Wrestling Stars Who Are Surprisingly Poor

Professional wrestling is a sports entertainment force of nature, and the WWE in particular is a cultural machine. It has dominated pro wrestling since the 1980s, when Vince McMahon brought together a scattered mishmash of regional wrestling companies under one umbrella that went nationwide. Later it would go worldwide, and the sport would achieve amazing popularity — try finding anyone who doesn't at least know the names of wrestling stars like Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, or The Rock. In 2024 alone, the WWE reported revenue of $1.39 billion. Superstar wrestlers like Brock Lesnar can make over $12 million per year. It's a big-money industry, but not for everyone.

While wrestling is big now, the road here was long, and only those at the very top reap the huge rewards. Many wrestling stars from yesterday never got a piece of that multimillion-dollar action, while others have lost whatever they did have and ended up in some pretty dire straits. Some signed with smaller companies like WCW, ECW, and TNA that didn't have the reach and influence of the WWE. Whatever the reason, it's surprising to see just how many superstars of wrestling have been pinned by financial ruin over the years.

Perry Satullo, known to wrestling fans as Saturn, saw his wrestling career take off in the mid-'90s in ECW before moving over to WCW. By 2000 he was signed to the WWE and had a two-year stint in the organization before being released. Two years after that, his career and life would take a drastic turn.

In 2004, Satullo intervened in an attempted rape and was shot twice – once in the neck and once in the shoulder. This led to a serious painkiller addiction and eventually homelessness. Saturn seemed to vanish from the public eye for years afterward and didn't resurface until around 2011 when he started wrestling on the independent circuit. However, in a desperate plea for aid in 2017, he let his fans know he was in such bad shape he wasn't even sure when he'd be able to eat his next meal.

A GoFundMe was set up to help Saturn with medical bills. He explained on Twitter that he was suffering from a traumatic brain injury as a result of years of getting hit in the head as a wrestler. He claimed he was living in a near-constant fog with headaches and dementia-like symptoms that made it nearly impossible to work or even drive.

The WWE Women's division is a big part of the brand these days, but women in wrestling had an uphill battle to get the recognition they currently enjoy, which still isn't anywhere near on par with the men. But they have made strides, and one of the first names to break out in the Attitude era of WWE back in the 1990s was Sunny.

After leaving the WWE, Sunny, whose real name is Tammy Lynn Sytch, had several run-ins with the law. Back in 2012, according to TMZ, she was arrested five times in just four weeks. Charges included violating a protective order and burglary. In 2016, she signed a deal with Vivid Entertainment to release an adult video, capitalizing on her WWE fame.

Sytch had been in and out of rehab several times during this same period, programs that the WWE had been paying for. However, after she criticized the treatment she was given, the WWE issued a statement saying it would no longer fund rehab for the former Diva and left her to her own devices.

After three DUIs in 2015, Sytch was arrested in March 2018 on charges of contempt of court and being a fugitive from justice. In 2022, Sytch was sentenced to 17 years in prison for DUI manslaughter charges related to a fatal car accident in Ormond Beach, Florida. 

Tony Atlas has had a remarkable career not just in wrestling but bodybuilding as well. He holds several records and is the 1987 National Powerlifting Champion. However, he's had a heck of a string of bad luck and never really clicked with audiences the way some of his peers did, due in no small part to the terrible gimmicks he was saddled with. Atlas infamously portrayed Saba Simba, an African warrior character that stands as one of the single most racist gimmicks in WWE history.

Atlas has dealt with serious financial issues during his time in and out of the ring. Homelessness was a very real concern for Atlas, who has shared stories of living on the streets and sleeping in parks. In an interview with The Hannibal TV, Atlas described how, after going through a divorce and paying his taxes, he had just about nothing. He was on the street for over a year and a half before someone helped get him on his feet.

In 2015, an Indiegogo campaign was set up to help fund a video featuring Atlas, the proceeds of which would go to help him pay for his home, which was in danger of foreclosure. The campaign ended without meeting its goal. Atlas is still wrestling occasionally on the independent circuit, so hopefully he's doing all right.

Like so many of his peers, Justin Credible, whose real name is P.J. Polanco, got caught up in substance abuse. He was drinking up to a fifth of vodka a day and us IV heroin because it was cheaper than the more expensive opioids he could no longer afford.

In 2017, Polanco posted a now-deleted video in which he ranted about his career and time as a champion and seemed visibly unwell. Within days, he posted a follow-up about how the WWE had gotten in touch and offered him help in the form of a rehab program – he accepted. Unfortunately, by late 2017 he had relapsed again, and showed up to a live event in Connecticut apparently intoxicated. In a video of the incident, other wrestlers could be heard asking if it was part of the show before the promoter came out to force Polanco to leave.

These days Polanco is back on the wagon, hopefully for good this time. As he told Wrestling Inc, it's not been all fame and fortune getting here, especially when he said he was working 300 days a year back in his heyday and not even making six figures. Factoring in all the time on the road, he said he was actually losing money.

