Latest news with #pro wrestling
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
WWE legend forced to have leg amputated after car crash in harrowing health update – ‘this is hard'
WCW legend Buff Bagwell had his leg amputated five years after a horror car crash from which he struggled to recover. Bagwell, 55, stood out during the late 1990s and early 2000s when pro wrestling fans enjoyed the infamous Monday Night Wars between WCW and eventual winners WWE. 2 The Georgia native hadn't wrestled at top level since 2001 when his brief stint with Vince McMahon 's promotion was ended just four months into his tenure. The former nWo member would then make sporadic appearances for the likes of TNA and the independent circuit, with his latest performance taking place in November 2024. That was four years after a shock crash that damaged his right leg so badly he found himself in a long and hard battle not to lose it. Despite multiple procedures and years of rehabilitation, however, Bagwell's friend Steve Stasiak announced on social media his leg had to be amputated above the knee following complications. Stasiak posted on Facebook: "Yesterday morning, Marcus Bagwell—Buff Bagwell—had his leg amputated above the knee. "I've known Buff a long time. I've seen him in the spotlight, I've seen him behind the scenes, and I've seen him fight through things most people never even hear about. "This one… this is hard. For him. For everyone who knows and loves him. "The injuries from his 2020 accident never fully healed. He gave it everything he had to avoid this outcome—but that fight led him here. And now begins a whole new kind of battle. "Buff was one of the brightest stars of a wild era in wrestling. He made you look. He made you care. But it's who he is as a person—past the lights, past the persona—that I hope people think about today. "If you're reading this, I just ask that you send a little love out into the world for Buff. No grand gestures. Just something real. A thought, a prayer, a moment." WWE legend John Cena's Wimbledon interview goes viral as fans say 'I need this level of confidence' And a number of WWE fans responded to Stasiak's call by sharing their love and support following the tragic news. One posted: "God will never send a test that you can't handle." Another commented: "Keep fighting, you got this." A third wrote: "Sending love and prayers." This fan said: "Sending love and positive thoughts and vibes his way." And that one stated: "I love you brother, Never give in, Never Give up." 'I am gone' Bagwell previously opened up about the accident, which occurred after he consumed alcohol and seemingly blacked out on the wheel. The Stuff stated no one else got hurt and shared all the details about the awful ordeal he went through following the crash. The former heavyweight lifted the lid on his battle with alcohol addiction the preceded the crash and how he managed to gain sobriety as well as a newfound love for God. Bagwell recently said: "I was heading home [from his father's house] and I had just had surgery, ironically this foot had pins in it and I had got this knee scoped for a minor meniscus tear. 'It was like a dream' "I had been drinking, just a few beers but whatever happened, I'm going down the road with a diet coke and I am gone. I am gone. But you don't realize you are gone. "It was like a dream. I remember hitting cars, seeing faces look at me. I got off at the wrong exit and somehow, I drove through a men's and women's bathroom. "The wreck runied my kneecap. From there, that started this whole journey, trying to fix my leg. "At one stage, I was in the hospital for seven weeks and every three days, I had a surgery. It just wouldn't get better. "I was so angry at what happened. I didn't think I could get sober but August of 2022 I went to rehab. August 2025, 27th, I will be three years sober. "The last three years of my life, I get overwhelmed with joy. I have been able to put together three of the best years of my life by putting God, Stacey [his fiancee] and myself in that order.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WWE's Seth Rollins Ranks Wrestling's All-Time Greatest Finishing Moves
Rich Eisen Show guest host WWE Superstar Seth Rollins power ranks his all-time Top 10 pro wrestling finishing moves.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WWE, AEW power rankings: Whirlwind weekend of wrestling chaos gives us a brand new No. 1
