Former wrestling star Marcus 'Buff' Bagwell opens up about decision to get leg amputated
In a candid YouTube vide o shared Friday, Bagwell explained that he's spent five years attempting to save his right leg after injuring his kneecap in a 2020 car crash. Now, he's made the decision to undergo an above-the-knee amputation.
Sitting beside his fiancée, Stacy Brown, Bagwell shared how he was feeling just 12 hours before being admitted to the hospital for the operation.
'When I look down and see that I'm getting ready to amputate my leg, no more do I start getting depressed about it even for a second,' he said at the beginning of the clip. 'Instantly, I get overwhelmed with joy because of the last three years of my life.'
Why did Bagwell get his leg amputated?
Bagwell's decision to amputate his right leg came after he suffered an infection from another procedure on his injured knee following his 2020 car crash. He said he was given the choice between a '20% chance' of saving the leg through several surgeries, physical therapy and inserting a steel rod, or amputation.
Ultimately he chose to amputate the leg, expressing that he is 'really hoping this will bring a new chance at life.'
Bagwell reminisced on his his five-year healing journey since the car crash, where his vehicle ran into a shopping mall, causing a brick wall to collapse. He said the incident should have led him to '100% either been dead or been in prison.'
After the incident, the wrestler said he was in the hospital for 'weeks' at a time and had over 20 procedures. During that time, Bagwell said he entered the 'deepest, darkest addiction I've ever been in.'
'I was constantly drinking. It was crazy. It's just the worst,' he recalled, adding that he 'kept falling' and re-injuring his leg.
Bagwell continued: 'My leg wasn't healing and so I just was super depressed, and I did everything you hear. I isolated. I was still trying to work, but, I mean, I'd go to the gym on a walker.'
'All I know in my life is you fight to get better, you fight. Well, on this one I wasn't able to fix the problem for the first time.'
The wrestler explained that he was 'so angry at what happened, that instead of 'continuing to go into my addiction and drinking, I got sober.' Bagwell said in August 2022, he went to rehab.
Next month, on Aug. 27, Bagwell said marks his third year sober.
'I've been able to put together three of the best years of my life by putting in this order: God, Stacy and myself,' he said. 'I've been able to put together three years together of sobriety and three of the best, happiest, closest to God, best relationship — best personal — I've felt, together.'
Will Bagwell return to pro wrestling?
Fellow professional wrestler Maven Huffman documented Bagwell's experience in the hospital before and after the amputation surgery in a video shared Friday.
In the clip, a voiceover seemingly of Bagwell discusses his post-recovery plans, addressing whether he anticipates a return to pro wrestling.
'I'm going to be able to run and I'm going to be able to run better,' he said. 'I want to get back in the ring, hit the ropes, have a match. It'll show some that I've came out of the darkness with this thing, and I've turned it around all the way to being back in the ring as Buff Bagwell.'
As of Saturday, Bagwell hasn't publicly shared an update on his health. However, he has been active on his Instagram account, re-sharing well wishes and images of himself posted by other users onto his Instagram stories.
At the end of Bagwell's YouTube video, the wrestler also teased an upcoming video, which seems to follow him through the day he underwent the amputation.
In that video, Bagwell called the entire experience a 'weird dynamic.' Reframing his perception of the incident, he said, 'What cost me my leg got me sobriety.'
Prior to the surgery, Bagwell said he expected the procedure will help him get 'in the best shape in 20 years.'
'I'll be able to do cardio. I'll be able to eat at restaurants with my leg under the table. I'll be able to go to movies and church with my leg being out of the aisle,' he said.
Bagwell's mindset going into the operation was 'everything happens for a reason,' he said. 'I'm not depressed I didn't [amputate] two years ago. I fought the fight.'
