Wrestlers Who Destroyed Their Careers In A Matter Of Seconds

Wrestlers have used the world of grappling and jumping off ropes as a bridge to many other things, whether it be acting, modeling, or simply cementing themselves as some of the greatest to ever step into a ring. Names like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and even John Cena come to mind when speaking about those who have cemented their legacy as a few of the legends in the business.

Unfortunately, we won't be talking about any of those people. As a matter of fact, you've probably never even heard of some of the names on this list. That's because, in one fell swoop, their careers went from being full of promise to complete lost causes. If there's one thing we'll see here, it's how it takes only one decision to seal your fate, especially in the wrestling ring. Let's take a look at some of the wrestlers who destroyed their careers in a matter of seconds.

Robbie McAllister (real name Derek Graham-Couch) was one half of The Highlanders, a tag-team in WWE during the noughties. McAlister was caught in attendance at a TNA show while under contract with WWE in 2008, and it goes without saying that that's a big no-no. In an interview with World Wrestling Insanity's ClubWWI (via ProWrestling.net), McAllister shed some insight, claiming, "I don't even understand why I did it. But it could have been a subconscious thing that I did it because [WWE] weren't using us."

The trouble didn't stop there, however. McAllister went on to explain some of the heat he got when he returned to his hotel, where some other WWE stars were staying — most notably The Undertaker and Fit Finlay. "Actually, [The Undertaker] was all over me. At the end, there was Fit Finlay, he was all over me," the wrestler revealed, adding, "I'm like, 'Listen, guys. I can't tell you why. I screwed up. It's a screw-up on my part. Why do you think I'm standing in front of ya? I need to hear this because I just did the stupidest thing in my life? And I'm going to hear the repercussions.'"

According to WhatCulture, both Robbie and his tag-team partner Rory McAllister paid (quite literally) for his mistake. The outlet claimed the two were "pulled from their planned WrestleMania appearance, and lost a $5,000 paycheck because of it." The duo was released in August of that year.

Kevin Wacholz, better known as Nailz, had a brief run in the WWF/E in 1992. Utilizing the gimmick of an ex-con, Nailz entered the WWE and feuded with the Big Boss Man, a wrestler with a prison guard gimmick who Nailz claimed abused him because ... '90s wrestling. The feud went over well and even landed Nailz some matches against the era's top stars such as Sgt. Slaughter, The Undertaker, and The Ultimate Warrior. However, hopes of top-stardom were thrown down the drain after SummerSlam '92. As R.D. Reynold's writes in "WrestleCrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling," Nailz "approached Vince McMahon behind the scenes, upset about his payoff." He proceeded to pummel the Chairman in his office.

Although there are no comments on the incident from the two involved, those who were there have spoken out, such as Bret Hart. In an interview with Kayfabe Commentaries, Hart recalled, "I was right outside the door. I didn't see it happen, but I could hear all of it, and [Nailz] was shrieking." He went on to say, "Clearly, the guy on the other side of the door was losing it and losing it badly." Meanwhile, Bruce Prichard revealed in his "Something to Wrestle" podcast that, "it wasn't a fight; at least from all the witnesses that were there. It was pretty much, you heard the voices raised, you heard the crash, and then everybody was in there."

Nailz was subsequently terminated for unprofessional conduct.

Ken Anderson has a history with both WWE and TNA. Although he got fired from both companies, with his WWE fate being solidified after a botched backdrop to Randy Orton resulting in a neck injury, it's how things went down with TNA that really put the nail in the coffin. According to Pro Wrestling Sheet, Anderson had a major push in store with his "Huh" talk show segment before it all came to a screeching halt. Inquisitr reported that Anderson "appeared to be sluggish and stumbling around" during a 2016 match with Eric Young, which led to Anderson taking a drug test immediately afterward. They also report that Anderson "ended up testing positive for some medications of which he did not have a prescription." 

Anderson was also caught on video yelling, "F*** TNA!" at an ICW show in Scotland, which he claims was taken out of context. Speaking with "The Pancakes and Powerslams" podcast (via SE Scoops), Anderson explained, "You can say whatever you want on the mic. Anything goes. So, they started chanting, 'F TNA!, F TNA!' I said 'Okay, I don't work for them anymore, so yeah, I agree.'" 

While it's never been confirmed what exact drug Anderson was on during his match against Young, the wrestler did admit during a 2017 interview with "The Steve Austin Show" (via Wrestling Inc) that he was abusing pain pills "a little too much" when he was in the WWE. As he revealed, "Mostly the pain pill, Vicodin, was my vice."

Amy Zidian was only around for a cup of coffee (as they say). Initially a contestant in 2006's WWE "Diva Search" (think "America's Next Top Model" for female wrestlers), Zidian was brought on as a valet for SmackDown's resident cowboy Jimmy Wang Yang. This was done so that Zidian could get first-hand experience of the wrestling business without having to actually wrestle a match.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via Bleacher Report), Zidian "asked Vickie Guerrero how she became a diva when the rest of the women in WWE were in shape." She also insulted some other former "Diva Search" contestants, but what really sealed her fate was asking Stephanie McMahon (Vince's daughter) "who she was to give her advice" when she was just trying to help her with a segment. 

WWE's Vice President of Talent Relations, John Laurinaitis (who you might remember from his "People Power" General Manager gimmick), was a big fan of Zidian's but couldn't save her after a mistake that huge. Jimmy Wang Yang, on the other hand, recalls how quick the firing happened in an interview with Tommy Dreamer's "House of Hardcore's Podcast," stating, "I think the rounds got around that she didn't know who Stephanie was, didn't know who Vickie was. Ok, this girl definitely doesn't belong in this business." And just like that, Zidian was gone.