It was the biggest weekend in pro wrestling since WrestleMania (and arguably a better one too), but what did it mean for our Uncrowned power rankings? From new champions and No. 1 contenders to one of the most unexpected Money In The Bank cash-ins in years, there was plenty to upset the hierarchy in both major promotions. Here's where our rankings stand after more than 12 hours of PLE-quality wrestling across a frantic weekend. Advertisement MEN'S POWER RANKINGS 10. LA Knight (Prev: NR) Is the long-standing fan favorite finally primed for the world title scene? LA Knight might not have triumphed in the gauntlet match on 'WWE Raw' to determine Gunther's next contender, but his inclusion in the match in the first place was interpreted as a big sign as to WWE's future intentions for 'The Megastar.' If you need a babyface contender to take on a heel champion like Gunther (or maybe even Seth Rollins) before long, surely he has to be the go-to choice? 9. MJF (Prev: NR) Is it a coincidence that 'AEW Dynamite' has been on a roll at the same time that MJF is hitting his stride again? No doubt wrestling's most arrogant man would be quick to take the credit in either case, and given the quality of his work with Jay Briscoe and Místico, can you really blame him? Having emerged victorious in the Men's Casino Gauntlet match at All In, AEW's most charismatic heel suddenly finds himself at the front of the queue for a world title shot. There's no doubt about it: MJF is back, baby. Advertisement 8. Gunther (Prev: 7) Being chosen as the man to retire Goldberg was a serious honor for WWE's world heavyweight champion. But will it be his last successful title defense on this particular run? With a blockbuster match against CM Punk on the horizon — and the threat of a Seth Rollins cash-in hovering over him — you have to question whether 'The Ring General' is due to take a rare "L" come SummerSlam. Whatever happens, though, don't expect Gunther to be down for long; already there are reports WWE wants him to be the man to retire John Cena in December. 7. Bron Breakker (Prev: NR) What a year it's been for wrestling's most intimidating nepo baby who seems to get stronger every week in terms of his presentation. If it's true that Rollins really is sidelined with injury, then will it be Breakker who gets another big push to fill that particular void? Judging by the massive events on this week's 'Raw,' it certainly feels that way, as the former Intercontinental champ looks set for action against Roman Reigns at SummerSlam. Given that Breakker is destined to be a top guy for many years to come, there's a decent chance he wins such an encounter. Advertisement 6. Roman Reigns (Prev: NR) Another year, another return for 'The Tribal Chief,' who came riding to the rescue at the end of this week's 'Raw,' just in time for SummerSlam. The prospect of a Reigns vs. Breakker feud has been on our wishlist ever since Breakker hit "The OTC" with a massive spear on this year's 'Raw after Mania' — and now that looks like it's happening, either as a singles match or a tag with Jey Uso and Bronson Reed. Let's hope it delivers the kind of electricity that the Reigns vs. Sikoa feud failed to generate. Roman Reigns made his presence felt in a hurry on Monday's "WWE Raw." (WWE via Getty Images) 5. John Cena (Prev: 3) Has John Cena been taking all those tired 'you can't see me' jokes too seriously? After all, the WWE's Universal Champion has been completely invisible from the televised shows since his team's defeat at Night of Champions. The only place I've seen him this month was in the crowds at Wimbledon. Given his absence, you'd better hope WWE has something big planned for his upcoming appearance with Cody Rhodes on this week's 'SmackDown.' Either that, or this heel run could soon run out of steam entirely. Advertisement 4. Seth Rollins (Prev: 6) Depending on your view on that ending to his SNME match with LA Knight, 'The Visionary' is either facing months on the couch with another unfortunate injury or is on the verge of executing one of the most devilish briefcase cash-ins of the past decade. Is the knee injury genuine? Leaving aside the wisdom of these fake injury angles (I detest them, personally), the answer to that question could decide whether Rollins rockets to the top of this list by the end of the summer or drops out of it entirely. 