'It's hard to take away five years of torture and to know that that torture is going to be cut off and I've got some hope that's going to be put on my leg, called a prosthetic," he said. "I'm trying to be excited about it. I think it's going to be a wonderful thing.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
a few seconds ago
- Daily Mirror
Sharon Osbourne's heartbreaking four-word message just days before Ozzy's death
The Black Sabbath singer sadly passed away just weeks after his final farewell gig Sharon Osbourne posted a heartbreaking four-word message on Instagram just days before the sad passing of her husband and Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne. Just over two weeks ago, the 76-year-old reunited the band for one last concert, called Back to the Beginning. The quartet took to the stage at Villa Park on July 5 - less than two miles from the location of their very first performance over 50 years ago. The heavy metal icon, who received a Parkinson's disease diagnosis in 2019, shared the stage with original Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Terence "Geezer" Butler, and Bill Ward. They were the last to appear on stage as part of the star-studded line-up for the farewell gig. Bands including Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N' Roses were on the lineup, and there were messages of thanks from other celebrities including Jack Black, Ricky Gervais and Dolly Parton. A little more than two weeks later, Osbourne's family confirmed his passing on Tuesday (July 22). A statement said: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family's privacy at this time." Just a few days ago, Sharon took to Instagram to post some more pictures from the Back to the Beginning concert. One touching post includes a picture of her sitting on the side of the stage, with her feet crossed, knees close to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs as she looked on lovingly towards her husband performing. The Black Sabbath singer sang while sitting on an elaborate black throne adorned with a bat-wing design at the top and skulls. The throne, seemingly the same one he used during his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, became a central element of his performance because of his health challenges. In 2020, Osbourne disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and he decided to pause his touring in 2023 following significant spinal surgery. In 2019, he experienced a fall at home, which worsened injuries from a nearly fatal quad bike accident in 2003, preventing his No More Tours 2 performances from taking place in Europe and the UK. In the caption of her post, Sharon posted a sweet four-word message. "Taking it all in", she said. At the time, the comment section was flooded with words of love and support from thousands of fans. One said: "No words…. Most Amazing tribute EVER! God Bless Ozzy." A second said: "You are such a good wife @sharonosbourne all you do to see Ozzy happy. God bless you!" A third wrote: "Your happy place." A fourth said: "This is a perfect shot." Since the news of Ozzy's passing, many people have left heartfelt comments for Sharon and her family. One person put: "Sharon, we're sending you all our love. God is with you and your family in this moment." Another added: "The heart and warrior woman right there. God bless u Sharon." One more said: "Your face says you already knew what was coming. My condolences." Someone else posted: "You knew. This shot has a deeper meaning and larger impact today of all days. RIP." Singer Yungblud, who performed Changes at the concert on July 5, with a recording of the live cover released for charity, paid tribute to Osbourne, calling him "the greatest of all time". In an Instagram post, the singer, whose real name is Dominic Harrison, shared photos of the moment he gave the late heavy metal singer a cross on a necklace, similar to the one Osbourne had previously given to him. He wrote: "I didn't think you would leave so soon the last time we met you were so full of life and your laugh filled up the room. But as it is written with legends, they seem to know things that we don't. I will never forget you – you will be in every single note I sing and with me every single time I walk on stage. "Your cross around my neck is the most precious thing I own. You asked me once if there was anything you could do for me and as I said then and as I will say now for all of us the music was enough. You took us on your adventure – an adventure that started it all. I am truly heartbroken. You were the greatest of all time." What is Parkinson's disease? According to the NHS, Parkinson's disease is a "condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years." It adds: "Parkinson's disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in part of the brain called the substantia nigra. This leads to a reduction in a chemical called dopamine in the brain." The main symptoms of Parkinson's disease are: involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body (tremor) slow movement stiff and inflexible muscles A person with Parkinson's disease can also experience a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms. These include: depression and anxiety balance problems (this may increase the chances of a fall) loss of sense of smell (anosmia) problems sleeping (insomnia) memory problems The health service continued: "Most people with Parkinson's start to develop symptoms when they're over 50, although some people with the condition first experience symptoms when they're under 40. Men are slightly more likely to get Parkinson's disease than women."
