10 backstage tough guys in the WWE

By definition, professional wrestlers are tough guys. Even within this tough community of professional wrestling, there is still further distinction that separates the real tough guys from the crowd. There are certain type of tough guys that even their wrestling compatriots would say are tough.Over the years in WWE there have been many backstage incidents, altercations and some real fights between wrestlers. In a real fight, sometimes size makes all the difference and sometimes even a big guy can come out on the losing end, which happened recently when Sheamus 6’4” and 270 lbs who is considered a tough Irishman got beaten up by Sin Cara (Hunico) 5’10” and 200 lbs in a legit backstage fight.If you think these are the only tough guys, take a look at the wrestlers below and incidents involving them.

#1 Brock Lesnar

Nicknamed ‘The Beast Incarnate’ for a reason, Brock Lesnar is 6’3” and 295 lbs. He is the only person to have won a WWE Championship, UFC Championship, and NCAA Division I Heavyweight Championship. He defeated The Undertaker and ended his undefeated WrestleMania streak.

Brock is one of the legitimate tough guys that you don’t want to mess with. During his first tenure in the WWE he and Mr. Perfect (Curt Hennig) had an altercation on a plane. Lesnar and Hennig were having a long conversation about amateur wrestling, and before you know it, it became heated.

Hennig who was drunk challenged Lesnar, insisting he was better amateur wrestler. Lesnar shot in and drove Hennig into the side of the plane, coming dangerously close to a plane door. This infamous ‘Plane ride from hell’ cost Hennig his job.

Brock Lesnar vs Ryback altercation:

Another reported altercation happened in 2012, when Brock and Ryback had an argument and Brock threw Ryback to the floor and hit him in the face three times before being pulled off. Ryback suffered a laceration above his left eyebrow which required stitches.

As reported by Wrestling Observer:

Lesnar left the building after getting into a physical altercation with fellow WWE superstar, Ryan Reeves, known in ring as Ryback.

Not much information is being let out, but the source says Lesnar was in the arena early to rehearse a major angle with SummerSlam opponent Triple H. Before things even began, Reeves, who was also in the building, got into a heated argument with Lesnar. It is uncertain what the argument was about.

Reeves put his hands on Lesnar, though the source tells us that people who witnessed it said Reeves was going to apologize. Lesnar shoved Reeves back and a shoving match ensued. Lesnar threw Reeves to the floor and hit him in the face three times before being pulled off.

Reeves suffered a laceration above his left eyebrow which is required stitches. 'Ryback' will not be competing tonight as he was originally planned. Lesnar left the building immediately, and all efforts to reach him have failed.

#2 Haku

Referred as the Toughest Professional Wrestler ever for a reason. He was known for biting off people’s nose, knocking people out with one slap, punch or a headbutt.

When wrestlers including the likes of Undertaker, Rock, Rick Flair, Jake Roberts, Harley Race, Hulk Hogan, The Barbarian were all asked who is the toughest Wrestler they all said, Haku. Perry Saturn who was asked who would win a bar fight between several tough wrestlers like Haku, The Barbarian, Saturn, Fit Finlay, he said “Haku, Nobody else would stand a chance. Not even a question. He could kill everyone without blinking and there is nothing anyone could do about it.”

Over the years, he has been involved in some of the most infamous incidents from gouging one of the eyeballs out to biting someone’s nose off. But the most eye-grabbing incident of them all involved five men at the Baltimore Airport bar who called wrestling ‘fake’. Haku knocked out three men by slapping them and applied the ‘Tonga Death Grip’ and bit off the nose of the man who instigated the whole thing. WWE was sued for $2.5 million for this incident.

#3 The Undertaker

Considered by many the greatest of all time, The Undertaker has left a legacy of some of the greatest wrestling matches. He is a WWE veteran working for over 25 years. He’s also proved to be a legend ‘behind the scenes’ too. Undertaker is the known as WWE locker room leader. Whenever you hear a former WWE Superstar talk about WWE, they always refer to The Undertaker in tones of respect and appreciation.

Kurt Angle recounts an Undertaker story in his autobiography. Angle and Vince had been playing a game where they would take the other man down by surprise. Vince managed to score a takedown on Angle and now Angle wanted to get even decided to execute his takedown during a plane ride to Europe.

The scuffle continued and Taker who was asleep woke up from a commotion to witness his boss being beaten up. He reacted the only way he naturally would, jumping on Kurt and applying a choke hold which was seconds away from putting the star to sleep.

The most infamous backstage story about Taker is always going to be the occasion he taped his fists up and threatened violence against Shawn Michaels if he had not put Stone Cold over at WrestleMania 14.