3. CM Punk (Prev: 2) Of the various would-be world title contenders who entered the gauntlet on Monday's latest 'Raw," only one was standing tall at the end of it all: CM Punk. Having consistently proven himself — and stayed out of trouble — since returning to WWE just over 18 months ago, you get a sense that Punk has earned this particular title shot in more ways than one. Unlike his rendezvous with John Cena — for which Punk deserves massive credit for re-energizing the whole Cena heel run — the result of this one won't be a foregone conclusion. Advertisement 2. Hangman Adam Page (Prev: 5) The right man triumphed in Texas, as 'Hangman' Adam Page took back the AEW World Championship following a suitably blood-splattered deathmatch against the ever-controversial Jon Moxley. In truth, a Hangman victory always seemed like by far the more likely option, but that didn't stop us watching the All In finale with a sense of nervousness, just in case Tony Khan did the unthinkable. In any event, the fact that the odds were so strongly in his favor is a tribute to the work of Hangman, who has spent the past few months reminding everyone why he deserves to be the man to carry Khan's company into the next phase of its existence. 1. Cody Rhodes (Prev: 1) Halfway through the summer and it's the babyfaces who are back on top when it comes to the power rankings (at least on the men's side anyway), with Cody Rhodes in the ultimate podium place. Having won King of the Ring in Saudi Arabia, "The American Nightmare" now receives his big rematch with John Cena at SummerSlam, where the overwhelming expectation is that Rhodes will get the chance to reverse the injustice of WrestleMania 41. Advertisement It might not have the same emotional hook as the whole 'finishing the story' angle but it certainly makes 'The American Nightmare' look like the most powerful man in wrestling right now. Cody Rhodes celebrates his win during WWE Night Of Champions. (WWE via Getty Images) WOMEN'S POWER RANKINGS 10. Athena (Prev: NR) Did you hear the huge hometown pop when Athena made her entrance at this past weekend's Women's Casino Gauntlet Match at All In? Impressive as it was, that ear-busting roar was topped within 20 minutes, when the former Ring of Honor champ scored the big pinfall, making her the No. 1 contender for AEW's Women's World Championship. The former WWE talent clearly has Tony Khan's backing and deserves all the plaudits for her recent work. Advertisement 9. Becky Lynch (Prev: NR) WWE's veteran Irish star has been on one hell of a run since her big return at WrestleMania, embarking on one of the feuds of the year with Lyra Valkyria and delivering an absolutely stellar triple-threat to kick off Evolution. While few will be expecting Lynch to walk away from her SummerSlam match (the completion of her trilogy with Valkyria) holding the Intercontinental title, you can't deny she's done a stellar job at raising the profile of that particular prize. 8. Lyra Valkyria (Prev: NR) Lynch's protege turned fierce rival has been on an absolute tear this year, delivering the standout match at Backlash as well as that aforementioned curtain-raiser as Evolution. If you want a barometer to just how quickly the WWE audiences are growing to respect Valkyria, listen to how those trademark 'woos' are getting louder when she enters the arena. Come SummerSlam in New Jersey, you'll probably hear them from Central Park. Lyra Valkyria tore down the house with Becky Lynch and Bayley during WWE Evolution. (WWE via Getty Images) 7. Iyo Sky (Prev: 1) While Iyo Sky's title reign might have come to an end (at least for now), no one can say that the 'Genius of the Sky' didn't leave a massive mark during her time at the top — as evidenced by that absolute sensational match with Rhea Ripley to cap off Evolution. While her booking hasn't always done her justice, Sky has consistently proven her worth as a generational in-ring performer and one of the brightest lights in the entire women's wrestling landscape. Advertisement 6. Tiffany Stratton (Prev: 5) It was a largely ceremonial victory for Tiffany Stratton at Evolution, who was surely never in any danger of dropping her women's championship to part-timer Trish Stratus. The former NXT champ is now approaching the nine-month mark in her title reign, having chalked up two seriously impressive defenses: one against Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania and one against Nia Jax in a street fight on 'SmackDown.' Whether or not she retains when she faces Jade Cargill at SummerSlam, you suspect Stratton's time in the spotlight is only beginning. 