WCW Rivalries ThatDestroyed Careers

If WCW If this were a film studio in its waning days, it might be one that signs Leonardo DiCaprio only to cast him in a direct-to-DVD romantic comedy featuring a dancing gorilla. Many promising wrestling talents entered Ted Turner’s domain with great expectations but left puzzled about what exactly transpired.

Rivalries within WCW did not simply fade away; occasionally, they potentially ruined careers.

Billy Kidman Versus Hulk Hogan

WCW Elevated Kidman—to Then Abandon Him Abruptly

Kidman was unexpectedly placed at the forefront of WCW's main events too soon.
Hogan's superiority eclipsed Kidman's capabilities.
The way the storyline was managed hindered Kidman's progress.

To be honest, Billy Kidman was impressive. He remains crucial to the industry in his present position due to his excellence. But when WCW chose to put him in a rivalry with Hulk Hogan in 2000, it seemed as though their planning was akin to filling in blanks from a Mad Libs game. Hogan embarrassed Kidman during a radio show appearance, which led to Kidman unexpectedly finding himself locked in a feud with the most iconic wrestler of that era. However, nobody bought into this storyline—not the audience, not the commentators, and even Kidman appeared as though he had mistakenly ended up in the wrong main event.

The encounters between them were clumsy, with Hogan appearing disengaged from bolstering Kidman’s strength, which led to Hogan dominating their rivalry. Initially planned as an opportunity for Kidman to embody “New Blood,” each storyline continually undermined his progress instead. At both WCW Slamborey and the Great American Bash, despite what might be expected, Hogan emerged victorious once more. The sole instance where Kidman appeared triumphant came about due to interference, yet it still lacked genuine impact. Rather than elevating Kidman into stardom, these confrontations portrayed him merely as part of Hogan's backdrop. Consequently, following this conflict, Kidman’s professional trajectory did not reach the peak many anticipated.

Mike Awesome (& Team Canada) Vs. The Filthy Animals

Demise Via Countless WCW Stunts

Awesome's move to WCW was spoiled by weak character personas.
The conflict with Filthy Animals seemed aimless, which reduced his reputation.
Overbooking and comical scenarios weakened his character portrayal.

Mike Awesome transitioned from ECW’s destructive force with immense potential to becoming WCW’s poorly conceived supporting actor in lackluster comedies. Upon joining Team Canada in 2000, WCW attempted to pair him against The Filthy Animals, a group known for their acrobatic wrestling style and charm. While this matchup seemed promising on paper, it ended up as an unorganized mix of worn-out comedic skits without clear purpose.

He found himself portraying an unimposing villain who lacked both menace and humor, frequently being humiliated during matches against Rey Mysterio and Konnan. His segments failed to leave much impact, the narrative felt overcrowded, and the group conflicts overshadowed many performers, leaving him adrift among them as well. Adding to these issues, his character went through several transformations—from “70s Guy” to “Fat Chick Thriller”—with each new direction and failing rivalry only deepening his struggles. Mike Awesome appeared far from his status as a previous world champion, resembling someone who lost a bet instead. WCW not only misused him but also completely undermined his credibility with platform shoes and lava lamps.

The Ultimate Warrior Versus Hollywood Hulk Hogan (1998)

The Unrequested WCW Sequel

A much-anticipated redo that ended up being a calamitous event at the WCW pay-per-view.
Hogan and Warrior's exaggerated dramatics did not connect with the audience.
The subpar performance of the match marred Warrior's legacy.

One might assume that an awaited rematch after eight long years between two legendary wrestlers should be a surefire success, correct? Not necessarily, my friend! The match between Hogan and Warrior at WCW Halloween Havoc 1998 is notorious for being one of the poorest pay-per-view contests in WCW history. —many consider this to be the conclusive blow to Warrior’s career. His comeback included eerie mirrors, smoke bombs, and nonsensical promos. The “One Warrior Nation” concept failed to resonate with viewers, and despite WCW attempting to transform nostalgia into television success, they were unsuccessful.

Once the match finally took place, every possible thing went awry, turning it into a complete mess of errors. A fireball area that exploded right in front of Hogan’s face. The match ended anticlimactically with Horace interfering, which also had an adverse effect on his career as a bonus downside (a negative turn for him professionally). It was overly complicated but failed to impress; it reached almost the point where viewers couldn’t watch anymore. Warrior appeared confused inside the ring, Hogan seemed disinterested, and the audience might have wished for their money back!

Following the bout, Warrior had two short comebacks in WCW before disappearing entirely, eventually deciding to retire soon thereafter. He would later confess that he was brought in solely for the rivalry, allowing Hogan to reclaim his victory.

Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. Goldberg

The Kick That Spoiled Pro Wrestling

Hart's career-ending injury was caused by Goldberg's misplaced kick.
Ongoing wrestling in WCW worsened Hart's concussion problems.
Following the fallout from the rivalry, Hart was forced into early retirement.

This one truly steals the show! Bretantuksen Hart entered WCW with all the momentum in the world, as one of the biggest wrestling stars ever, Following a contentious departure from WWE, much could be discussed regarding his tenure with WCW, during which many aspects were negative. However, this period ultimately led to a rivalry against WCW’s own star wrestler, Bill Goldberg. This conflict reached its peak at the WCW Starrcade event in 1999, where Goldberg challenged Hart for the WCW World Heavyweight Title. As the contest progressed, disaster struck due to a mix-up; Goldberg delivered an unexpectedly harsh kick aimed at Hart’s head. Unfortunately, this single error resulted in a concussion for Hart, one from which he never truly recovered.

It wasn’t merely about the kick; Goldberg expressed regret over this incident. Meanwhile, Bret Hart continued grappling without knowing he was suffering from post-concussion syndrome. This led him to participate in several bouts despite his unrecognized brain trauma. Among these were a chaotic “Screwjob” spoof match against Sid Vicious and receiving another blow to the head courtesy of Terry Funk’s steel chair. In just a few months, Bret stepped down from his title, stopped appearing on WCW television, and was compelled to retire. His rivalry with Goldberg didn't just harm his career; it dramatically changed his life.