I was once the most popular star in WWE but drug charges and assault controversies left my career in pieces
Few stars in WWE’s bulging ‘New Generation’ era of mid-1990s era boasted a look quite like that of Lex Luger.
Luger was a triumph in the NWA and WCW across the late 1980s and early 1990s, winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on two occasions.
Despite a stellar body of work up to his arrival at what was then the World Wrestling Federation, it’s arguably his spell with that company that he’s best known.
That comes despite the fact Luger never tasted championship gold with what we now know as WWE – instead arguably going closer to it than any other wrestler.
After turning face – the wrestling term for a good guy character on screen – in 1993, he challenged Yokozuna for the world title at SummerSlam, but company officials opted against crowning
him on the night.
And a joint-win in the Royal Rumble the following January took him no closer in the end, as WWE put their top title on fellow Rumble winner Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart instead.
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Luger was one of the first high-profile names to head from WWE to WCW when he jumped ship in 1995, debuting back there just hours after wrestling his final WWE match at a live event.
While he was again a regular with WCW prior to its purchase by WWE 2001, personal problems began to mount for the man formally known as The Total Package.
In 2003 he was charged by police in Georgia for an alleged assault on his then girlfriend, former WWE star Miss Elizabeth.
Though released, he would face the wrath of the law again, arrested for allegedly driving under the influence and with a suspended licence.
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Controversy followed just weeks later when Miss Elizabeth was found dead at the home they shared.
While her passing was ruled accidental, Luger still ended up facing 13 charges the litany of drugs found on the premises.
Pleading guilty, he was sentenced to a five-year probation order in addition to a fine.
Health issues would sadly follow for the 1997 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Wrestler of the Year, a nerve injury leading to paralysis.
While he retained some mobility, his health has gradually declined, with the star reliant on a wheelchair for the last three years.
Luger was delighted to be back in the limelight, albeit fleetingly, this past weekend as he travelled to Greensboro, North Carolina for AEW’s Revolution event.
Now 65 and looking worn from the physical toll of much of the last 25 years, he was on hand to bid farewell to longtime friend and wrestling colleague Sting.
Icon Sting retired at the climax of the event after retaining the company’s world tag team titles alongside partner Darby Allin.
Luger posted a touching message on X with a photo of him smiling, captioning the upload: “It was so wonderful to get to soak in the atmosphere with the crowd last nite [sic]!
“One of the fans snapped this pic of me enjoying Stingers match with a big smile on my face. Thank you.â€