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Sometimes, wrestlers don't like each other outside the ring as well as inside of it
In the world of professional wrestling, all but the youngest of fans realize that they are watching a scripted entertainment form.
Even when Dean Ambrose uses a steel chair to pummel Seth Rollins, the fans know that they are performers working an angle together, and that their rivalry is for show. However, there have been occasions when the two athletes involved in a storyline legitimately didn't like each other.
Sometimes this is unavoidable--after all, you're not likely to get along with every single person you work with, and most wrestling promotions have a vast roster. But that's not to say that promoters haven't willfully put two people who they knew didn't like each other into an angle in hopes it would make the storyline feel more 'intense.'
Here are ten times pro wrestlers who didn't like each other were put into an angle together.
#1: Shawn Michaels and Bret "Hitman" Hart.
Back in the 1980s during WWE's classic era, the vast majority of major stars were very large men. Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, Ravishing Rick Rude and Ultimate Warrior were all massive, and in the case of the last three, extremely chiseled specimens of humanity.
But after Hogan's departure, the WWE made the decision to give smaller athletes a chance. Bret Hart was split from his partner Jim Neidhart and became a babyface, winning, first, the Intercontinental championship and then the World title.
A few years later, Shawn Michaels also split from his tag team partner Marty Jannetty and won the Intercontinental championship. The classic Iron Man match between the two men at Wrestlemania XII is still held up as one of the finest examples of technical wrestling ever seen.
But even though HBK and the Hitman made beautiful music together in the ring, they had real-life beef with each other.
Why they didn't like each other: First and foremost, there was a classic clash of personalities. HBK was almost as cocky outside the ring as he was inside of it, whereas Bret was more of a traditionalist who believed no one was bigger than the business. Hart thought that HBK set a bad example by posing in Playgirl magazine, whereas Shawn Michaels believed that Hart was full of himself and a hypocrite. Their hatred boiled over after the Montreal Screwjob, but years later they actually reconciled in the ring live on Raw. These days they seem to have buried the hatchet, but during their tenure in the WWE, the duo couldn't stand the sight of each other.
The WWE management also had a huge role to play in this feud between two of their biggest legends which helped amplify their rivalry to new heights.
#2: Lunatic Fringe Dean Ambrose and The Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar was an All-American amateur wrestler who came up quickly through Ohio Valley Wrestling, which used to be WWE's developmental territory. His quick rise to the main event involved decimating men like The Rock and Hulk Hogan. Just when Lesnar seemed to be on the top of his game, he abruptly left sports entertainment for nearly a decade to concentrate on Mixed Martial Arts, where he was quite successful and won the UFC heavyweight title. He returned to the WWE on a part-time schedule and reigned as the Universal champion on Raw, despite making sporadic appearances.
Dean Ambrose came up through the independents the hard way, putting his body through enormous torture in the Combat Zone Wrestling league. After nearly a decade of struggle, he was hired by the WWE and came up through their developmental territory until he made his main roster debut as part of the Shield. The Lunatic Fringe has held nearly every title the WWE has to offer, including the WWE Championship.
Why they don't like each other: The beef between Lesnar and Ambrose stems from their feud and Wrestlemania 32 hardcore match. Ambrose, a longtime veteran of such bouts, had a lot of ideas which Brock used his creative control clause to nix. Ambrose had this to say on Stone Cold's podcast:
“Artistically Brock didn’t want to do anything. I had a vision for that match to be the craziest thing imaginable, you know what I mean? And I was trying to pitch everything to everyone and had every idea. I put so much effort in and so much work in and other people did too and I was met with laziness.”
For his part, Brock doesn't seem to be overly concerned about how Ambrose feels about him. It's unclear if there are still any lingering feelings of resentment between the two.
Ambrose currently plies his trade in the AEW after leaving the WWE owing to creative frustrations.
#3: The Bella Twins and AJ Lee
AJ Lee cut her teeth on the independent scene after being trained by Ring of Honor and former Impact star Jay Lethal. After two years of honing her craft in the North East territories, she was hired by WWE and worked for their developmental brand Florida Championship wrestling.
AJ took part in the first female season of NXT--the reality show, not to be confused with the current black and gold brand of WWE--and wound up making it to third place. She would join the main roster and spent a great deal of time in non-wrestling roles playing the girlfriend/valet of several stars, such as Big E Langston. She also worked as Raw general manager before becoming a full-time wrestler and captured the Divas title on multiple occasions.
Brie and Nikki Bella participated in the 2006 WWE divas search competition but did not win. However, they impressed WWE officials enough that they were given developmental contracts, working for FCW for a number of years before debuting on Smackdown. Initially, Brie would start a singles match, go under the ring and be replaced by Nikki, who would then win because she was fresh. The angle didn't last long, and soon they were outed as the Bella Twins. Their reality show stardom on Total Divas and their own show Total Bellas mostly overshadows their in-ring work.
