Wrestling Icon Buff Bagwell Undergoes Leg Amputation After Five-Year Battle
The facts matter. Here’s what we know so far. Former WCW standout Buff Bagwell has undergone a partial right leg amputation following prolonged complications tied to a 2020 car crash. The procedure was confirmed on Friday by longtime friend and fellow wrestling veteran Steve Stasiak, who shared the news in a Facebook post supported by a hospital photo of Bagwell resting post-surgery.
Bagwell, 55, best known for his time with the New World Order faction in World Championship Wrestling, has spent the past half decade trying to heal injuries that refused to mend. According to Stasiak, the wreck caused lasting damage that persisted despite multiple interventions. In his June 2025 update Stasiak explained, “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.” The image accompanying the announcement shows Bagwell reclined in a hospital gown and hooked to monitors, his right thigh the highest point of the remaining limb.
The journey to this critical procedure began shortly after Bagwell’s accident in 2020, when his right leg sustained severe fractures and tissue damage. He underwent several surgeries over the years, each aimed at preserving the limb. At different intervals he posted updates and engaged specialists, but infection and circulation problems persisted. Earlier this week, Bagwell took to his YouTube channel alongside his fiancée to inform fans of the looming decision. He described the amputation as the culmination of a five-year struggle to save his leg and expressed gratitude for the support that buoyed him through setbacks.
Industry peers and fans have flooded social media with well wishes. Stasiak, owner of the independent promotion Book Pro Wrestlers, urged followers to “send a little love out into the world for Buff. No grand gestures. Just something real. A thought, a prayer, a moment.” Wrestling organizations have also expressed solidarity. Representatives from WCW alumni groups emphasized Bagwell’s resilience as an inspiration to athletes coping with career-altering injuries.
Medical experts note that post-traumatic complications like those faced by Bagwell are rare but serious. Delayed bone healing and chronic infections can lead to critical interventions if limb viability is compromised. In a broader perspective, Bagwell’s story underscores both the dangers wrestlers face and the advances in surgical care to manage such life-changing conditions.
Through it all, Bagwell’s determination has shone. He remains committed to rehabilitation and future endeavors, telling fans this week on YouTube that he plans to focus on mobility and advocacy. As he embarks on the next phase of recovery, the wrestling world watches and waits.
That wraps up today’s briefing. More updates will follow as details emerge.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, Steve Stasiak Facebook, Buff Bagwell YouTube
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
