To quote former WWE Champion Daniel Bryan, wrestling fans can be fickle. It can take performers years to gain the respect of fans, and only a second to lose it all. This usually happens in the context of kayfabe, where characters make decisions that rub fans the wrong way, causing them to turn against certain wrestlers.
10 Times Wrestling Fans Turned On Babyfaces In The Middle Of A Match
Just because these wrestlers were babyfaces going into the match, didn’t mean that fans were going to cheer for them!
But sometimes, wrestlers can hang up their boots with the fans’ respect intact. They may not have been perfect as performers, but they did enough. But that doesn’t mean their legacies are secure, far from it. Over the years, several wrestlers have lost the respect of fans after retiring, either because of controversial actions in the present, or problematic behaviors from the past coming to light.
Ryback’s Controversial Statements Draw The Ire Of Fans
The Big Guy’s Big Mouth Isn’t For Everyone
- Ryback has made lots of controversial statements
- He has targeted several other wrestlers
For a little while, it really felt like Ryback could have been a main event star. Fans loved his powerhouse in-ring style, and arenas nationwide chanted ‘Feed Me More’ for The Big Guy. But pretty soon after that, he fell down the card and parted ways with the company.
It was around this time that he took to social media to share his thoughts. This included calling Triple H a disappointment after he was forced to retire, and saying John Cena was a poison to the industry. These were just a couple of his comments among a series of them. And each of them ensured that he chipped away at what little respect wrestling fans had left for him.
Bret Hart Can’t Seem To Let Go Of The Past
The Hitman Has Turned Bitter In His Retirement
- Bret Hart can’t let go of the past
- It makes him seem bitter
Bret Hart is one of the greatest in-ring technicians the industry has ever seen. He won multiple world titles and was one of the faces of the New Generation Era. But a couple of shocking moments came to define his life; the Montreal Screwjob, and that one kick from Goldberg in WCW that ended his career.
10 Harsh Realities About Bret Hart His Fans Need To Realize
Bret Hart fans need to accept some harsh truths about The Hitman that prove no wrestling career is perfect.
Legions of fans still love Hart, but many also feel that he held onto grudges for far too long. His hatred for Goldberg in particular has almost become a meme of sorts. That long-term bitterness has caused some fans to sour on The Hitman.
Chyna’s Downfall Was Difficult To Watch
The Ninth Wonder Of The World Deserved Better
- Chyna’s personal troubles led to her downfall
- She was never given her due by WWE
Chyna revolutionized the idea of what a woman could achieve in a major wrestling promotion. One of the most physically imposing figures of all time, Chyna should be a regularly featured part of WWE’s legacy.
Unfortunately, after her WWE career ended, her life took a dark turn. In addition to issues with substances, forays into adult movies ensured that she was basically never mentioned on programming. In the years since her death, fans have become more appreciative of her once more, with many even clamoring for a solo Hall of Fame induction. But despite leaving a lasting legacy as the most dominant woman WWE has ever seen, it seems unlikely she’ll ever get her due.
His Outspokenness Has Caused Trouble
- Venis portrayed an adult film star
- He has been openly transphobic on social media
The Val Venis character was first introduced to WWE fans back in 1998. The gimmick saw Sean Allen Morley portray an adult film star, who just happened to be competing for the largest professional wrestling promotion in the world. It was a pretty liberated character to portray, if nothing else.
But the man behind the gimmick is anything but. He came under fire back in 2020 for making transphobic comments against AEW star Nyla Rose. He made another transphobic comment on an edited image of Cody Rhodes posing with the trans flag. He was also banned from social media for posting an explicit image claiming that it was Hunter Biden and Malia Obama. The man is now reviled by most fans and wrestlers.
Sunny Succumbed To Her Demons
She Has Repeatedly Gotten Into Trouble With The Law
- Sunny had repeated run-ins with law enforcement
- She is in prison until December 2039
There was a time when Sunny was the biggest star in WWE. Despite not being a wrestler, fans flocked to arenas in droves to see her. But towards the end of her run, she gained a reputation for no-showing events, along with a growing addiction to painkillers. When the 2010s rolled around, Sunny would find herself in one run-in with the law after another.