Why they didn't like each other: The Bellas left WWE for a number of years, and only returned because of the reality show they were set to star in. This didn't sit well with AJ Lee, who thought that she herself had 'earned' her place with the company. Lee would call out the Bellas for being untalented in the ring, and even brought up their real-life relationships with John Cena and Daniel Bryan, saying "Wrestling talent is not sexually transmitted." Ouch! AJ Lee left the company, and as far as anyone can tell the women never reconciled with each other.
#4: Chyna and Trish Stratus
The Ninth Wonder of the World Chyna began her WWE career acting as Triple H's valet/bodyguard. When Triple H joined DX, she came along for the ride. Eventually, she broke off on her own and became the first woman to capture the WWE Intercontinental championship. Chyna left the WWE and unfortunately passed away, but she left an indelible mark on the WWE Attitude Era.
Trish Stratus was a Canadian fitness model and competitor who was hired by the WWE in 1997. She spent some time as a valet and manager before transitioning to an in-ring performer. Her athletic ability and willingness to take bumps led to her becoming a multi-time women's champion and Hall of Famer.
Why they didn't like each other: It seems that the bad blood stems from Chyna's side. She apparently thought that Trish Stratus didn't earn her spot through wrestling ability, as quoted here:
“Trish Stratus to me is someone that was hired with no ability and I think she was hired strictly because of her looks. Trish didn’t have to pay her dues and I still think about that and I still think that she should have to."
For her part, Trish has never said anything negative about Chyna on the record. Sadly, any chance of reconciliation is gone because Chyna passed away.
#5: CM Punk and Triple H
Triple H is a veteran performer who began his career as the villain Terra Ryzing. From there he would be hired by WCW and tagged with William Regal under his real name Jean Paul Levesque. He would be hired by the WWE to become the Connecticut Blue Blood Hunter Hearst Helmsley. When he joined Shawn Michaels in DX he shortened his name to Triple H. As Triple H he would capture the WWE championship ten times and was one of the most dominant forces in the Ruthless Aggression era before transitioning to a backstage role, though he does spend a lot of time on camera as well.
CM Punk started his career in the independent leagues as one half of the Chick Magnets--bet you didn't realize that's what CM stood for! The outspoken Straight Edge superstar would sign with the WWE and first rose to stardom on the failed ECW revival. Punk would go on to capture multiple championships with the WWE and became a huge star before retiring from the ring to pursue an MMA career.
Why they don't like each other: It seems like they clashed from the get-go, with Triple H comparing CM Punk to a Waffle House cook. CM Punk felt that Triple H never thought of him as a star and used his backstage stroke to hold back Punk's career. Punk was quoted as saying;
“Hunter was gritting his teeth and I knew, he never liked me. It’s one of those situations where you always hear the stories in the dirt sheets where, Hunter says this about Punk and all this negative stuff but me and him in a room together? Never any good vibes, always negative. The way he’d always look sideways at me, the way he always treated me.”
Currently CM Punk is on hiatus from pro wrestling, and there's no sign that the two will ever reconcile their differences. But the fans would definitely want them to bury the hatchet as any possibility of seeing Punk back in the WWE lies solely in Triple H's hands.
#6: Shawn Michaels and Rob Van Dam
Shawn Michaels makes his second appearance on our list, so there is no need to list his accolades again.
Rob Van Dam was sitting in the audience at Wrestlemania III when Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan had their historic clash. He was inspired to take up pro wrestling himself and never looked back. He had a very brief and unmemorable run in WCW, but when he signed with Extreme Championship Wrestling his career really took off. Rob Van Dam dazzled the ECW crowd with his athleticism and his counter-cultural roots as he made the transition to WWE where he became a triple crown champion.
Why they don't like each other: The reasons here are a bit arcane. Certainly, the two men worked well in the ring with each other, but then again so did Bret Hart and HBK. It seems that Michaels believed that RVD's work in the ring was 'spotty' and looked too choreographed, and was quoted saying this;
“The only thing that’s going to keep him from going to the bigs and being a main eventer is that he’s got to make what he does mean more,”
For his part, Rob Van Dam has said that HBK went out of his way to make sure RVD knew he wasn't 'family,' and said that the former champion was 'dripping with insincerity'.
These days, HBK is retired from in-ring competition and RVD's career is winding down, and there's no sign the two will reconcile.
RVD remains one of WWE's most entertaining in-ring performers of all time. He was one of the few ECW greats who also had a stellar WWE career.
#7: Alexa Bliss and Sasha Banks
Sasha Banks is the cousin of Rapper Snoop Dogg. She began her career in the independent leagues in 2010, capturing the Chaotic Wrestling women's title in the process despite being relatively green. She would go on to be signed with WWE's developmental brand in 2012, and worked her way up to the main roster. Banks has enjoyed multiple reigns as women's champion on WWE's various brands and is one of the first ever women's tag team champions of the modern era.