Few names in the history of wrestling are as recognizable as Jake "The Snake" Roberts. He was one of the founding fathers of the WWE, and his gimmick was as simple as it was memorable. The dude just brought a snake in a sack to the ring. And people loved it.

While Roberts was very much at the top of the heap during the meteoric rise of wrestling in the 1980s, he fell on hard times in the 1990s after years of drug and alcohol abuse finally caught up with him. He said in a 2015 interview with Daybreak North (via the CBC) that the only reason he didn't attempt suicide was because he didn't want to let his kids down any more than he already had.

Health problems have dogged Roberts for years. In 2017, he told Rolling Stone that he probably suffered three concussions per year during his wrestling career, which is way too many even if he had only wrestled a couple years — Roberts has been wrestling since the early '70s and said he has issues with memory and speech now.

These days, Roberts is a frequent guest at fan events. He underwent heart ablation surgery in May 2025 and was back on the autograph and convention circuit the following month. 

Every time you see a wrestler get dropped on thumbtacks or bleed like they're in a "Halloween" film, you have Abdullah the Butcher to thank for it. He's one of the pioneers of hardcore wrestling, blurring the line between sports entertainment and realism with unmatched sadism in the ring. While Abdullah never made it to the top of mainstream wrestling — largely because of his brutal, non-TV-friendly style — his legend preceded him, affording him the opportunity to travel the world and become one of the most notorious personalities in the business. He also participated in some of the strangest things that actually happened during a wrestling match.

In retirement, Larry Shreve — the man once known as Abdullah the Butcher — isn't exactly reaping the rewards of a storied career. Appearing on WDIV-TV in 2023, Shreve explained how he never learned how to read or write when he was young, deciding to leave school as soon as he could to become a pro wrestler. This has left him in a predicament where he has been illiterate his whole life — something that he believes has cost him everything. "In my opinion, I have been ripped off so bad it's unbelievable, and I'm still getting ripped off," Shreve said.

Shreve discussed how he lost $2.3 million in a 2014 lawsuit to another wrestler, because he didn't understand the contents of a summons he received. Resultantly, he lost the case by default.

Whether he performed as One Man Gang or Akeem "The African Dream," George Gray was a seminal part of the then-WWF in the late '80s. Widely regarded as one of the best big men in pro wrestling, Gray was a physical specimen who drew crowds because of what he could do in the ring and the believability that he was capable of crushing his opponents. Despite being a renowned performer, Gray admitted on Sean Mooney's "Prime Time" podcast that he left the WWF in 1990 because of the mounting costs of traveling on the road.

While Gray continued to perform in other promotions, he never reached the peak of popularity that he did in the late '80s with the WWF. Gray eventually retired due to back issues and had a heart attack in 2000. In 2016, though, he experienced more bad luck, as his family home was devastated by a flood that hit Baton Rouge, Louisiana. To make matters worse, Gray didn't have flood insurance. "Basically, everything is gone," he told SportingNews.com. "All of my wrestling memorabilia was washed away, things like old-school posters and my boots that we didn't store in the attic because we didn't think it was ever going to flood."

Gray's son set up a GoFundMe in an effort to help Gray and his wife rebuild their lives. Ultimately, the campaign raised $16,000 for Gray.

WWE fans from the early 2000s will remember Rico Constantino for managing the tag team of Billy and Chuck. Rico proved to be a flamboyant performer and even got in the ring a few times himself, as fans reacted positively to his colorful character. However, Rico's time within the squared circle didn't last too long. After leaving WWE, he went into law enforcement in the mid-2000s.

In September 2016, former wrestling manager Kenny Bolin posted on his Facebook page that Rico was experiencing health issues, including blood clots in his lungs and a heart issue. Bolin rallied the fans for support, while a GoFundMe campaign was set up for Rico. Pro wrestler Chris Jericho donated $3000, while ring announcer Lilian Garcia gave $500. Rico also took to his own Facebook account to explain his situation, revealing how he was quickly running out of funds and being unable to work since June was putting him in financial trouble. He also thanked everyone for their donations.

Rico updated his fans about his recovery journey on his GoFundMe page. In 2024, he returned to the world of pro wrestling and teamed up with MxM Collection at AEW's WrestleDream event.

As part of the tag team known as the Rockers with Shawn Michaels, Marty Jannetty was one of the hottest talents in the WWF. The team became renowned for their high-flying ability and never-ending charisma, so it was surprising that when they split, Michaels would go on to become a WWE legend while Jannetty struggled to make a name for himself as a solo star in the promotion.

Despite this, Jannetty remained a notable and popular name in the pro wrestling circuit and went on to have a career that took him to various countries and promotions. In 2012, Jannetty shared a photo and message in a now-deleted Facebook post (via Rajah) about how he needed to have ankle surgery; however, he didn't have the funds for it. Jannetty had also previously criticized the now-WWE for not helping its former talent when they needed medical assistance.

By January 2024, he still experienced medical issues. In a now-deleted Facebook post (via 411Mania), Marty Jannetty revealed the sad truth that his sister had passed away and doctors had informed him that they would need to amputate his leg.

