5 legitimate tough performers in professional wrestling history

How many times have you tried to have a legitimate conversation about professional wrestling before someone interrupted with the words, “It is fake”? A good guess would be countless; yes, professional wrestling is scripted, and the moves the “wrestlers” perform in the ring are choreographed. But if history has taught us anything, it is the fact that professional wrestlers suffer more physical abuse than any other sport.The professional wrestling industry can take a toll on the health of the performers, and the terrifying amount of deaths in the past three decades is just a tip of the iceberg.However, although the industry itself is looked upon as a façade, it is common knowledge that you cannot survive in the industry unless you’re tough and are prepared to take a beating almost every day. In the past, there have been performers who defied the physical limitations of the human body, and in the process, earned the reputation of being legitimate tough guys/girls in the industry.In this article, we take a look at five such performers who were not only feared by their peers, but have done things one can’t even imagine.

#5 Bad News Barrett

The former WWE Intercontinental champion might give out some bad news every week on live television, but you wouldn’t want to get on his bad side. Wade Barrett was thrown into the spotlight in 2010 when he led the Nexus faction and was tipped at one point to become the new face of the WWE. Although Barrett never quite broke through the proverbial glass ceiling, he is widely regarded as one of the toughest superstars on the WWE roster, and a little peek into his past would explain why.

Before Barrett signed with the WWE, much like William Regal, he used to be a bare-knuckle brawler in the United Kingdom. In his early 20s, Barrett became a renowned bare knuckle boxer and fought across Europe. However, after he won a fight which was dubbed as the “Battle of Buda”, Barrett was attacked in an alley when he was trying to find a cab to the airport with the cash prize he had won.

Barrett was stabbed with an eight-inch blade, but Barrett retaliated, injuring the assailant in the process. Barrett escaped with the money and a 12 inch scar, extending from his upper back to halfway down his triceps!