Scottish Sun
30 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Watch emotional moment Ozzy Osbourne speaks about amazing life with Sharon in resurfaced moment from The Osbournes
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OZZY Osbourne revealed his admiration for wife Sharon and the dependence the whole family has on her in a resurfaced clip from reality show The Osbournes. The Prince of Darkness, who died yesterday aged 76, was married to manager Sharon for 43 years. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Ozzy Osbourne revealed wife Sharon was the leader of the family in a resurfaced clip from their reality show Credit: YouTube 3 Soulmates Ozzy and Sharon married in 1982 Credit: Getty Their relationship was tumultuous at times, particularly in the late 80s when Ozzy's appetite for drink and drugs was at an all time high, but they weathered the difficult moments to have one of the most enduring marriages in music. Speaking on the family's MTV show in the early noughties, Ozzy said: "My wife Sharon is the leader. We all depend on her for everything. I'm like the monkey on the piano. I do the jumping and she plays the tunes. "I lie in Beverly Hills, and that itself from where I come from is incredible." Ozzy died at home in his stunning mansion in Welders, Buckinghamshire "surrounded by love". It came just two weeks after he performed his final ever gig with Black Sabbath, a star-studded affair at Villa Park just a stone's throw from the house he grew up in. Sharon and their children Aimee, Jack and Kelly, was by his side when he passed away. A statement from his family said on Tuesday evening: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. "He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. "Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis." Ozzy, who had Parkinson's disease, spent his final months filming a documentary about his family's return to the UK. Ozzy Osbourne dead: Black Sabbath singer dies aged 76 weeks after touching final show The BBC One docuseries, which would have featured Sharon, Kelly and Jack, was tragically never finished. A source said: 'The filming was on and off again so many times, mainly because of Ozzy's health.' A showman until the very end, Ozzy bravely battled with his health problems to perform short sets of solo material and Sabbath classics. He sang from a gothic throne befitting his status as the Godfather of metal, and at times appeared desperate to climb onto his feet. A source told The Sun: 'Ozzy was having singing lessons almost every day in preparation for his last show wanting to go out with a bang. 'He was in constant pain and had nurses tending to him around the clock but was determined to play this last show. 'His determination came from wanting to play for the fans one last time who gave him the amazing life he and Sharon have enjoyed together. 'Despite his ailments, Ozzy was still very much all there. Sharp-witted and loved to crack a joke. 'After the show, Ozzy was looking forward to fully retiring at Welders with Sharon, spending their last days together in Buckinghamshire. 'Despite all their well known ups and downs over the years, the love Sharon and Ozzy share was strong until the end.' Admired by artists from Motley Crue, Elton John and Bon Jovi to Metallica, Guns & Roses and Yungblud, Ozzy was a lovable rogue whose magnetic personality transcended the stage. In 2001, he appealed to a whole new audience after appearing in reality TV show The Osbournes with his family. Its first series was the most-watched show ever on MTV and propelled Jack and Kelly into stardom, with the latter enjoying a music career of her own. The family later starred in the reality series The Osbournes Want to Believe and special The Osbournes: Night of Terror, which both focused on paranormal investigations.
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Battlefield 6 trailer: how to watch reveal and release time?
Battlefield 6 will be officially revealed this week 👀 Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Battlefield 6 will finally be revealed this week. Fans will get a first look at the highly anticipated game. But when exactly can you watch the first trailer? After months of rumours and speculation fans will finally get the first glimpse at Battlefield 6 this week. The latest entry in the long-running franchise is set to be revealed shortly, EA has confirmed. Battlefield 6 will be the first new entry in the series since 2021's Battlefield 2042 - which had a decidedly mixed reaction from players and critics on release. A brief teaser confirmed the date of the reveal and fans don't have much longer to wait. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The game will be the thirteenth installment in the franchise since its debut back in 2002 with Battlefield 1942. The promo image appears to hint at a more modern setting, instead of the near-future styling of the Battlefield 2042. Here's all you need to know about the reveal. Including how to watch it this week. When is the Battlefield 6 reveal trailer out? Battlefield 6 will be revealed on July 24 | Battlefield/ Twitter EA has confirmed that it will be giving fans the first proper look at the next entry in the Battlefield franchise on Thursday (July 24). The teaser is due to be released at 3.57pm British time, according to YouTube. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For audiences in America, that works out at 12.57pm ET/ 9.57am PT. So fans across the Atlantic will not have to wait long after waking up on Thursday. How to watch the Battlefield 6 reveal? The first trailer for the latest instalment in the Battlefield franchise is set to be released on YouTube. As previously mentioned, it will drop at approximately 3.57pm on July 24. If you go to the YouTube link - click here - you can set a reminder by hitting the bell icon. It means you will get an alert before the trailer debuts, reminding you to tune in. Battlefield 6 looks to be the franchise's first return to a modern setting Battlefield 4/ Hardline. The last numbered title in the series - Battlefield V - was set in World War 2. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What would you like to see from Battlefield 6 and what would be most likely to get you to play? Let me know your thoughts by email: .
