Buff Bagwell Reflects on Sobriety, Amputation, and Unfulfilled WCW Potential
Former professional wrestler Marcus “Buff” Bagwell is finding strength and gratitude amidst profound personal challenges, openly discussing his journey to sobriety, the recent amputation of his leg, and what could have been in World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
Bagwell, speaking on the Insights with Chris Van Vliet podcast, described a remarkable shift in perspective. “I’m blessed,” he stated. “I’m not sure who has their leg amputated, and five months later says they’re blessed, but I am blessed.” He attributes this newfound peace to a convergence of life-altering events – his amputation, achieving sobriety, deepening his faith, and strengthening his relationship with his partner, Stacy, alongside the joy of his 12 grandchildren.
The wrestling icon acknowledged a significant personal transformation. “I’m a completely different person,” Bagwell explained. He believes that substance abuse obscured his true character, recalling a time when “Marcus Alexander Bagwell in 1991 was a great guy” who was well-liked by his peers. He attributes his later struggles to “drinking and pills, drinking and drugging,” which he feels led him astray. Bagwell expressed relief that, after ceasing those habits, his authentic self has returned, bringing a renewed sense of inner peace and positive energy.
Bagwell traced the origins of his addiction back to 1998, following a neck injury. “It started legitimately with, Hey, man, I’m hurt. My neck is hurting, and I would take a pain pill, and it just climbed crazily from there.” He recounted multiple attempts at rehabilitation, beginning in the early 2000s after his time with WWE. Despite several stints in rehab – “five, five or six rehabs throughout that journey” – lasting sobriety proved elusive until a turning point in 2020. A severe car accident, one he couldn’t “fix” in the way he had previously addressed other injuries, prompted a deeper commitment to recovery. “I fixed it by fixing me. I got sober,” he affirmed. He celebrated three years and five months of sobriety as of August 27, 2022.
The circumstances surrounding his leg amputation are particularly harrowing. In 2020, Bagwell was involved in a car accident while under the influence of alcohol and prescription medication, crashing into a bus station bathroom – thankfully unoccupied at the time. The resulting injury, an “exploded” knee cap, necessitated 41 surgeries over several years, battling recurring infections and ultimately requiring a knee replacement. Despite these efforts, a subsequent infection led doctors to recommend amputation. Initially hesitant, Bagwell ultimately decided to proceed after learning that a potential reconstructive surgery had only a 20% chance of success. “Let’s cut it off,” he concluded, prioritizing a viable path forward.
Looking back on his wrestling career, Bagwell expressed unwavering confidence that he would have achieved WCW World Championship status had the company not been sold to the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE). “100%. There’s not a doubt in my mind,” he stated. He recalled being warned by Missy Hyatt early in his WCW tenure that his appearance and youth would attract jealousy, requiring him to work exceptionally hard to earn respect. “She goes, ‘Because you’re good-looking and because you’re young. If you don’t walk in every single time and shake hands and thank everybody and work hard, you’re going to get buried.’ She goes, ‘You will get buried anyway.’ And she was right.” He described initial hostility from established wrestlers, which eventually gave way to acceptance as they recognized his genuine character. He fondly remembered friendships with Sting and the Steiner Brothers, acknowledging that even those relationships experienced periods of strain, particularly following a video he created about Robbie Steiner that was taken personally. “Scottie, I think he’s mad at everybody,” Bagwell added with a touch of resignation.
The full interview with Buff Bagwell, which also touches on being filmed during his amputation by Maven and DDP, the possibility of a return to wrestling, and conversations with Zach Gowen, is available below.
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