Many pro wrestlers have gone on record to say that wrestling pays more than a lot of other forms of sports or entertainment. But sometimes characters and story lines merge with real life, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. And the lifestyle that these 'sports entertainers' lead even after they've hung up their boots, leads them on a road of self-destruction and bankruptcy.
Of course, lawsuits and divorces suck up a significant part of their savings, not to mention drug and alcohol abuse. We count down 10 wrestlers and explore how they fell from grace, losing most of their fortune.
Ric Flair
If there’s one thing Ric Flair loved more than wrestling, it was to party. And the women loved him just as much. It’s shocking how a man who spent most of his career bragging about how rich he was, found himself in financial trouble after a legendary career that lasted 4 decades.
Multiple weddings later, Ric Flair would find himself in legal battles outside the ring, involving divorce procedures and child support. Not to mention, his very real issues with alcohol addiction. Thankfully, he seems to be doing much better for himself now.
Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts
Jake ‘The Snake ‘ Roberts is remembered as one of the top ‘heels’ of all time. Unfortunately his struggles with alcohol and drugs led his career and eventually his life, on a downward spiral; until his friend ‘Diamond Dallas Page’ came to his rescue.
Before the intervention, he lost most of his wealth and subsequently, he was also diagnosed with cancer. But today, he is completely sober and cancer free, thanks to DDP’s efforts. Apart from that he is also a proud WWE Hall of Famer.
Perry Saturn
One of the original Radicalz, Perry Saturn was shot in the back of his neck and behind in the shoulder, when he tried to rescue a woman who was under threat. This would lead to a long-term addiction to painkillers, and even a homeless stint, during which he used up all his money.
But a man of substance, he would get back on his feet and even remarry in 2009.
Hulk Hogan
- Hulk Hogan is the most celebrated professional wrestler of all time. However, lawsuits against him have taken away much of his earnings. His wife Linda earned 70% of his wealth during his highly public divorce proceedings.
The Hulkster’s recent racism controversy also led him being banished from WWE TV and archives, which eventually financially crippled him. Thankfully, he received $115 Million from the recent Gawker trial and we hope, this can turn things around for the Hulkster.
Virgil
When we think of the greatest wrestlers in the WWE, we do not think of Virgil. Unfortunately, this man has not been a big hit with fans and the many ‘Lonely Virgil’ memes on the internet just help prove our point.
His lack of selling power means that even at signings, he’s not a sought after professional superstar. A huge fall from grace after being associated with someone called The Million Dollar Man.
Marty Jannetty
Unlike his Hall of Fame tag-team partner, Shawn Michaels; Marty Jannetty’s life spiralled downwards during and after his WWE run. A jobber named Charles Austin broke his neck after Jannetty executed the ‘Rocker Dropper’ on him, and sued Jannetty for half a million dollars in damages.
As he slid down the card in the WWF, he invested in a gym with a partner who ran away with his money. Definitely a tragic story.
Lex Luger
Once hailed as the man who would take Hulk Hogan’s spot, Lex Luger is a man who fell on bad days. Arrests for driving under the influence, and the loss of his girlfriend Miss Elizabeth (where he was a prime suspect for possessing controlled substances); resulted in expensive lawsuits and as a result, a lose of a lot of his wealth.
Today, as a born-again Christian, Luger hopes to make a new start.
Joey Mercury
This former tag team champion has battled an addiction towards drugs all his life. When he ran out of money and his house was about to be foreclosed on, C.M. Punk bought out his mortgage. We can only imagine the words that ensued, but Mercury has now cleaned up his act.
A big feat for a man who couldn’t live without crack, cocaine, heroin and alcohol.
X-Pac
X-Pac or the 1-2-3 Kid departed the WWE in 2002, and in no time, blew up all his money on crystal meth. He fell on such bad days, that he released a pornographic video with his best friend Triple H’s ex-girlfriend, Chyna.
Several attempts at rehab later, he is now clean and has made a fresh start.
Kamala
Kamala has been vocal about black WWE superstars not making as much money as the white ones. Recently health complications have resulted in him losing his leg, and medical bills have crippled him even further.
A terrible tragedy, but not an uncommon thing in wrestling.
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