A wrestling character commonly defies orders regardless of the babyface or heel role since it creates conflict to sell matches and feuds. WCW specifically had their wrestlers often rebelling against others to create tension and talking points. The result of this is usually mixed with them either looking strong or having to pay for their actions.
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WCW’s instances of defiance turning into regret saw some characters suffering for their decisions. The storytelling in WCW was hit or miss, but the layers involved in a scenario like this required some extra thinking. Each of the former WCW names in question regretted it after defying orders in their storylines.
10 The Giant
WCW booked The Giant to become a strong member of the New World Order as their fourth member. Another dominant force helped the original trio of Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall dominate the competition despite WCW obviously having more wrestlers.
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However, Giant saw that run ending when he defied the orders of Hogan to put off receiving his WCW Championship as per a World War 3 battle royal victory. Hogan had the rest of the NWO attack Giant to kick him out when he made it clear he was going to challenge Hulk for the top prize.
9 Buff Bagwell
One of the strangest WCW storylines featured Buff Bagwell breaking script as an early Vince Russo idea when taking over. Bagwell laid down to lose matches and spoke to Russo with the camera making it clear that he was doing this to send a message to the boss.
Jeff Jarrett made his WCW return by getting revenge for Russo as his Chosen One to start that character. Bagwell was clobbered over the head with a guitar by Jarrett when he attempted to break character again as a punishment from Russo.
8 Raven
WCW made the Raven character an elaborate heel that often got out of having to back up his words. Raven loved to talk and had great hardcore matches, but he always either used his Flock faction to cheat or found a loophole to get out of tough situations.
The United States Championship match against Goldberg saw everything backfiring against him. Goldberg destroyed all Flock members hitting the ring. However, it was the moment of planted fans stopping Raven from running away as the story WCW told of karma playing out.
7 Konnan
The New World Order splitting into two camps saw Konnan getting more over in the Wolfpac chapter. However, Konnan becoming such a great babyface led to some conflict when the groups united to form the NWO Elite as a heel powerhouse.
Kevin Nash and Lex Luger attacked Konnan for not going along with them when bullying his close friend Rey Mysterio. Konnan took a beating to set up the story of him and Rey teaming up against NWO Elite members before Mysterio was forced to lose his mask at the end of the angle.
6 Scott Hall
WCW started to merge script with reality when Scott Hall’s drinking problems hurt his career. Hall drinking turned into part of his character when representing New World Order Hollywood camp against his former friend Kevin Nash.
The actions of Hall saw him paying no matter what he did. Nash made him pay for conning him and going against their Wolfpac idea by beating him down. Scott Steiner later kicked Hall out of Hollywood when he started to question orders and refused to go along with their plans.
5 Hulk Hogan
The recent Dark Side of the Ring episode has fans thinking more about the infamousBash at the Beach 2000 scandal. Everyone talks about the real issues, but the on-screen story was even crazier to follow. Vince Russo wanted fans to know it was scripted and that Hulk Hogan refused to lose to Jeff Jarrett.
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Fans assumed that Hogan disappearing after that night after Russo said we’d never see him again was a punishment from Russo for defying order. The real-life story makes it clear that Hogan was the one to walk out and essentially stop any storyline from paying off.
4 Eric Bischoff
Eric Bischoff’s on-screen character took many twists and turns. The former babyface commentator and WCW official turned heel to join the New World Order and revealed he was helping them all along. Other members of WCW management tried to control Bischoff, but he had too much power.
J.J. Dillon became WCW Commissioner and tried to have Bischoff stop abusing his power. The payoff to this all came when Ric Flair defeated Bischoff to get his power as WCW President. Flair, Dillon and numerous others wronged by Bischoff saw them all getting revenge together.
3 Ric Flair
The rise of authority figures in wrestling saw Ric Flair clashing with a few at different points. Vince Russo booked himself to enter a personal rivalry with Flair during the New Blood takeover. Flair refusing to appease Russo or do his bidding made them bitter enemies moving forward.
Russo made it his mission to make Flair’s life hell by turning his son David Flair against him. Ric was embarrassed by losing to Russo, having Russo invade his home with David, and even getting his head shaved. The Russo era was clearly a miserable time for Flair as a legend being mocked.
2 Diamond Dallas Page
The defiant moment of Diamond Dallas Page turning down Scott Hall and Kevin Nash’s offer to join the New World Order made him a star. Page conned them before delivering the Diamond Cutter attacks and ditching them to a huge pop.
The bigger rivalry with Randy Savage helped DDP tremendously, but fans often forget how much he was attacked. Page is remembered for the win over Savage and strong moment turning down the Outsiders. However, NWO members often delivered vicious attacks on DDP more times than not.
1 Sting
One of the strangest WCW ideas featured Sting paying for breaking the rules at the wrong time. Sting’s one heel turn in WCW saw him winning the WCW Championship. A weird worked shoot angle with Hulk Hogan led to Sting having to face Goldberg in a non-title match at Halloween Havoc 1999.
The unexpected match was not meant to have the title on the line, but the referee gave the belt to Goldberg after the win. Sting was livid and attacked the referee for trying to calm him down. It was the attack on the referee to see the title stripped from Sting as a harsh punishment.
