‘Breaks my heart’: Wrestling cult figure has leg amputated
Professional wrestling icons have been left heart broken after confirmation a cult figure has had his leg amputated following an incident.
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Pro wrestling great Buff Bagwell underwent surgery to have his right leg amputated above his right knee, his friend Steve Stasiak wrote on social media on Saturday.
The cult wrestling figure, whose real name is Marcus Bagwell, underwent the operation due to complications from injuries he suffered in a car crash in 2020.
In a Facebook post shared on Saturday, Stasiak said the injuries never fully healed.
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“I’ve known Buff a long time. I’ve seen him in the spotlight, I’ve seen him behind the scenes, and I’ve seen him fight through things most people never even hear about. This one is hard,” Stasiak wrote.
“For him. For everyone who knows and loves him.
“The injuries from his 2020 accident never fully healed. He gave it everything he had to avoid this outcome — but that fight led him here. And now begins a whole new kind of battle.
“Buff was one of the brightest stars of a wild era in wrestling. He made you look. He made you care. But it’s who he is as a person — past the lights, past the persona — that I hope people think about today.”
The pro wrestling world offered their thoughts and prayers for Bagwell on social media as word reached X that he had had the surgery.
Wrestling icon Ric Flair, who fought matches with Bagwell multiple times, posted: “After Seeing What Happened With My Good Friend Buff Bagwell’s Leg Amputation, It Makes Every Health Issue I Have Complained About Minor In Comparison,” he wrote.
“To The Loss Of A Limb For Such An Active Young Man. A Good Friend And Great Talent In The Business!
“Get Well Soon My Friend! Godspeed.”
Former WWE ladies champion Leilani Kai posted: “Praying for Buff Bagwell this morning. He managed me on his first day in the wrestling business.
“He’s a kind, sweetheart of a person and this breaks my heart. I hope everyone subscribes to his YouTube channel to show him love.”
Bagwell, 55, competed in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from 1991 to 2001 and then briefly in WWE after WWE bought its rival North American promotion.
He also competed for Total Nonstop Action wrestling and others.
He was a five-time WCW tag-team champion and was ranked No. 66 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Top 500 wrestlers of 1999.
— This story first appeared on The New York Post and has been republished with permission
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Originally published as ‘Breaks my heart’: Wrestling cult figure has leg amputated
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