5005]

Sid’s leg injury is still hard to watch

[@ThunderFist1978]

How is Bret Hart not on this list?

[@ThunderFist1978]

Tyson Kidd should also be mentioned here.

[@lenn7272]

Pillman would have taken off like Stone Cold. I would not be surprised if a lot of the things Stone Cold did, were meant for Pillman.

[@Beavie]

Nowimski's work after wrestling should be praised.

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Christopher Nowinski was Andre Chase before Andre Chase

[@thesprock5270]

Correct

[@tyfellwind9398]

Kane not being on this list kinda feels wrong. We all remember how massive he was back in 2002(?), but after he tore his bicep he came back and was never the same again.

[@sreenaths6829]

Yes but he still had a good career after returning with the half mask. One would argue he wasn't as badly affected as the people on this list.

[@oddishhonor]

I hope and pray Big E doesn’t become a statistic of one of these lists

[@stevengrvp]

Great video

[@tonykennedy8592]

Am I the only one who really thinks Sid is underrated

[@ScotsGal]

I loved big sid ...the best powerbomb in the business

[@jerranspearman3369]

good video

[@Johnoplata]

No mention of Flair? Before his plane crash he was a massive man. Losing half his muscle made him The Man.

[@rriggs6547]

This is what I said. How can you have this list without Flair.

[@mvjr7758]

He won titles afterwards & still went on wrestling. Didn't stop him.

[@rriggs6547]

@@mvjr7758 The video is about wrestlers who were never the same after an injury. Flair's style changed dramatically. And there is a good argument to make that he became what he did because he was forced to change. I doubt he would be remembered today without the plane crash. The same can be said of Austin after the neck injury. He became a brawler from being a technical wrestler. This, when added to the Stone Cold persona made him one of the biggest stars in wrestling history. He was never the same, but it the change was positive.

[@claymathewselevator8121]

I liked Christopher Nowinski

[@bennyhundo9131]

Definately Kurt Angle, Stone Cold, Ken Shamrock, Mankind and many others.. espeicially the ones that got injured and got addicted to painkillers

[@zanethind]

Man Jason Jordan without Chad Gable was not good

[@MrThetjf]

What about Darren Droz not only did his injury end his career it changed his life

[@mileab6725]

Word he got a high level spinal cord injury 😕

[@fluffyfeetbmf]

My Dad always said, keep play fighting an you boys will end up hurt🤷‍♂️🤣🤣

[@josephwolfie3833]

Christopher could went with a different WWE character as the orginal Jack Swagger Could imagine a new we the people Faction team of Nowinski and Jack Swagger

[@ianmalpass218]

Gotta give a shout out to Chris Benoit and also Droz, for very different reasons of course

[@secondchances1232]

This may be an unpopular opinion. Imo rey mysterio lost a step after he injured his knee in 2006. He still can put on great matches, but his aerial arsenal became much more limited.

[@baronvonpenguin6112]

Feel like Droz should’ve been on this list.

[@shaunlantz698]

Droz anyone?

[@yell0wberry]

There was Shawn, Michaels, Taz, hulk, hogan, Ric Flair, Eddie, Guerrero, triple H,, bret Hart, Brutus beefcake, Ahmed, Johnson, cowboy, Bob Orton, Roddy Piper, Raven, Randy, savage,, I guess Drozd doesn’t really count because that one injury put him out for good

[@lilpoetat]

Thanks 🙏

[@JesusSavedMeFromASuicideAtempt]

With all the drugs his genetic predisposition and that ankle injury it’s very unfortunate the world of entertainment lost Brian.. A special talent he was..

[@KennyPowersUrOut]

I'm surprised Pillman was on here. He definitely wasn't same but he didnt have that bad of matches. Honestly if he didn't die and he had more time to learn a different style and work at it I think he coulda still been a top guy.

[@chindub6563]

Joey Mercury should be on this list because his career was destroyed after Jeff hardy hit in the face with a ladder by accident and he got addicted to pain killers

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Jesse Sorensen in TNA

[@matystechgaming]

Good video, but the perhaps most important name is missing: Darren Drozdov!

[@reallyretro]

Christopher Nowinski could have been a future world champion if he didn’t suffer that concussion in 2003. He should have won that first season of Tough Enough as well, as I feel Maven didn’t respect the business, and just wanted to be a TV star more less.

[@eugenius65000]

Does Ric Flair's 1975 plane crash count? Pretty much forced him to change his wrestling style and bulk.

[@mexmexican8619]

A leap frog didn’t injure Dynamite. It was a suplex out of the ring at an earlier show that did it.

[@andu1854]

Pill man should have become a color commentator, he was really good

[@jrsmith1998]

Pull Man? Was he a pharmacist?