Alexa Bliss is a former gymnast and fitness model who battled against an eating disorder to become a sports entertainer. She was signed by the WWE with little formal wrestling training in 2013 and worked her way up the NXT brand. Initially a manager for Blake and Murphy, she eventually transitioned into being an in-ring competitor and joined the main roster. She has had multiple reigns as a women's champion as well.
Why they don't like each other: For the most part, the animosity seems to be coming from Sasha Banks. She has admitted to real life heat between herself and Bliss, and had this to say about the Twisted one:
“She came in so fake with her fake little stories, her fake little, oh I love Matt Hardy. You can’t even tell the difference between Jeff and Matt, you idiot.”
For her part, Alexa Bliss has taken the high road when asked about any real life ill will between herself and Banks, and had this to say:
“The way I see it, Sasha can think or say whatever she wants. As long as it fuels her fire for us to have a good match, I’m fine with it.”
The pair work together regularly on the same brand, so they have at least managed to be professional, but there is no evidence of any sort of reconciliation.
#8 Goldberg and Triple H
Triple H makes his second appearance on our list, this time facing off against the two-minute match juggernaut Bill Goldberg.
Bill Goldberg is a former NFL Atlanta Falcons star whose career was cut short by an abdominal tear. Determined to return from injury, he developed an aggressive rehab program which included powerlifting and Mixed Martial Arts training. While working out at a gym, he was spotted by Lex Luger and Sting. The duo saw star potential in Goldberg and got him signed with WCW. Goldberg became an instant sensation, racking up over a hundred victories with no defeats before Kevin Nash ended his streak. Goldberg would join WWE after WCW's collapse and capture the big belt.
Why they don't like each other: For Triple H, working in the wrestling business isn't just about making money, it's about family. He feels that the wrestlers are part of a brotherhood, and wants others to feel the same. Bill Goldberg has always been something of a loner, and when he joined WWE in 2001 it was mainly for a paycheck. Bill had this to say about his relationship with the Game:
“I think there’s great disdain for me because I wasn’t one of their boys, because I didn’t want to play their game.”
The two must have somewhat reconciled because Goldberg came back for another WWE run, so they at least agreed to work together professionally.
#9: Matt Hardy and Edge
Edge was a performer in the Canadian independent wrestling scene when he was drafted to the WWE in 1998. He spent some time in the Brood as one of Gangrel/Vampire Warrior's minions before he and kayfabe brother Christian broke out on their own. Their five-second poses and heelish chicanery made them staples of the Attitude Era, as did their participation in TLC matches. Edge and Christian split, with Edge becoming a main event star who would win multiple WWE championships.
Matt Hardy and brother Jeff joined the WWE in 1998 as well and became instant sensations. As Team Extreme along with Lita, they re-defined tag team wrestling. When Matt and Jeff split from each other, Matt went to the mid-card while Jeff was elevated to the main event. But Matt would get the last laugh, creating his Broken character and revitalizing his career in the process. He rejoined the WWE last year and seems to be a bigger star than ever.
Why they didn't like each other: A Shakespeare quote comes to mind: One that loved not wisely but too well. Pure and simple, the love of a woman divided the two former friends and turned them into bitter rivals. Matt Hardy's long-standing relationship with Lita soured, and she wound up becoming involved with Edge. At first, WWE fired Matt Hardy to avoid the drama surrounding the issue, but he was rehired. The WWE then turned the whole affair into a wrestling angle, where Matt was quoted as saying to Edge "I hope you get cancer."
Fortunately, the two men have overcome their past differences, with Matt saying:
“I absolutely do [wish Edge the best]. We’ve both moved on and are [past] those mistakes."
Proof that anything can happen in wrestling, just about anything.
#10 Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey was an Olympic Judo champion before making the transition to mixed martial arts. She was the first major star of the UFC's women's division and became a media darling in the process. She reigned as UFC champion before leaving the sport to join the WWE, where she has again become a champion in a short period of time.
Becky Lynch started her career a decade ago, and has wrestled all over the world before joining the WWE. Her legit toughness comes from an upbringing on the mean streets of Dublin, Ireland. Recently she has come into her own, and a great deal of that is thanks to her strong social media game and refusal to back down from anyone.
Why they don't like each other: What started out as a kayfabe feud seems to have gotten personal, at least for Ronda Rousey. The former UFC champ took exception to some tweets by Becky, especially one that involved her husband Travis Browne's head photoshopped in a very unflattering manner. Rousey broke kayfabe and dropped Lynch's real name in a tweet, adding fuel to rumors that there is real bad blood between the two.
Lynch and Rousey will likely square off in a three-way dance with Charlotte at Wrestlemania, and one hopes they will at least reconcile enough to work the match together.
There you have it; Ten pair of wrestlers who don't like each other in real life. Questions or comments? Please leave them below the article and as always thanks for reading!
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