Most Controversial Wrestlers

Regardless of how long you’ve watched WWE or any wrestling promotion. You have come across a few controversial figures.

From the top dogs in the business to the smallest of lower mid-carders. Controversy doesn’t discriminate. These were the times where we just looked in awe at the televsion screen or heard horrible stories about the wrestlers personal life.

WWE has had numerous questionable moments.

But, in this list it’s either times where WWE was in the wrong or sadly when the wrestlers demons possessed them and just made their own lives a living hell.

Mae Young

Believe it or not, she was quite the controversial figure in WWE for a few years. From the outside if you saw her, you’d think this was just a sweet elderly woman who loved to be part of the program.

She was also a wrestling legend herself.

But, for some reason she just loved to the push the envelope as far as she could. Whether she was giving birth to a hand, shoved her crotch into wrestlers faces, or flat out FLASHED the crowd.

She actually performed some crazy moments as well. Just like when Bubba Ray dudley powerbombed her from the entrance all the way down to a set of tables.

It’s always been a mystery to me if WWE put her up to doing these “flashing” scenes or if it was just her doing her thing and trying to get a reaction out of the crowd.

Chyna

The ninth wonder of the world

Chyna had a great career. she debuted in 1997 and was destined to become something great. She had the body, the look, the skills, she was the whole package.

She opened the doors for women wrestling.

She was the first women to ever enter the Men Royal Rumble.

Everything came crashing down for her when her real life boyfriend Triple H basically left her for Stephanie McMahon. Her world just crumbled after that.

She asked for her WWE release in 2001 and was never seen again.

Chyna spend the remaining years dealing with drug abuse. She began making porn.

It was sad for me to watch this happen…she had so much to give. Her break up with Triple H was the factor here.

R.I.P Chyna

Eugene

Nick Dinsmore, who played the Eugene character in WWE, was actually a talented wrestler before being given the gimmick.

The character was suppose to be “mentally challenged”.

Eugene was quickly over with fans. We loved to see him. It just brought us a smile. He was enjoyable to watch.

The wrestler wasn’t so controversial. The fact that WWE wanted to this and not be sensitive about it is what made it controversial. It lead people to question WWE decisions.

Even worse, there were promos where they would make fun of the way he was.

Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase

Money, money, money

Probably one of the greatest heels in wrestling history.

He used his wealth to gain personal servants to do his dirty work. He was real easy to dislike.

He kicked a basketball out of a kids hand.

So, how was he controversial?

Well, he had his then henchman Virgil perform some sort of “slave” act to Ted and it got slammed by the media and fans. It was too much. It felt like they doing it for shock value.

JBL

Jbl was always a very outspoken man. He easily got under our skins. He knew how to get us mad and wanting to just strangle him.

He was involved in touchy angles.

Most famous his Eddie Guerrero feud where he really took his “bad guy” character to new heights. He played a border patrol agent trying to stop illegal immigrants from crossing the border. A segment that I thought was a bit too touchy.

He made Eddie’s mother have a heart attack. It was part of the show. But it happened in Eddie’s hometown of El Paso, Texas. The crowd did not take light of it. They almost revolted.

Many wrestlers will say that he was the biggest bully backstage. He was the tough guy that no one could beat apparently.

Ask The Miz and he will show you proof.

Muhammad Hassan

How many superstars have you seen get taken off television due to pressure from the TV network? NONE.

This guy was the first one.

WWE took a major risk bringing in this character. He was from Iraq and he “hated” America for how they have treated him and his family after the 9/11 attack.

His first line ever was “I hate America”. From there on…lord…was the hate real.

There was a segment where Muhammad sent his “terrorists” into the ring to attack The Undertaker. They ended up choking him with some sort of wire.

That episode aired the same day as the tragic bombings in London. WWE could’ve easily taken that segment out of the broadcast (it was filmed before the London bombing happened) but they didn’t. To this day, it’s a questionable action.

Muhammad Hassan was quickly written off television and never was seen again.

Shawn Michaels

The greatest performer in WWE history.

The man was a beast in the ring. No matter how messed he was from his real life drug abuse, when he got into the ring he’d give you your moneys worth.

Shawn so much for the company.

He was involved in a backstage gang called “The Kliq”. It was a group of wrestlers who were basically the bullies. It was Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and Sean Waltman or X-Pac.

They were such a presence backstage that they had complete booking power.

Which meant if they wanted to win every match, they’d win. If they wanted to win the championship belts, they’d win them all. It’s incredible how this group just had so much power over Vince McMahon at the time.

Shawn had years of drug abuse that in some ways did make him a mark. He wasn’t the easiest to work with. He had a problem with almost all the wrestlers.

If he didn’t like you he’d make it known to the world when he came to the ring. He would say personal things about you to the masses. Just like how he spilled the beans on Bret Hart having an affair with Sunny in the 90's.

Thankfully, Shawn did clean up his act. He let go of drugs and alcohol and was a born-again Christian. From there on, his life changed completely and he is now a Hall Of Famer and current NXT producer.

Sgt Slaughter

This easily №1

During the Persian Gulf War in 1991, one of the biggest American supporters Sgt Slaughter decided to turn heel. It was the worst timing.

He became a Iraqi Sympathizer and was given an Iraqi mouthpiece known as General Adnan.

It was or IS one of the touchiest storylines WWE has ever created.

Sgt Slaughter was completely hated in every city he went to.

It was so bad that he received death threats and had to get personal security everywhere he went. He told stories about how he was afraid to leave his house because there might be somebody waiting for him somewhere.

WWE really pushed the boundaries on this one. It really wasn’t necessary. They could’ve done it a different way, but in Vince McMahon’s eyes…if it doesn’t get you talking then he didn’t do a good job.

Sgt Slaughter could’ve really been killed for televsion entertainment.

This was the first glimpse that we got where we saw just how WWE will do anything to get some media attention and try to make the “biggest” bad guy.

The saddest part was the fact that if Sgt Slaughter didn’t do this character turn…Vince would’ve denied his chance to become world champion again.

He did it for a damn belt.