Times professional wrestlers betrayed the company that employed them

Betrayal is a huge word used to describe someone selling a wrestling promotion in this context. WWEWCW, AEW and every other major promotion has to trust their talent to find the best results. However, it is a significant risk when an artist has influence and loses loyalty to the promotion.

A number of interesting names hurt their business in various ways, showing no respect or love for their wrestling country at the time. The talents in question felt they were justified in making a bold decision that would cause some controversy. Each of the following wrestlers betrayed the company that employed them.

Shawn Michaels

Everyone knew his first retirement was a sham

Shawn Michaels ruined the plans of FightMania 13 when he made a calculated decision to vacate the WWE Championship under the guise of retirement. Claims of injuries and “loss of smile” led Michaels to relinquish the top prize just over a month before the biggest show of the year.

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Most wrestlers thought Michaels was going to lose the big rematch against Bret Hart in the main event of WM and he did it to get by. Michaels’ retirement only lasted a few months before he returned full-time looking better than ever.

Tessa Blanchard

I wanted to expire the contract without losing the title

TNA actually supported Tessa Blanchard when controversial stories surfaced about her bullying other women in previous promotions. Blanchard’s past caught up with her when stories emerged following her historic victory as the first female TNA World Champion.

However, the timing of this saw the pandemic force TNA to hold extremely limited shows. Blanchard remaining in Mexico saw her refuse to travel to appear at TNA events. The contract of Tessa’s ending influenced her not to appear and leave the title without losing him after they stayed by his side.

Disco Inferno

Refused to lose the game as a comedian

Disco Inferno was at the lowest rung of the totem pole when he took a huge position in WCW. The gimmick of a dancing fool saw Inferno often performing there as a comic enhancement talent to set up bigger names or new talents.

WCW wanted the memorable moment of a woman beating a wrestler when Jacqueline joined the promotion to feud with him. Disco refused to lose the match and lost his job until he agreed to replace Jacqueline when she returned to the company months later.

Mike awesome

I almost threw the ECW Championship in the trash

There were a lot of variables on Mike Awesome joining WCW after his ECW contract with him as ECW World Champion. Several people in ECW claimed that Awesome planned to go along with Eric Bischoff’s plan to throw the ECW belt in a trash can until Paul Heyman’s lawyers blocked it.

Awesome felt he was right since he was owed money by ECW and wanted a better contract for the high risks of his matches. However, there was a betrayal from Awesome who didn’t want to relinquish the title and was trying to damage ECW’s credibility until lawyers got involved.

Ultimate Warrior

Withholding promotion for money was shocking

Wrestlers have been using trade demands and the use of leverage for decades, but Ultimate Warrior has reached new heights. WWE saw Warrior demanding money to appear in a announced main event of Summer Slam 1991.

Vince McMahon paid Warrior to perform after fans paid to see him on PPV, but things fell apart afterward. Warrior experienced multiple no-show situations, requests, and other ego-driven decisions that derailed his career.

CM Punk

Lit match that started the fire AEW still can’t put it out

AEW had all the momentum in the world before the infamous press conference changed everything. CM Punk having issues with The Elite and his belief in leaked stories caused him to lash out in a way that had never happened before in wrestling.

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All the goodwill AEW built over the previous years disappeared with its first real high-profile controversy. Punk tearing others apart the night he won a world title showed that he cared more about settling his personal grudges than worrying about the success of the promotion. Both sides have seen things get worse and AEW still hasn’t recovered from all the confusion.

Rick Flair

Taking WCW’s credibility with the world championship

The big gold WCW Championship belt was considered wrestling’s most respected world title for much of its history. Ric Flair almost ruined the title forever when he ran into problems with new boss Jim Herd and chose to leave the company.

WCW had yet to defeat Flair for the WCW Championship only to see him never lose the belt and win it in WWE. Flair shouldn’t be blamed for Herd taking the risk of losing him, but the decision to win the WWE title could have hurt the company that employed him for years before and after.

Brock Lesnar

Made demands as IWGP Champion to change history

WWE saw Brock Lesnar leave in 2004 after one of the greatest two-year spurts in wrestling history. Lesnar wanted to try for a career in the NFL, but he didn’t make the opening week roster. New Japan struck when Brock looked to make his next move with an international wrestling offer.

Lesnar winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship saw him join names like Vader, Kenny Omega and AJ Styles among the few foreigners to take home the top prize. Unfortunately, Brock was focused on his business and refused to give up the belt to Shinsuke Nakamura. NJPW had to move forward with stripping Lesnar of the title when he stopped appearing.

Hulk Hogan

TNA History Destroyed During Live In-Ring Promo

TNA wanted to compete with WWE by following WCW’s old game plan of having Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff gain massive power. However, Hogan showing no respect for TNA history, disrespected the entire roster in his first PPV appearance.

During a promo for the opening show, Hogan revealed that TNA had changed the ring from six to four sides. Fans chanting for six sides probably would have forgotten about it by the end of the night, but Hogan said TNA had accomplished little or nothing before him in an unscripted promotional reaction to negative fan chants.

Madusa

WWE Women’s Division Ending With A Trash Can

WWE made former and future WCW talent Madusa its biggest female star as Alundra Blayze during the New Generation era. Blayze built the entire women’s division around her as the reigning WWE Women’s Champion until her contract expired.

WCW came in with a better contract offer if they would bring the WWE Women’s Championship belt to the promotion. WWE was shocked when Madusa threw his belt into a trash can live on WCW TV. The women of WWE suffered more than anyone when the division ended after Madusa ruined the title.