5-time champion cried and hugged Chris Benoit after Jim Ross released him from WWE contract
Jim Ross was in charge of WWE's talent relations department in the early 2000s. In a recent YouTube video, former WCW star Buff Bagwell recalled how he felt after Ross informed him that the company was releasing him.
Bagwell arrived in WWE in 2001 as a five-time WCW World Tag Team Champion. On the July 2, 2001, episode of RAW, he unsuccessfully challenged Booker T for the World Heavyweight Championship in a widely criticized WCW-themed main event.
On his Marcus Buff Bagwell channel, Bagwell recalled how Ross surprisingly released him from his contract a week later. The 54-year-old bid an emotional farewell to fellow wrestler Chris Benoit outside the arena before driving home.
"I just kinda wobbled my bags out to the back, trying to not be noticed, and then when I got outside I remember I started crying and a white [Ford] Explorer pulled up, and it was Chris Benoit and his wife, and I remember just totally crying at this stage," Bagwell said. "He's like, 'Where are you going?' I said, 'Dude, I think I just got fired.' I said, 'They called it released but I don't know, man. It's crazy, so I'm going home.' I hugged Chris. I said goodbye to Chris." [14:41 – 15:20]
Bagwell told family and friends to attend the July 9, 2001, episode of RAW because it was held in his home state of Georgia. As his father sat in the crowd waiting for the show to start, Bagwell called him on his way home and revealed he had been let go.
Buff Bagwell on the consequences of WWE exit
At the time, Buff Bagwell lived a luxurious lifestyle thanks to his 10-year career as a prominent star on WCW television.
As soon as his short-lived WWE run ended, the former WCW wrestler knew he had to drastically alter the way he lived his life:
"I get in my $85,000 car, drive into my $1 million house, and as I'm looking at the car, drive into the house, both these things are gone. It's over. It's over, bro. July 9th, 2001, will go down as the worst day in my life ever. It just kills me how that day went down." [15:20 – 15:55]
Bagwell clarified he was "released" from WWE, as opposed to "fired," because the company wanted the option to bring him back within three months. Shortly after leaving, he asked whether he could return, but Jim Ross dismissed the idea.
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Please credit Marcus Buff Bagwell and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.