Marcus Bagwell — known to millions of wrestling fans as Buff Bagwell, a standout in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) during its heyday under CNN founder Ted Turner — has sadly undergone an above-the-knee leg amputation.
The difficult news was shared Friday by Bagwell’s close friend, Steve Stasiak, on Facebook. According to Stasiak, the surgery took place Thursday morning, marking the end of a long fight to avoid this outcome.
“I’ve known Buff a long time. I’ve seen him in the spotlight and behind the scenes, and I’ve watched him fight through things most people never hear about,” Stasiak wrote. “This one… this is hard. For him. For everyone who knows and loves him. The injuries from his 2020 accident never fully healed. He gave it everything he had—but that fight led him here. And now begins a new kind of battle.”
Stasiak added a heartfelt plea to fans:
“Buff was one of the brightest stars of a wild era in wrestling. He made you look. He made you care. But it’s who he is as a person — beyond the lights and persona — that I hope people think about today. If you’re reading this, just send a little love out into the world for Buff. No grand gestures. Just something real.”
Just hours before the life-altering procedure, Bagwell opened up on his YouTube channel, sitting beside his fiancée, Stacy, reflecting on the journey that brought him here.
He explained this was the result of a five-year struggle to save his leg, which began after a serious accident in August 2020. Bagwell described crashing his Chevy Tahoe into a structure while still recovering from previous surgeries on his foot and knee. The accident caused part of the building to collapse, resulting in a shattered kneecap and leading to a seven-week hospital stay and an exhausting 21 surgeries.
The trauma plunged Bagwell into a dark period, battling severe alcohol addiction. But he shared that he turned his life around, entering rehab in August 2022, and is approaching three years of sobriety this summer.
Despite this devastating development, the wrestling community has rallied around him. Fans flooded his YouTube comments with words of encouragement and admiration for his strength and candor.
One fan playfully commented:
“New gimmick — Bionic Buff!! You’re going to feel better and be more mobile once you get that kickass prosthesis. Just follow the cleaning instructions, avoid infection, and STAY SOBER. Love ya.”
Another added:
“Marcus, this isn’t something the average person would handle with such grace. You’re speaking about it so openly — it’s inspiring. Praying for your fast recovery.”
Bagwell, who wrestled for WCW from 1991 to 2001 and became one of the company’s most charismatic stars, now faces a new kind of fight — but fans seem ready to walk this road with him, offering their support every step of the way.
