The following is a reprint of the Torch Newsletter sidebar cover story from five years ago this week.

-Jason Powell, Torch assistant editor

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Torch Newsletter Archive
By Wade Keller, Torch editor
Sidebar Cover Story
Originally published: Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly newsletter #492
Cover dated: May 2, 1998

Marcus "Buff" Bagwell suffered a serious neck injury ("spinal shock") on the Apr. 22 edition of Thunder. He had neck surgery on Apr. 27 and is expected to need 8-12 months to recover. Chances are he will be able to wrestle again, but it is not a given.

During the tag match broadcast live on TBS, Rick Steiner bulldogged Marcus "Buff" Bagwell off the top rope. When Rick landed ahead of Bagwell, Bagwell's head jammed into Rick's side and then turned sharply. Rick turned Bagwell over for the pin. Scott Steiner then nailed Rick on the back with a chair and dragged a knocked out Bagwell onto Rick for the pin. As Scott moved Bagwell, Bagwell was talking to him, likely telling him he was seriously hurt. Scott moved too quickly in and out of the ring to pick up what Bagwell was saying, but shortly after the pinfall it became apparent something was wrong.

Buff didn't move after the match. Scott Norton, Bagwell's partner in the tag match, and Vincent began to drag Buff out of the ring. When he didn't move, they asked him if he was okay. He shook his head no. Luger conferenced with Rick and Bagwell on the mat. They cut to a commercial. Upon returning, four minutes after the bulldog that injured him, Bagwell hadn't been moved. Vincent and Norton were joined by a WCW trainer in checking out Bagwell, who was lying flat on his back. He could move his left arm, but not his legs. They replayed the move from a reverse angle which looked pretty scary upon impact. Schiavone during the match had talked about how NWO members "have no souls," but the storyline announcing changed over to Schiavone paying tribute to the physical risks all wrestlers take during matches week after week. They announced an ambulance was on its way. The crowd could tell it was no angle and were silent and concerned. Eleven minutes after the injury, the cameras cut away from the ring and to the announcing desk where they moved on to talk about ongoing storylines.

Bagwell lost the ability to move his legs and arms. Within ten minutes of arriving at the hospital, he began to get movement back in his extremities. After 30 minutes he was unstrapped and allowed to try to walk. He was able to move around, much to the relief of his friends who were there, including Scott Steiner, Lex Luger, and Sting.

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