WWE's Most Controversial Moments: The Top 10 Biggest Scandals

WWE's Most Controversial Moments: The Top 10 Biggest ...

By Keith Mado September 02, 2024 10:04

Photo by Courtesy of WWE

WWE has been offering sports entertainment to fans for decades, combining athleticism with storytelling and larger-than-life characters. Despite all of the success, WWE has also had very public controversies. These scandals are not only part of the company's story but also reflect how deeply they have permeated wrestling as an industry and entertainment culture for fans. Here, we highlight WWE's most memorable moments have been its controversial ones, from shocking betrayals to lawsuits that reshaped history.

1. The Montreal Screwjob

Perhaps, if not just the most infamous incident in wrestling history, The Montreal Screwjob took place at 1997's Survivor Series. WWE Champion Bret "The Hitman" Hart was unaware that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon had schemed to have Michaels put Hart in a keylock submission while the referee would call for the bell as if Hart had submitted. The betrayal resulted in Hart leaving WWE and the crumbling of many relationships within the industry.

2. The Steroid Trial

By the turn of this decade, WWE was embroiled in a steroid scandal that threatened to bring down much you fought for. Vince McMahon was also taken to court in 1994 after the boss of wrestling itself was accused of providing steroids to its athletes. Although McMahon was eventually found not guilty, his trial exposed the virtually universal steroid use in wrestling. WWE responded to this scandal by taking no-nonsense action over their drug policy. However, it shed a negative light on the company and its performer's well-being.

3. The Chris Benoit Tragedy

The wrestling world worsened in 2007 after what occurred with Chris Benoit. Benoit murdered his wife and son over three days before hanging himself. It also raised awareness of how concussions and steroid abuse may affect one's mental health. After discovering his deeds, WWE came under fire for their association with Benoit and scrubbed almost all mention of him from the archives. The tragedy of the story made us all more aware of WWE's wellness policy and what steps a company was now required to take for mental health and safety.

4. The Plane Ride From Hell

The 2002 "Plane Ride from Hell" was a flight home following a European tour on which various WWE wrestlers acted up. Drinking heavily, misconduct, and brawling were among the incidents. This scandal led to the release of several wrestlers or discipline from the company. The episode underscored shortcomings in behavior codes and symbolized the difficulties of handling talent on overseas tours.

5. The Hulk Hogan Racism Scandal

WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan came under fire in 2015 after making racially insensitive comments during a leaked audio recording. The company terminated Hogan's contract and took away his Hall of Famer status. The scandal raised questions about racism and guilt in the wrestling business. Hogan's controversial return to work in 2018 showed how the question of redemption and forgiveness continued to divide opinion over public life.

6. The Owen Hart Tragedy

A tragic stunt-related fall caused the death of Owen Hart during Over the Edge, 1999. The crash led to grave concerns over safety procedures and the choice to keep the show going despite what had happened. WWE went to court against Hart's family before both parties reached an out-of-court settlement. The tragedy resulted in more stringent safety standards within the WWE and a reassessment of the risks of live events.

7. The Beef That Defined the Ultimate Warrior's Life

The Late Great Ultimate Warrior, was infamous for his rocky relationship, not to mention a never-ending series of legal battles he had with Vince McMahon and the company. These battles illustrated the grey areas of intellectual property in wrestling and how difficult it was to balance creative control with business. The Ultimate Warrior was partially making peace with WWE before he died in 2014, at least setting a glimmer of hope for turned relationships in the business.

8. Fabulous Moolah Controversial

There had been allegations of exploitation and abuse, tarnishing the legacy of pioneering female wrestler The Fabulous Moolah. Ex-trainees accused Moolah of financial and personal abuse. This battle royal being named after her became highly controversial among fans with WWE and was consequently renamed. The controversy was a reminder of the importance of respecting wrestling history while still recognizing that mistakes were made in the past, and we can always strive for an overall better environment.

9. The Saudi Arabia Deal

WWE faced criticism for signing a contract with Saudi Arabia in 2018 over human rights abuses by the country. The agreement was championed in Saudi Arabia's contentious Vision 2030 campaign. The incident caused WWE to come under fire from fans and human rights organizations, leading people to debate the morality of business partnerships with sports' potential influence on global politics thrown into question.

10. The CM Punk Walkout

When CM Punk, then one of WWE's biggest stars, suddenly left the company early in 2014 because he was burnt out and disenchanted by what creative had to offer him. The departure of Punk and subsequent podcast appearances discussing what goes on behind the scenes at WWE led to a rampant discussion about how talent was treated and creative freedom. The flap showed a new dynamic in the on-and-off-screen struggles between wrestlers and management, an ongoing theme that would affect all of WWE through its talent relations and storytelling processes.

Love them or loathe them, WWE's most controversial moments are an integral part of what has cemented it as a firm fixture in the annals of pop culture. The scandals forced several policy changes at the company since then, aimed specifically at treating both performers and viewers better going forward. While salacious headlines have always plagued the WWE, they've at least forced everyone in professional wrestling to grow and question what ethical lines their sport should or shouldn't cross. That these moments exist at all is proof of the evergreen minefield WWE has to figure out how best or in the future, simply if this is possible, it exists within sports entertainment.

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