#4 Rick Rude

He was one of the most well-built professional wrestlers in history. Rick Rude was known for his incredible grip strength and as a tough street fighter. Before becoming a professional wrestler, he worked as a bouncer in Minneapolis. He was also an accomplished arm wrestler who finished sixth in the world championship held in Las Vegas in the light heavyweight division in 1983.

There are many stories about the things Rick Rude has done to people who disrespected him. The most infamous story goes when Rick Rude and Ultimate Warrior were feuding, Rude was getting beaten up bad by Warrior’s stiffness in the ring.

So, Rude came back after the match and asked Warrior to ‘lighten up’. Warrior, being a tough guy himself, said, “I don’t have to because I am the Warrior”. Rude knocked him with one punch and walked away.

#5 Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle has won numerous accolades in his career. He is a former WWE Champion, TNA World Heavyweight Champion and NCAA Division I Heavyweight Champion. He is also an Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling. Kurt Angle won the gold medal with a broken neck, so calling him tough would definitely be an understatement.

Angle was famous for being able to be taken down in shoot wrestling. Lesnar having a legitimate claim at being a tough amateur wrestler decided to step up to the challenge. Lesnar did get the job done, but only after about an hour of trying to do so. The much older Angle holding his own against a man easily outweighing him.

#6 Alberto Del Rio

Alberto Del Rio or Alberto El Patrón is 6’5” and 239 lbs is one of the toughest wrestlers today. He is a former WWE Champion and World Heavyweight Champion. He is also a 2011 Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank winner. Del Rio had a legitimate MMA background before joining WWE. Out of 14 MMA fights, he won 9 further cementing his claim for the tough guy title.

Even though he was never involved in a legit backstage fight in his 5 year career with WWE, but he always stood up against the racist jokes aimed at him. He is a real life tough guy bravely facing bullies.

#7 Harley Race

Harley Race is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and the first NWA United States Champion. Considered by many former and currently performing wrestlers as the greatest professional wrestler of all time. The WWE Hall of Famer is one of the toughest guys of his era.

Bobby Heenan who was close friends with Andre the Giant claimed that there were only two men that eve Andre feared were Haku and Harley Race.

Harley Race was involved in an incident with Hulk Hogan and the Funk Brother back in mid-80's. Race (then NWA) stormed the backstage area at a WWF show at the Municipal Auditorium. Race burst into Hogan’s dressing room and sent him flying with one punch to the stomach. The Funk Brothers just stood back and didn’t interfere.

Hogan joked, “Harley, I thought the first time I saw you in Kansas City you’d have a great big gun” (referring to his punch). Harley shot back with, “I don’t have a great big one” before pulling out a .380-calibre handgun. Hogan scurrying from the dressing room, fearing for his life.

#8 Bad News Barrett

Wade Barrett is 6’7” and is 246 lbs. He is a five-time Intercontinental Champion. He also won the first season of NXT. Barrett before becoming a professional wrestler was a bare-knuckle brawler in Liverpool.

During a very significant match of his bare-knuckle boxing career, he fought a reputed and ruthless opponent for a hefty cash price. He not only emerged victorious from his match but also managed to overpower his off stage attacker. Though he does not speak much about this incidence because of legal issues but the story goes like this after his match an unknown attacker stabbed him with an eight-inch blade in a back alley and tried to steal the cash prize.

In spite of significant blood loss, Barrett managed to escape with the cash. He still has a 12-inch scar that stretches from his upper back to halfway down his right triceps.

#9 Dynamite Kid

Dynamite Kid and his cousin Davey Boy Smith were British Bulldogs, paired together during the beginning of their career. Dynamite Kid was disliked by all because of his bitter temper and violent bully streak. This was further exaggerated due to his use of steroids and other recreation drugs like cocaine, morphine etc.

This led to the breakup of the British Bulldogs and his cousin pulled the team out of many major tournaments, which enraged the Dynamite Kid. Matters worse quickly after Davey Boy registered their trademark British Bulldogs thus preventing him to use it.

In 1994, Davey Smith booked an indie show miles away from Kid’s house. Just as predicted Kid showed up at the arena fully intending to hospitalize his cousin. But the organisers intervened and called the police before any serious damage was done.

#10 Paul Orndorff

Dubbed as “Mr Wonderful” he weighed 253 lbs and stood 6 ft tall. He had a great physique and a very bad temper. He was known for his off stage fights and arguments more than his on stage performance. Several incidents were reported where he hit his opponents and occasionally bit their ear off (backstage).

A famous incident involving Vader led to enmity between them. Vader did not turn up for a scheduled photoshoot after which an enraged Orndorff confronted Vader. Though there are many versions of the story, the most popular one is where Orndorff had a heated argument with Vader and then beat him up and kicked him wearing his flip flops.