Former WCW Star Buff Bagwell Has Leg Amputated After Complications from 2020 Car Crash

Former WCW star Marcus Alexander "Buff" Bagwell underwent an amputation of his right leg Thursday, his friend announced.

According to TMZ Sports, Bagwell's longtime friend Steve Stasiak went public with the news Friday in a Facebook post. Stasiak noted that the amputation was necessary due to injuries suffered during a 2020 car crash, writing: "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."

Stasiak's confirmation of the surgery came shortly after Bagwell posted a video on his YouTube channel in which he explained why he decided to get an amputation:

As part of his Facebook post, Stasiak wrote that the situation is "hard" for Bagwell, and he included a photo of Bagwell in his hospital bed following the procedure:

In August 2020, a report filed by the Cobb County Police Department in Georgia stated that Bagwell was hospitalized after crashing his vehicle when he drove across a median and collided with a metal fence.

As part of the report, it was noted that Bagwell was suspected to have been under the influence of prescription medication at the time of the crash.

Bagwell, 55, is best known for his time in WCW from 1991 until the promotion was purchased by WWE in 2001.

Initially going by his full name of Marcus Alexander Bagwell, he started off as a tag team wrestler, partnering with the likes of Tom Zenk, Brad Armstrong, 2 Cold Scorpio, The Patriot and Scotty Riggs.

Bagwell would go on to become a five-time WCW world tag team champion during his decade-long run with the company.

In 1996, Bagwell joined the nWo and started going by the name Buff Bagwell. He was a self-absorbed, cocky heel who became obsessed with his physique during that time.

While Bagwell never won a singles title, he went on to become one of the most popular characters in WCW over the next several years, consistently yielding strong reactions from the live crowd.

After WCW went out of business, Bagwell briefly joined WWE, facing Booker T in a match for the WCW Championship on the July 2, 2001, episode of Raw.

Bagwell was released from WWE a week later, though, and he never returned to the company.

In the years that followed, Bagwell made appearances and wrestled for several other smaller promotions, including TNA in 2002, 2003 and 2006.