In WWE, getting too big for your boots usually ends with a hard crash back to reality. Here’s how some of wrestling’s biggest names learned that painful lesson.
1. Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania XX, 2004)
What should have been WrestleMania’s most explosive match turned into a disaster. Both stars had announced their WWE departure plans beforehand, thinking their star power would carry them through.
The Madison Square Garden crowd turned hostile, chanting “You sold out!” and “Na na na na, hey hey, goodbye!” throughout the match. Even with Stone Cold Steve Austin as referee, the crowd’s reaction was so toxic that both men visibly checked out.
They sleepwalked through a boring match full of basic moves and stalling, ending with a chorus of boos after Goldberg’s victory.
The match was so bad that it took Lesnar 8 years to return to WWE, while Goldberg waited 12 years before daring to step back in a WWE ring. Their reputations took years to recover.
2. John Morrison’s Royal Rumble Moment (2011)
Morrison was riding high as WWE’s resident parkour expert, with his innovative moves making highlight reels weekly. During the Royal Rumble match, he planned an incredible spot where he’d be thrown toward the barricade, but save himself by landing on it, walking across, and leaping to the ring steps.
The move required perfect timing and balance. Instead, he slipped, barely grabbed the barricade, and awkwardly stumbled to the steps.
The botched spot, meant to be his star-making moment, became a viral blooper. His push cooled significantly afterward, with WWE losing faith in his ability to handle high-pressure situations.
3. Lex Luger’s All-American Campaign (1993)
After being branded as Hulk Hogan’s replacement, Luger’s ego inflated to astronomical proportions. His “Made in the USA” campaign peaked with a demanded helicopter entrance to the USS Intrepid for his WWF Championship challenge against Yokozuna.
WWE spent a fortune promoting the event, even touring Luger around the country in a custom bus called the “Lex Express.” The elaborate stunt drew embarrassingly small crowds, with fans failing to connect with Luger’s forced patriotic persona.
His attitude during this period, including refusing certain appearances and demanding special treatment, led WWE to pivot away from him as Hogan’s successor. The title eventually went to the more humble Bret Hart instead.
4. Mr. Kennedy’s Career Implosion (2009)
Kennedy was positioned as a future WWE Champion, even winning Money in the Bank. However, his success led to unprecedented arrogance.
He began calling out veteran stars in interviews, claiming he was better than legends like Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker. His reckless in-ring style caused concern, with several stars complaining about his safety.
The final straw came after he nearly injured Randy Orton with a botched back suplex. Orton, a locker room leader, complained to management. WWE sided with The Viper, releasing Kennedy despite his prominent position on TV.
His main event ended abruptly, turning from future champion to cautionary tale overnight.
5. Wade Barrett and The Nexus (2010)
The Nexus debut, where NXT rookies destroyed the RAW set and attacked John Cena, was one of WWE’s hottest angles ever. Barrett, as the leader, started believing he was untouchable.
He began demanding creative control and insisted on beating Cena clean at multiple PPVs. His aggressive negotiating backfired spectacularly at SummerSlam 2010, where WWE had The Nexus lose their momentum to Team WWE.
The original plan had The Nexus winning, but Barrett’s attitude contributed to a last-minute change. The stable never recovered its early magic, and Barrett’s main event push died with it.
6. The Sandman’s ECW Downfall (1995)
As ECW’s hardcore icon, Sandman’s beer-drinking, Singapore cane-wielding persona made him incredibly popular. This success went to his head, leading to increasingly erratic behavior.
During his TV Title reign, he repeatedly showed up to shows intoxicated, believing his character meant he could perform in any condition.
The situation peaked during a defense against Mikey Whipwreck, where he couldn’t execute basic moves or even climb the turnbuckle for his signature beer celebration.
Paul Heyman, despite Sandman’s popularity, was forced to cut his push short and transition the title to Whipwreck. The incident damaged his reputation for years.
7. Rob Van Dam’s Double Championship Disaster (2006)
RVD achieved the impossible by beating John Cena for the WWE Championship, then adding the ECW Championship days later. He was the face of WWE’s ECW revival and finally a main event player.
However, this success bred carelessness. Just 22 days into his reign, he was pulled over for speeding in Ohio. The resulting legal issues forced WWE to strip him of both titles and suspend him for 30 days.
When he returned, his main event status was gone. WWE never trusted him with a world title again, and his career became a story of “what could have been.”
8. Muhammad Hassan’s Character Collapse (2005)
Hassan’s character (portrayed by Mark Copani), an Arab-American speaking out against post-9/11 prejudice, was generating nuclear heat. He was set to become the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history by beating Batista at The Great American Bash.
However, WWE got overconfident with the controversial storyline. They aired a segment showing masked men attacking The Undertaker, despite warnings about sensitive content. The segment aired the same day as the London bombings, creating massive media backlash.
UPN banned the character from SmackDown, forcing WWE to write him off TV. Mark Copani’s wrestling career ended just weeks before his planned championship victory.
9. Ryback’s Self-Destruction (2016)
Riding high on his “Feed Me More” popularity, Ryback convinced himself he was the next big thing. He demanded John Cena-level pay and benefits, insisting he was equally valuable to WWE.
When denied, he took to social media, publicly criticizing WWE’s pay structure and booking decisions. Instead of working within the system, his ego led him to refuse dates and eventually leave the company.
His value on the independent circuit never matched his WWE potential, and his career faded into relative obscurity.
10. Matt Hardy’s Personal Crisis (2005)
When Hardy’s personal life became wrestling headlines, he thought he could control the narrative through social media. He began posting increasingly concerning content online, convinced his fan support made him untouchable.
His behavior became so erratic that WWE released him, despite his popularity. Though he eventually returned a year later, the incident cost him prime earning years and damaged his professional reputation.
His overconfidence in fan support nearly ended his career permanently.
The Hard Truth About Wrestling Fame
These stories serve as powerful reminders that wrestling success is always temporary. Whether it’s world champions losing everything or rising stars falling from grace, overconfidence remains the most dangerous opponent in professional wrestling.
The business demands constant respect, humility, and professionalism – qualities these superstars momentarily forgot.
