Earning a WWE contract is the pinnacle of any wrestler’s career, as everyone who enters the business is looking to reach the mountaintop of the industry. There are only a select few who get to stick around forever, with legends like The Undertaker and The Rock having achieved that opportunity. For most, their careers just naturally fade away, but some wrestlers have had a few runs cut short due to accidents and mishaps in the ring.
#5. Tyson Kidd
Tyson Kidd is one of the brightest minds in the wrestling business, being someone who currently works behind the scenes in WWE as a producer. While it’s positive that he’s still able to contribute to the business, and his help is no doubt useful to the current roster, the fact that he’s not in the ring is due to a mishap.
He suffered a severe neck injury that almost cost him his life when he competed against Samoa Joe. This was a dark match in WWE NXT that was thankfully not televised due to how upsetting the finish was.
Joe hit his finisher, the Muscle Buster, to pick up a routine win in the match, but things ended up going drastically wrong. Kidd landed directly on his neck, and that was sadly the end of his career as an in-ring talent.
#4. Big E
Big E is another wrestler who suffered a career-ending neck injury after landing awkwardly on that area of his body. This took place during an episode of WWE SmackDown when Ridge Holland hit him with a belly-to-back suplex.
Unfortunately, Big E didn’t get thrown over high enough, and that led to him landing directly on his neck outside the ring. There is still a glimmer of hope that Big E might be able to make a return down the line, and he is still appearing regularly doing pre-show events, but it remains unlikely.
#3. Rick Rude
Rick Rude was one of the most charismatic wrestlers of all time. He captivated audiences with his in-ring work and how he would present himself. Sadly, his career was brought to an end in 1994 during an event at Wrestling Dontaku in Japan.
Rude was competing against Sting at the time when the latter hit a suicide dive outside of the ring. After the collision, Rude’s back hit a small stage that was elevating the ring, and that caused a serious injury.
Rude spent the rest of his career working as either a manager or an enforcer, as he wasn’t healthy enough to compete inside the ring.
#2. Richie Steamboat
Everyone might not remember Richie Steamboat, but the son of Ricky Steamboat was once seen as one of the most impressive young wrestlers in the entire industry, for whom WWE had high hopes.
He was likely going to be a big deal in WWE NXT until he landed awkwardly following an attempted moonsault. This came during a match against Kassius Ohno, but it led to Steamboat losing all feeling in his body.
Somehow, he was able to finish that specific match, but his career would come to an end. It’s a shame that the situation happened when Steamboat was so young, ending a promising career.
#1. Bret Hart
Bret Hart’s in-ring career being brought to an end is something that The Hitman regularly talks about, as his feelings toward Goldberg have been made very public over the years.
The two men were competing in the main event of WCW Starrcade 1999 when Goldberg kicked Hart in the face as he bounced off the ropes. While the situation seemed fairly standard at the time, it ended up leading to a serious concussion.
25 years ago today, at WCW Starrcade, Bill Goldberg delivered the superkick that ended Bret Hart’s career.
To this day, Bret Hart holds a deep grudge, blaming Goldberg for the career-altering injury.
(12-19-1999) pic.twitter.com/5gDhXSjHeb
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) December 19, 2024
Due to Hart’s ongoing headaches in the aftermath of this kick, his career came to an end. Although he did return for a final run in WWE much later in life, where he worked a limited in-ring style.