[@haunteddeandollsuk]

stonecold said before the match he didn’t want owen to go for the piledriver during the match 😢 then it happened and it shortened his career

[@nickcervenka8756]

I remember pretty wonderful

[@johnwright9049]

Injuries are a fact of life in professional wrestling irregardless if the wrestling company is WWE, New Japan, All Japan, Triple AAA, impact, or aew .

[@user-ri3uj8by1s]

You forgot Rick Rude and Sting

[@dauntlessasmr7910]

Paying someone to sit at home... WWE could have used him as a massive Heel. Running into the ring, doing cheap shots on another wrestler being pushed as a Baby Face. Culminating perhaps in a match that would have ended in one minute. Causing more controversy one way or the other, depending on the Finish. Someone of Steiner's caliber being injured but still being able to suit up and walk, WWE were foolish to pay him just to sit at home.

[@Nbflowers1989]

Like spike, share and leave a cheeky comment to help keep Culty strong!

[@arami187]

Steve Austin should be #1.

[@ganglabesh]

people forget austin broke someone elses head before his was

[@henrikschmidt3964]

I missed Bret on this list.

[@zanethind]

Poor British Bulldog

[@jeffreybomba]

He got hurt before WWE, but Scott Steiner had the most innovative move set of any big man, of any era before the rounds ruined his back and his brain. If he had just stayed off the juice he could have been in the GOAT discussion.

[@Nicksuavemusic]

Edge after 2003 he wasn’t the same performer he used to be thankfully he became the rated r superstar a few years later

[@optimus2008]

You missed the EVVVVERRRRR after never in the title chap.

[@artvandelay8767]

Candice Michelle did some Skinemax films. Very impressive.😏

[@bradcarver8127]

I suffered a nasty shaft chafing injury watching one of her films

[@everxvi]

13 year old me was very excited for that 😁

[@pjgaming104]

what about edge he suffered a broken neck and he returned and ain't the same old edge

[@lamjianhua2884]

No Dashing cody rhodes? Rey Mysterio broke his nose causing him to have to wear a face mask and require facial reconstructive surgery making him undashing. He never return to become dashing again.

[@oskorei123]

#1 Owen Hart

[@jamesmnaylor]

Don’t show, don’t show it….oh they showed it…THREE TIMES!!! 5:49 (please don’t click on the time stamp, you know what it is)

[@jasondenny4899]

Erm, what about Ric Flair? Pretty sure his entire style changed after a certain plane crash?

[@rriggs6547]

No Ric Flair? Really?! He was almost killed in a plain crash and had to completely change his whole wrestling style. Sure he became far bigger because of it, but he was never the same after the crash.

[@francisgoddard2767]

Dynamite Kid=Karma

[@Teeheehee093]

How come you never do lists for other companies?

[@jtp2007]

um they do plenty of top 10 lists for other companies.

[@reygonzalez4719]

They do, but also WWE videos bringing a lot of views

[@nullterm]

And how did Sid make the list given he was in WCW.

[@jtp2007]

@@nullterm Injury didn't have to happen in WWE. Undoubtedly, Sid was a WWE star previously.

[@supersasukemaniac]

WWE is the biggest company, so naturally it gets the most attention.

[@chrisperez8995]

finn balor deserves a spot up there.

[@rriggs6547]

Not sure if it was the injury or just bad booking. I think it was the booking personally.

[@BLACULA-Skeewoah]

@@rriggs6547 definitely the booking! He came back and they just had him losing and smiling every week... Thank god for the judgement day

[@412StepUp]

There is nothing more cringe worthy than Sid breaking his leg.

[@yadielenielbellecolon982]

🙊😔

[@grandmastermario3695]

Some of these guys like dynamite kid and bulldog, it wasn't really the injury but more so them choosing to pump themselves full of drugs that ended them more then there injuries, they could of been great main event superstars if they didn't ruin there lives with the drugs.

[@alexanderasher3461]

British Bulldog masked his pain by morphine and cocaine. Or was it crack?

[@kimble90126]

Omg

[@mrshinybald2739]

The stunner wasn't as funny post fuse

[@Lexman509]

Call me a cynic, but I still think Sid Vicious was faking the injury somehow.

[@StageRight123]

@irishmetalfan I get that sarcasm can be lost on the interwebs, but c'mon man, be smarter than that.

[@translator859]

Batista was not the same anymore after he returned 2006

[@badunderwear6662]

After bicep injury in 08, 07 was on pace to be his best year.

[@TraxelAxel]

not first

[@jdjajaisoksnjejskakssk4993]

First

[@tiger31623]

Do you watch wrestling

[@apocalypsetraining1017]

I’m gonna just put Derek Carr right about here.

[@sevenempestfxntoolsoad3183]

Candice was gr8

[@bryanhughes3460]

And there is charlotte flair who takes a few months off every year to get her bombs done. Never seen a wrestler take so much time off without being hurt