One of the most shocking turnarounds in the WWE“Never say never” the one phrase that remains as the perennial truth in the world of professional wrestling. In a business which is cut throat, superstars often tend to look out for themselves; veterans tend to protect their spots, personal rivalries crop up and sometimes, superstars step over their peers. But the one thing that separates professional wrestling from any other sport is the fact that these superstars keep their faith and trust in the others, as personal rivalries are often masked on-screen.It isn’t just the performers who get into personal rivalries; most of the times, it is the promoter who has to play hard ball with the performers. In the past, many promoters had to put their foot down, and in the process, created animosity with their employees. From Jim Crockett Sr. to Verne Gagne to Vince McMahon Jr., all the promoters at some point fell out with the performers, and with time, mended their relationships.In this list, we take a look at five instances when the superstars or the promoters had a much-publicized fall out, but later buried the hatchet out of the blue.
#5 Dixie Carter and Jeff Jarrett
TNA was created by the vision and defiance of Jerry Jarrett and his son, Jeff Jarrett. When ECW and WCW folded, WWE monopolized the North American market, and in the process, numerous superstars as well as aspiring youngsters had nowhere to go. But Jeff Jarrett, in an effort to establish an organization to compete with Vince McMahon and WWE in the future, started Total Nonstop Action (TNA) wrestling. In the first few years, although TNA couldn’t grow as fast as the father – son duo would’ve wanted, they gave opportunities to talented individuals, who would eventually go on to create a huge impact in the business.
However, with the intention of growing big, TNA was then taken over by Panda Corp., owned by Dixie Carter’s father. However, with the clash of egos between Dixie and Jeff Jarrett, Jeff was unceremoniously kicked out of the organization. Over the next couple of years, Jeff started another organization (GFW), and with TNA losing all of its momentum and most of its fan base, Dixie as a last resort brought Jeff Jarrett back to TNA, raising quite a few eyebrows. Jeff was also inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame, bringing down the curtains on their rivalry.
#4 Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff
During the mid 90s, Vince McMahon’s WWF was going through a transition. The proverbial torch was passed over to the younger generation, and the likes of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair were slowly being phased out of the scene. It was at this time that Ted Turner’s WCW was trying to find its feet in the market. With the likes of Hogan, Flair and Savage jumping to WCW, the organization started doing well, and with Eric Bischoff taking charge, he brought new ideas, as well as the hunger and desire to succeed, going head to head with WWE and Vince McMahon.
Eric and Vince began taking shots at each other, with Eric even issuing an open challenge on WCW Monday Nitro, inviting Vince McMahon for a fight. The two were then embroiled in a heated rivalry as both the organizations went toe to toe during the Monday Night Wars. Eventually, WWE beat WCW as WCW went bankrupt, and Vince McMahon announced to the world that he destroyed Ted Turner’s empire, and bought WCW. However, arguably one of the biggest shocking moments in pro wrestling history took place in 2002, when Eric Bischoff showed up on RAW, and Vince and Eric proceeded to embrace each other.
#3 Hulk Hogan and Vince Russo
During WCW’s heyday, three people were given credit for turning WCW’s fortunes around – Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan and Vince Russo. However, Russo quickly changed people’s perceptions and so did Hogan, and their egos clashed at Bash at the Beach 2000, when Hogan and Russo planned a controversial angle. However, Russo went off script, and worked himself into a shoot. This did not go down well with Hogan, and he left WCW, but not before suing Vince Russo.
However, both of them reunited when they were working for TNA, and played down their rivalry. Hogan went on record, saying it was a misunderstanding, and so did Russo. Both of them worked for TNA for a couple of years, before Hogan left TNA and Russo’s contract expired, and TNA decided not to renew it.
#2 Vince McMahon and Hulk Hogan
Hogan was the biggest global icon in the 80s and early 90s. Under Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan became the face of professional wrestling, and soon, with his crossover appeal, he became the most recognizable face in the world. Vince and Hogan shared a special relationship, but with both men being cut throat and businessmen first, needless to say, there were certain problems that came to the fore in the early 90s when Hogan decided to leave the WWE.
There were reports that Vince vowed that he wouldn’t let Hogan back in the WWE, after Hogan decided to join WWE’s rival, WCW, helping Ted Turner and Eric Bischoff challenge Vince’s authority in the United States. Although Hogan returned to the WWE after WCW folded, he and Vince had certain disagreements, and Hogan once again left WWE in 2004. Although Hogan signed a Legends contract, his past caught up with him, and the WWE has now blackballed Hogan from the organization.
#1 Vince McMahon and the Ultimate Warrior
Our number one pick must come as no surprise, seeing how WWE tarnished Warrior’s legacy at any and every opportunity they got before Warrior was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Their relationship soured during SummerSlam 1991, when the Ultimate Warrior wrote a letter to Vince McMahon, and reportedly threatened Vince that unless he gets the same amount of payment and privileges as Hulk Hogan, he wouldn’t show up at SummerSlam. Vince seemingly agreed to his demands, but proceeded to suspend Warrior after the event.
Although Warrior worked for Vince McMahon after the SummerSlam fiasco, their relationship worsened, and in 1996, Warrior was unceremoniously released from his contract after failing to show up for work. Since then, Warrior and Vince didn’t have kind words to say about each other, and WWE even came up with a documentary on Warrior, essentially burying him. In 2013, Warrior and Vince buried the hatchet, and Warrior was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame.
A couple of days later, Warrior tragically passed away, and the WWE paid homage to the memory of the Ultimate Warrior, with Vince having nothing but nice words to say about the former WWE champion.
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