The world of professional wrestling is known for its larger-than-life characters, intense rivalries, and epic showdowns. But what happens when the animosity between wrestlers spills out of the ring and into real life? Behind the scenes, away from the cameras and the cheering crowds, there are some pro wrestlers who genuinely dislike each other. These are not just scripted feuds for entertainment purposes; these are real-life grudges that have festered over time. Here are some pro wrestlers who have made it clear that they are not friends outside of the squared circle.
Bret Hart and Goldberg
Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Goldberg are two wrestling legends who had a real-life altercation that left a lasting impact. During a match at “Starrcade 1999,” Goldberg accidentally delivered a stiff kick to Hart’s head, causing a severe concussion that ultimately led to Hart’s retirement from in-ring competition.
Hart has been vocal about his disdain for Goldberg, calling him “unprofessional” and accusing him of hurting everyone he worked with. In an episode of “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions” he said, “Goldberg, to me, was one of the most unprofessional wrestlers there ever was in the business,” he said. “For Bill Goldberg to be in the Hall of Fame, he hurt everybody he worked with. You might as well wrestle a real gorilla.” Goldberg, on the other hand, has denied intentionally injuring Hart and insists that the kick was an accident, emphasizing that if the kick was for real, Hart would be unable to discuss it.
CM Punk and Ryback
CM Punk’s 434-day WWE Championship reign saw him face off against many opponents, but it was his encounters with Ryback that turned into a real-life quarrel. Punk accused Ryback of being reckless in the ring, and said, “I’m already beat up and I have to wrestle ‘Steroid Guy’ and he’s very … I call it like I see it,” Punk said. “He’s very hurty. Sometimes deliberate. There was one time he kicked me in the stomach as hard as he could and he broke my ribs, right at the tail end. And I never got an apology for that.”
Ryback has defended himself, stating that Punk’s comments were inaccurate and hurtful. The two have engaged in a war of words on social media, with Ryback taking jabs at Punk’s career, posting “Karma rules.” on X (formerly Twitter) after Punk said he had surgery in the same week he won the AEW World Championship and Punk accusing Ryback of being unsafe to work with.
Hurricane Helms and Shawn Michaels
Hurricane Helms and Shawn Michaels had a heated exchange on social media, with Helms accusing Michaels of being egotistical and selfish, tweeting out in 2011: “[Ric] Flair got over people that absolutely SUCKED!! Shawn hadn’t gotten over anyone but himself in the last decade!!” After some fans asked why he chose to call out Michaels in such a way, Helms claimed that Michaels had harmed his career and lied for his own benefit.
Michaels has not publicly responded to Helms’ comments, but the two have reportedly reconciled and are now on good terms according to Helms, who made the claim during an interview in 2019.
Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair
Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair were once close friends, but their relationship soured after a backstage confrontation caused by a championship exchange segment on “Smackdown”. Flair allegedly went off script during a segment on “SmackDown,” making Lynch look weak in front of the audience.
Lynch has since revealed that she and Flair no longer speak, and she finds it difficult to work with someone she has real-life tension with.
Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart
Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart have had a long-standing feud that dates back to their time in the wrestling business. Hart has criticized Hogan for being unprofessional and selfish, while Hogan has accused Hart of being bitter and jealous of his success. Rumors say that the feud began when Hogan refused to put Hart over at “WrestleMania IX”.
Even during Hart’s impending induction in the 2021 Canadian Walk of Fame, he could not stop himself from “firing shots” at Hogan, saying the following in an interview: “I think if you look back at wrestling when it was the Hulk Hogan show, he was six-foot-eight and a one-out-of-three wrestler. He didn’t know a headlock from a headlamp. He didn’t know very much. He knew how to do a clothesline and maybe a body slam.”
The two have exchanged insults in interviews and on social media and so far no reconciliation is in sight.
Will Ospreay and Seth Rollins
Will Ospreay and Seth Rollins engaged in a public feud after Rollins made derogatory comments about Ospreay and other wrestlers while calling out AEW and other companies as “minor leagues” during a 2019 Q&A. Ospreay responded by defending himself and criticizing Rollins for undermining the importance of independent wrestling.
The two have since exchanged barbs on social media, with Ospreay challenging Rollins to a match and Rollins dismissing Ospreay as a “minor league” wrestler.
Kaira’s Insight:
It’s fascinating to see how real-life animosities can manifest in the world of professional wrestling. While some wrestlers may be able to put aside their differences for the sake of the show, others seem to carry their grudges with them wherever they go. The intensity of these feuds adds an extra layer of drama to the already theatrical world of pro wrestling, making it even more captivating for fans.
