It's a good question, and its interesting you use former NWA/WCW guys as examples. Other than the big stars of that era, people were making chump change. Crockett destroyed that company, and Turner didn't do much better.
I remember years ago Ole Anderson mentioning how during one of their trips through the territories, he got a check for 40 bucks and he was supposed to
split it with a few other wrestlers. During this same time frame, Magnum TA was making half a million a year and driving his Porsche he would soon crash, while Ole and other workhorses who played a big role were making chump change and car pooling in a used Datsun B210.
They didn't spread the wealth. This is why people like Windham, Arn, Kruschev, etc. were so willing to bail out and head to WWF, AWA,etc.
So when their glory days are over(early 80s-early 90s), they are left with nothing but scarred bodies and addictions to pain pills so they become forced into doing the only thing they know how to do to earn a living....... wrestle. Since there was no chance of becoming stars again, it was either be jobbers or stand in the unemployment line.
Say what you want about Mcmahon, but he does spread the wealth which creates loyalty in the company.
I do agree that it
**** up their legacy, but when you have a family to feed and no money, legacy means nothing.
Still blows me away that Bobby Eaton was driving a forklift for a living. Dude was in some of the most classic matches in the 80s, yet has to drive a forklift for barely above minimum wage until he gets to be a jobber in WCW in the late 90s.
Another reason those guys have no money is drugs. The industry was drowning in drugs at the time and they made Al Pacino in Scarface look like Mother Teresa....
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