In March 2022, Sunny was involved in a car crash that killed a man. It was later revealed her blood alcohol content was 3.5 times over the legal amount. She was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison and is expected to be released in December 2039. It has been a shocking downfall of one of WWE’s most beloved stars.
Bill DeMott’s Misconduct Finally Comes To Light
The Trainer Was Abusive Towards Young Wrestlers
- DeMott was abusive as head trainer in NXT
- He was racist, homophobic, and condoned sexual harassment
Bill DeMott had a decent enough career working with WWE and WCW before retiring as a wrestler in 2010. He returned to WWE, this time as a trainer on Tough Enough, eventually becoming the head trainer in NXT. He would be in that role until March 2015. Several FCW, DSW, and NXT employees spoke up against some of DeMott’s behavior.
This included condoning sexual harassment, using racist and homophobic slurs, and even making trainees perform exceptionally dangerous drills. A lot of fans were turned off by the fact that DeMott had used his power to repeatedly abuse up-and-coming stars.
Kane’s Political Career Has Caused Bumps Along The Road
Some Of His Political Stances Have Been Received Negatively By Fans
- Jacobs’ stance on a controversial ruling upset a lot of fans
- Several fans have asked WWE to never bring him back
Kane is one of the greatest wrestling characters of all time, but that character is a thing of the past. The man behind the gimmick, Glenn Jacobs, is a Republican and the Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.
He came under a lot of fire (no pun intended!) in June 2022 after celebrating the extremely controversial ruling that hurt women’s autonomy. Legions of fans blasted the WWE Hall of Famer, pointing out his hypocrisy by showcasing previous posts he had made. Meanwhile, other fans pleaded with WWE to never bring him back onto programming.
Ric Flair’s Wheelin’ And Dealin’ Past Comes Back To Haunt Him
The Plane Ride From Hell Has Truly Lived Up To Its Name
- Dark Side of the Ring exposed Ric Flair’s behavior on The Plane Ride From Hell
- He was not really punished for his actions at the time
For decades, Ric Flair was one of the most revered wrestlers ever. Fans around the world resonated with his character and loved to see him whenever he popped up on programming.
10 Unpopular Opinions About Ric Flair (According To Reddit)
Let’s take a look at a few unpopular opinions about Ric Flair that have shown up on Reddit.
But the Dark Side of the Ring episode that focused on the notorious Plane Ride From Hell changed a lot of that. Fans always knew Flair was a controversial man, but learning that he basically forced himself on a flight attendant and then faced no real punishment made a lot of fans mad. AEW was also heavily criticized for signing him, with many fans pointing out that he should not be given a platform after all of this came to light.
Many Fans And Wrestlers Haven’t Forgiven Him For The Things He Said
- A leaked tape saw Hulk Hogan be racist
- Several fans and a number of wrestlers still do not accept him
Hulk Hogan’s contribution to the sports entertainment business cannot be denied. For years, he was the biggest star in the industry, and countless shows were sold out, just so people could see The Hulkster. Even after he retired, fans always loved to see him make a special appearance and let Hulkamania run wild.
But that changed in 2015, when a leaked tape from 2007 saw Hogan make several racist comments including the use of the N-word. He was temporarily fired and removed from the Hall of Fame by WWE. While he was eventually brought back into the fold, several fans and wrestlers have lost all respect for him.
The Fabulous Moolah’s Extremely Dark Past
She Exploited Other Wrestlers For Personal Gain
- Moolah did everything in her power to exploit others for personal gain
- This included financial and sexual exploitation, and pimping out trainees to promoters
Stories of The Fabulous Moolah’s reprehensible behavior had been around for a long time, but they all found a spotlight when WWE decided to name a WrestleMania Battle Royal after her. It was quickly revealed that Moolah financially and sexually exploited countless young trainees and wrestlers.
She was also accused of drugging several trainees in the hopes of keeping them under her control, while ‘pimping’ them out to regional promoters and male wrestlers. There’s also all the manipulation she did in the United States women’s wrestling scene to ensure that she never lost her spot at the top. With all of this coming out, almost all wrestling fans have pretty much erased her from their minds, and her legacy is spoken about only in hushed whispers, at best.
