The rise and fall of WCW featured most of the biggest names in the wrestling industry of the time having at least one stint there. WCW was known for becoming a powerhouse and passing WWE as the top overall promotion for a few years. However, a number of wrestlers saw their WCW run's come to a sudden end.
WCW had a negative track record for making some bold firings for ridiculous reasons. The backstage environment of WCW was considered toxic for many years and talents ended up suffering for it. Controversial names like Bill Watts, Jim Herd, Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo were responsible for big decisions throughout the run. Find out which wrestlers ended up getting fired by the big wigs in WCW for dumb reasons.
10 Steve Austin
One of the most obvious instances of WCW making a foolish firing came when Eric Bischoff decided to release Steve Austin. WCW didn’t book Austin to his full potential, but he was still viewed as one of the better mid-carders.
Bischoff didn’t see any star power in Austin and felt it was smart to release him while injured. The story of Austin getting the release papers via FedEx while hurt at home, ended with him feeling the hunger to prove WCW wrong and he did that in iconic fashion.
9 Davey Boy Smith
WCW fired Davey Boy Smith for surprising reasons beyond usual wrestling politics twice in his career. Smith’s two stints were so short that many fans forget he even worked for WCW, but they just ended faster than expected.
The first firing came due to Smith getting in trouble with the law in a bar fight when someone made insulting comments towards his wife Diana. WCW fired him again years later when injured, following a reckless injury from the company when having a trap door in the ring that hurt his back when landing on it.
8 Dustin Rhodes
WCW started booking Dustin Rhodes due to his clear potential and due to his second-generation status as Dusty Rhodes’ son. Dustin had a few great matches as The Natural in the early stages of his career.
However, that chapter of his career ended when WCW opted to fire him for breaking rules. Dustin and Blacktop Bully were each fired for blading during the ridiculous King of the Road match. WCW decided to part ways to send a message to talent that rules must be followed.
7 Vader
Vader is among the best heel WCW Champions who somehow doesn't get the love he deserves, when compared to some of the bigger names. WCW should have had Vader on the roster for the entirety of his prime, but things grew ugly in his final moments, with a backstage fight.
Paul Orndorff and Vader had personal issues when things escalated, with fists being thrown. WCW fired Vader blaming him for the fight taking place and missed out on more years of his work. Vader moved to WWE where he never won over Vince McMahon, to waste the rest of his prime.
6 Ricky Steamboat
Another wrestler to get fired while injured in WCW was Ricky Steamboat. However, Eric Bischoff confirmed rumors about Steamboat’s wife playing a role in why Bischoff no longer wanted to do business with the legend.
Ricky’s wife was his unofficial agent who often had her voice involved or would make things more difficult. Bischoff decided to release Steamboat from his contract realizing he could not wrestle and didn’t want to continue doing business with his wife in any capacity whatsoever.
5 Brian Pillman
One of the craziest backstage stories from WCW featured Brian Pillman living his gimmick. The loose cannon persona of Pillman was created to get over in a stronger way by having everyone believe he was breaking character, with everyone from fans to talents buying in.
Eric Bischoff agreed to an idea where he’d fire Pillman who would appear in ECW to sell the angle. Pillman claimed it would be smarter to truly fire him to make the wrestlers buy into it. Bischoff did it expecting Pillman to eventually return, but Brian used that as a way to get to WWE.
4 Raven
Another wrestler with a unique story of getting released by Eric Bischoff featured Raven. Bischoff started to develop a strong ego during WCW’s rise, that wrestlers claimed afterwards helped cause the downfall.
A memorable backstage incident saw Bischoff saying anyone who didn’t believe in WCW or wanted out could get released on the spot, expecting no one to take him up on it. Raven was unhappy and showed his confidence by saying he wanted out. Bischoff followed through on his word with the strangest firing possible.
3 Jesse Ventura
The move from WWE to WCW for Jesse Ventura is often forgotten, but he continued his commentary career away from Vince McMahon. Ventura worked in WCW for a short run, before getting fired when Hulk Hogan was coming in.
Eric Bischoff claimed he fired Ventura for falling asleep during a taping. Ventura claims it happened due to his past issues with Hogan resurfacing when Hulk instantly gained power, signing with WCW. Both stories could have some truth to them with each leading to a weird firing.
2 Syxx
The WCW run of Sean Waltman as Syxx saw him getting to unite with his friends Kevin Nash and Scott Hall in the New World Order. Syxx was a fun addition as arguably the best in-ring worker of the group who actually sold for his opponents.
WCW did not treat Waltman well in the long run when Eric Bischoff fired him when he was injured. The belief was that Bischoff wanted to send a message to Nash and Hall for often refusing to follow the rules. Waltman was upset enough to cut a shoot promo, ripping apart Bischoff in his WWE return.
1 Ric Flair
The first relatively short run of Ric Flair in WWE during his prime came due to a wild reason for him getting fired by WCW. Jim Herd was running the show when Flair was the top star, but he wanted the legend to make a ridiculous change to his career.
Flair was asked to shave his hair and change his ring name to Sparticus, but he flat out refused. Herd responded by firing Flair and allowing him to try his luck in WWE. Herd's run was an absolute disaster and Flair returned when WCW decided to get rid of him.