Rip Rogers is a name that mostly only old-school wrestling fans recognize. After a car hit him in 2003 and prevented him from wrestling, Rogers embraced the role of teacher, becoming one of the people responsible for training generational talents such as John Cena and Brock Lesnar. He might not get the plaudits he deserves, but Rogers played a major role in shaping the pro wrestling business from the 2000s onwards.

In 2017, Rogers launched a GoFundMe campaign and opened up about what he was going through. Rogers explained how he had a child on the way to college and the wrestling industry hadn't left him in a good financial situation, regardless of how much he sacrificed for the business. "Help is what I need, a major windfall is what I want but a miracle is what [I] am looking for," he wrote. "What is worse than a man who has to beg and borrow to take care of his family. Relying on the compassion of others but feel completely degraded and less of a man for all his failures." Wrestlers such as Randy Orton and Santino Marella contributed to Rogers' campaign.

In 2024, posting under his real name of Mark Sciarra, Rogers launched another GoFundMe campaign, announcing that he required assistance for surgery. According to Pro Wrestling Stories, Rogers had "significant health challenges, including vein issues, neuropathy, severe swelling, and balance problems."

As one of half of the Nasty Boys tag team, Brian Knobbs turned into a well-known performer in both WWF and WCW in the '90s. He won several tag team titles with his partner Jerry Sags, while the Nasty Boys were voted Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Tag Team of the Year in 1994. Knobbs also became notorious for several behind-the-scenes incidents, including real-life fights with wrestlers like Ken Shamrock and New Jack.

Knobbs has faced health issues in recent years, which have seen several GoFundMe campaigns started to pay for his medical bills since he's fallen on hard financial times and cannot wrestle or attend fan conventions. In 2019, Knobbs had a knee infection that required a knee replacement, while his wife faced her own set of health issues. In 2021, Knobbs ended up in hospital again with stomach problems and issues with his other knee. Then, in 2025, another campaign was launched after Knobbs and his wife lost their house after Hurricane Milton and he experienced another stint in the hospital with a foot infection.

Whether it was in the old territory days, WCW, or WWE, "Dirty" Dutch Mantell is known for being one of wrestling's most famous managers. Mantell played the bad guy part so well that most people didn't realize he actually had a positive influence backstage in various other roles in the office. In fact, his podcast "Story Time with Dutch Mantell" is must-listen content for anyone who has ever wondered about the inner workings of the pro wrestling business and all the real-life shenanigans behind the scenes.

Mantell and his family found their savings depleted in 2023 after both Mantell and his wife experienced several health issues. According to the GoFundMe campaign started by Mantell's daughter Amanda Moore, the former pro wrestling manager "has beat sepsis twice and nearly died both times," while his wife had been hospitalized 11 times. Moore added, "This places an immense financial and emotional burden on the family." Several wrestling personalities — such as Tony Khan, Jim Cornette, and Chris Jericho — contributed to Mantell's campaign.

In early 2025, Mantell experienced a urinary tract infection and went into the hospital again. However, he recovered and returned to his podcasting ventures.

The Samoan bloodline runs deep in WWE. While most fans know all about Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jey Uso, Roman Reigns, and Afa, many might not remember the wrestler known as Manu, whose real name is Afa Anoa'i Jr. — and yes, he is actually Afa's real-life son. Manu had a short stint in WWE during the mid- to late 2000s, with his biggest storyline moment arriving when he joined Randy Orton's Legacy faction, which also featured next-generation wrestlers like Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr.

After departing the WWE, Manu continued to wrestle on the independent scene, but not much was heard about him until 2023. Manu was hospitalized with a "complex cardiac issue," according to Mike Kleckner, who started a GoFundMe for him. Kleckner explained that Manu required medical procedures and medication that would result in "major medical expenses for both him and his family." The good news is Manu recovered from his hospital stay and even made it back into the ring as recently as 2025.

Charles Scaggs achieved wrestling fame under two personas. In ECW, he excelled as 2 Cold Scorpio, becoming known for his dazzling in-ring ability and high-flying offense. When he joined the WWF, he performed both as 2 Cold Scorpio and Flash Funk. Regardless of the persona, no one will soon forget his mesmerizing 450° splash, which hardly anyone else was executing as smoothly in the '90s.

From the mid-2000s onward, Scaggs disappeared into the independent scene, with only the most diehard wrestling fans following his every move. In 2024, news broke of what Scaggs had been up to since leaving the wrestling scene: He had been working as a security guard. As per Cageside Seats, a now-deleted GoFundMe campaign was set up for Scaggs' legal bills after he had reportedly stabbed a convenience store customer in self-defense. Scaggs hadn't been able to work since the incident, and since the job was his sole income, he experienced financial difficulties. As per Scaggs' version of the events, he asked the man to not smoke inside the store and the tensions escalated soon thereafter. Scaggs was charged with felony assault but pleaded not guilty. At the time of writing, Scaggs was awaiting a trial.