Bret "The Hitman" Hart was undoubtedly a wrestling superstar. The five-time WWE champion jumped to WCW after the infamous Montreal Screwjob at Survivor Series '97, one of the most shocking events in all of wrestling: Hart not only spits in Vince McMahon's face but is seen lettering "WCW" in the air. Little did The Hitman know it was the beginning of the end for him.

After one dreadful storyline after another, his career came to a screeching halt when he suffered a career-ending injury in '99 after a boot to the head by Bill Goldberg. This led to concussion issues that forced him into retirement, a sad end for the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be.

In an interview with WWE Backstage, Hart reflected, "If I could do it all over again, I think I'd try to figure out a better way to stay in WWE."

The Montreal Screwjob of 1997, where Brett Hart was screwed over for real by Vince McMahon, remains one of the most infamous examples of politics being played out in front of a live audience. However, some 12 years earlier, another screwjob occurred in the WWE, one that until recently was seldom discussed. In 1985, Wendi Richter was the reigning WWE Women's Champion and arguably the number one female wrestler in the country. Backstage relations between Richter and WWE management were strained, with ongoing contract negotiations coming to a stall, per Bleacher Report. Unhappy with Richter's resistance to sign a new contract, Vince McMahon orchestrated a secret plan to take the women's title away from her.

In the hallowed grounds of Madison Square Garden, Richter was pit against an unknown masked wrestler called The Spider. Going against the scheduled finish, The Spider defeated her opponent by forcibly pinning her to the mat. Unmasked, she was revealed to be none other than the Fabulous Moolah, Richter's former friend and mentor. Thus spelled the abrupt end of Richter's promising career.

"It was rigged to where the referee gave me a fast count and that was that. ... Nobody has ever hurt me like they hurt me," Richter told Prime Time with Sean Mooney, adding, "I wanted to speak to Vince McMahon and he was nowhere to be found. I gathered up my stuff and left in my wrestling suit to the airport and that's the last I had any communication with the WWF."

Being the entertainment form that it is, professional wrestling requires cooperation between opponents, not only to effectively tell a story in the ring but to ensure each other's safety. Failure to do so can result in both serious injury and an end to one's career trajectory, which is exactly what happened to former WWE star Perry Saturn in 2001.

Saturn, an experienced wrestler, was pitted against an enhancement talent, Mike Bell, whose sole purpose was to put him over in what was effectively a squash match. During the short bout, Bell accidentally dropped Saturn on his shoulder when performing a hip-toss. Consequently, Saturn furiously beat Bell for real, throwing him out of the ring where, to the horror of the crowd and announcers, he landed on his neck, a move that could have paralyzed him.

On his eponymous show, fellow wrestler Kurt Angle condemned Saturn's actions. "When you have a less experienced wrestler that's so fired up to wrestle a WWE superstar ... he's going to get a little antsy. ... He might end up losing his mind a little bit," Angle said, lamenting, "what Perry did was just beat him up. It was really sad." As punishment, Saturn was given a character makeover in which he pursued a romantic relationship with a mop named Moppy (yes, really), per "The Complete WWF Video Guide Volume V." Released from the company soon after, he struggled with homelessness and drug use, though he has fortunately since recovered, per 1Wrestling.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

It has been publicly known for decades that professional wrestling is a predetermined form of entertainment rather than a legitimate sport, unlike, say, football or MMA. However, the reality of the physical risks of competing are very high — and potentially life-threatening. Such was sadly the case for Darren Drozdov.

Drozdov transitioned from the world of college football to the WWE in the late '90s, performing under the name Droz. However, the burgeoning star's career was tragically cut short at the age of 30. In a pre-taped episode of SmackDown in 1999, Droz wrestled seasoned professional D'Lo Brown when the latter executed his trademark power bomb. But the move went horrifically wrong. Per Fox Sports, Drozdov suffered life-changing injuries and was left a quadriplegic, requiring 24-hour care. Brown, who prided himself on working safely in the ring, was devastated and contemplated retirement from wrestling entirely. Speaking with Title Match Wrestling, he called the incident "the worst day of my life." The match was never televised and Brown said that he and Droz have refused to rewatch the footage.

Despite Brown's feelings of immense guilt, Drozdov holds no ill will towards him. "I have no hard feelings toward D'Lo because s*** happens and everyone who gets involved in athletics, including WWE, knows the risks that exist," he told Fox Sports. "It was an accident." Droz declared that he has embraced life as a disabled person, adding, "Just because I'm paralyzed... doesn't mean my life is over. I've learned to live again."

Professional wrestling is renowned for blurring the lines between reality and fiction. A longstanding tradition in the industry, known as kayfabe, is that performers do not overtly break character even away from the ring. By the turn of the millennium, this practice had relaxed somewhat; however, some wrestlers have incurred the wrath of management by not living up to their onscreen personas.

Serena Deeb was one such victim. She debuted on WWE television in 2010 as a convert to CM Punk's fledgling Straight Edge Society stable whose members would loudly and proudly refrain from vices such as drugs and alcohol. As part of her on-air initiation into the group, she had her head shaved, per Pro Wrestling Torch. But when she was caught drinking away from the ring soon after, and not living up to the lifestyle of her character, Deeb was promptly fired, per Bleacher Report.

Speaking with The Washington Post, Deeb revealed that her firing was precipitated by personal tragedy; her father was dying of cancer and she admitted to dealing with the trauma in an unhealthy way. Then came the fateful day when Vince McMahon released her. "It was a devastating call, but I had this sense of relief," she said. "That chapter had to close because I was heading in a really bad direction." Now, Deeb has had a career resurgence thanks to joining All Elite Wrestling, where she says her treatment is far superior to that which she experienced at WWE.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).