5. Stephanie Vaquer (Prev: NR) It's a fitting tribute to Stephanie Vaquer's stratospheric rise that she already feels like an established name on 'Raw' and a genuine threat to its top talents. In fact, it's only been three months since the Chilean superstar got her big promotion from NXT, during which time she's gone on to team with Rhea Ripley, participate in MITB, and win the 20-women battle royal at Evolution. Now she heads to Clash in Paris for a much-deserved shot at the title of her choosing. Whatever happens in France, she has to be a shoo-in for 2025 Rookie of the Year. Advertisement 4. Jade Cargill (Prev: 6) Being crowned Queen in the Ring was just the latest in a long line of accomplishments for Jade Cargill, who went from her legendary record-breaking run in AEW to making one of the most anticipated WWE debuts in years. With Naomi's MITB briefcase now out of the picture (more on that later...) does Cargill now head to SummerSlam as the favorite to leave with the women's championship? Based on how she's been booked so far, that would look like the most likely outcome. Jade Cargill makes her entrance after winning at WWE Night of Champions. (WWE via Getty Images) 3. Toni Storm (Prev: 8) Just in case you hadn't gotten the message by now, All In provided yet another reminder: Never doubt Toni Storm. While many figured the starlet's days as AEW women's champion were numbered the second we found out she'd be facing Mercedes Moné in Texas, some of us kept the faith and correctly tipped Storm for the victory. Getting the backing from Tony Khan to express her creative side has to be one of the best things to ever happen to Storm, even if we do cringe a bit at her press conference performances. Advertisement 2. Rhea Ripley (Prev: 4) She might not have left with the big prize on Sunday, but there's no doubt: Rhea Ripley was one of the very biggest winners from this weekend's Evolution. As with the Netflix debut on 'Raw,' WWE wisely chose to put 'The Eradicator' front and center when it came to promoting the all-women event and were rewarded with another barnstormer of a match between Ripley and Iyo Sky. Title or not, can anyone beat Ripley when it comes to the massive crowd reactions she receives when her theme song hits? Perhaps WWE needs to bring back that decibel-meter and put it to the test. 1. Naomi (Prev: 2) As much as we've raved about Naomi's performances this year, did we really expect her to leave Evolution as the Women's World Champion? God knows that I certainly didn't. Though as the woman herself explained on 'Raw' this week, wasn't that exactly the point — to catch us off-guard? While we were all speculating as to whether she'd cash in during Jade vs. Tiffy at SummerSlam, we were blindsided when she came for Iyo Sky's world championship instead. Perhaps we should have paid closer attention to her warnings. Advertisement Whether you saw it coming or not, there's no question that the former TNA champ has earned her place at the top of the WWE hierarchy since embarking on her big return back at the 2024 Royal Rumble. Having finally gotten to the top of the mountain, you can be sure Naomi will fight tooth and nail to retain her perch.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Goldberg talks WWE retirement controversy: "Let's just say I'm pissed off at the way I went out"
Goldberg is officially done with pro wrestling after his loss to Gunther at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images) Goldberg's pro wrestling career came to an end at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event in Atlanta, Georgia. Tasked with overthrowing the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, Goldberg main evented the show and ultimately came up short to close out his storied career. With the event taking place in Goldberg's adopted hometown of Atlanta, the moment was a nice send-off for the legend, especially for those in attendance. Advertisement However, on the live TV broadcast, Goldberg's post-match farewell speech was cut off 30 seconds in. Speaking on Tuesday's edition of "The Ariel Helwani Show," Goldberg revealed this was just one of many points of contention around his final WWE match. "Let's just say I'm pissed off at the way I went out," Goldberg said. "I put so much into it, and I don't feel as though the effort was reciprocated to put a stamp on what I've accomplished. I'm not gonna say that I'm not ecstatic about the opportunity that I got, but I was a WCW guy, man. I was — I don't know, man. I don't know. I think it could have been done a little bit differently. That's all. I'm happy with my performance. I'm happy with the setting, but could it have been