WCW star Buff Bagwell had his leg removed five years after a devastating car crash from which he found it difficult to recover. Bagwell, 55, made a name for himself in the late 1990s and early 2000s during the notable Monday Night Wars between WCW and the eventual victors, WWE.
The Georgia-born wrestler had not competed at a high level since 2001, when his short-lived time with Vince McMahon’s promotion ended just four months after it began. The former nWo member would later make occasional appearances for promotions like TNA and on the indie circuit, with his most recent match occurring in November 2024.
Buff Bagwell talks about getting his leg removed
This took place four years after an unexpected accident that severely damaged his right leg, leading to a prolonged and difficult fight to save it. Despite undergoing numerous surgeries and years of rehabilitation, Bagwell’s friend Steve Stasiak revealed on social media that his leg had to be amputated above the knee due to complications.
Stasiak shared this news on Facebook: “Yesterday morning, Marcus Bagwell—Buff Bagwell—had his leg amputated above the knee.
“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… this is hard. 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.
“If you’re reading this, I just ask that you send a little love out into the world for Buff. No grand gestures. Just something real. A thought, a prayer, a moment.”
A number of WWE fans responded to Stasiak’s post by expressing their love and support in light of the heartbreaking news.