better? Absolutely. It can always be better. "There's about 100 things [that could have been better]. I did three interviews beforehand. I did three, right? In six months. They cut me off 30 seconds into my speech, bro. You don't do that. But it's all good." As alluded to, Goldberg made his mark in the pro wrestling world as part of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the 1990s before the company was purchased by WWE. Goldberg became one of the most feared and dominant wrestlers of his generation, winning the World Heavyweight Championship twice: once in WCW and again in WWE. In the later years of his career, he also enjoyed two runs with the WWE Universal title. Advertisement Goldberg confirmed it was always a part of the plan to let him get some mic time after the match. Because of that, he felt even more slighted by how he was treated in his final appearance. "It's live television, and you can plan for it. That's all," Goldberg said. "I know it is what it is. The match might have gone long, and this and that, whatever it is. I just think that it could have been a little classier prepared than it was. I'll just say that's a mild understatement. Yeah, man. Come on. Come on, man." The match with Gunther had an incredibly rushed, short-lived and separated build. They first interacted last October at WWE Bad Blood in Atlanta, when Gunther cut a promo on Goldberg, who sat ringside with his son, Gage. That was all their feud consisted of until three weeks ago, when Goldberg returned on "WWE Raw" to declare himself as Gunther's next challenger in what would be his retirement match. "I would have loved for them to announce it in January and have a build-up to it and do something like that, that I thought I was maybe worthy of my career, but let's just say they chose to do it with three weeks' notice and it is what it is," Goldberg said. "It's part of the package. Part of the meal you get dealt, and I would be remiss in thinking the meal would be different, but it was shame on me for thinking that it would have been different." Advertisement Known for his quick, one-sided wrestling style because of his dominant character, Goldberg's matches were largely squashes or "finisher fests." His match with Gunther clocked in at 14 minutes, making it his longest since a 2003 triple-threat match against Triple H and Kane. Once Goldberg began toying with one final match, Gunther was always the plan, but he wasn't thrilled to see it end up on WWE Saturday Night's Main Event. Ideally, a premium live event (PLE) was in mind for the WWE Hall of Famer, especially in hindsight, considering the timing element he suffered from. Regarding the match itself, Goldberg has no complaints outside of his accidental no-sell of Gunther's famous chest chops. Advertisement "I was laughing in there when he was chopping me. I had fun," Goldberg said. "Where are all the people that said I couldn't go more than two minutes? 'Oh, he sweats so much when he walks to the ring.' People, listen to me, I pour a bottle of water on my head before I walk to the ring, so there's a reason why I sweat all the time. "I couldn't have done it without my dance partner, and it was awesome. I'd never chopped in my life. [Ric] Flair chopped me, but that was fun. There were moments in that match where I actually enjoyed myself, and I can't say that I've done that very many times. So for that, and a plethora of other little reasons, I think that I had a good time Saturday night." In the end, pro wrestling is similar to MMA in that retirements can be temporary and reversible. And with Goldberg going out on somewhat of a sour note, it gives him more reason to try just one more send-off. For now, he plans to stay true to his word. Advertisement "I can't say that. In principle, yeah, I'm done, but I worked my ass off for five months," Goldberg said. "I don't think I've dedicated that much of my life towards one goal, like one night. I would be remiss in saying that it feels as though it was a waste because I only went out there for 14 minutes, and that was it. "I'm 58 years old. My body is kind of torn to shreds. Hopefully, I was able to cover a lot of it up. I had 91 people fly in from all around the world that were personal guests of mine. I don't know if I want to kick-start that again, and say, 'Hey, guys. Guess what? I didn't retire. I want to go one more time.' You don't plan stuff like that. "In the world of professional wrestling, I guess you're not retired until you're dead, but in principle, yeah, I'm retired."
