History Wrestling / LexLuger

** In WWE he was "The Narcissist" before turning face and becoming "Made in the USA."

* FallenHero: After Liz's passing, the subsequent divorce from his wife Peggy and estranged from his children, Lex went from "Total Package" to a complete train-wreck. Getting hooked on substances, Lex had to serve time on occasion for a number of charges ranging from misconduct to possession. Lex already started to loose his chiseled physique during this period.

** His baseball bat.

** It's worth noting that one immigrant population in the U.S. that has never being well-represented ever, and ironically is the biggest in number, are the Germans. Since Poles,[[note]]Ivan Putski[[/note]] [[Wrestling/BrunoSammartino Italians]], and [[Wrestling/PedroMorales Puerto Ricans]] have being graced with a character of {{Superhero}} proportions in WWE (Lawrence Pfohl being, indeed, of German ancestry).

* BrokenHero: After Liz's passing, the subsequent divorce from his wife Peggy and estranged from his children, Lex went from "Total Package" to a complete train-wreck. Getting hooked on substances, Lex had to serve time on occasion for a number of charges ranging from misconduct to possession. Already starting to loose his chiseled physique during this period, then got the spinal stroke that left him unable to move from neck down, Bed-ridden for a whole year, he had to go on with intensive recovery therapies, it took him ''years'' to be able to shift for himself again!

* CareerEndingInjury: A spinal stroke that left him weighing around 150 lbs.

* BreakTheBadass: After Liz's passing and the subsequent divorce from his wife Peggy, he went from "Total Package" to complete train-wreck. Getting hooked on substances, Lex had to serve time on occasion for a number of charges ranging from misconduct to possession. Already starting to loose his chiseled physique during this period, then got the spinal stroke that left him unable to move from neck down, Bed-ridden for a whole year, he had to go on with intensive recovery therapies, it took him ''years'' to be able to shift for himself again!
* CampStraight: As The Narcissist, his promos were a tad...effeminate.

* TheAtoner: Lex found religion while serving time and sincerely attempted to take his life back to the right track. Well aware of his less than sterling reputation, now assists WWE in their Wellness Program. He also does a lot of interviews for the WWE Network and comes off as much more humble and down to earth as he was in his prime. He admits that when Miss Elizabeth died, he was in a dark place.

* MeaningfulName: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luger_pistol Luger]] is the name of one of the most well-developed handguns in history. The man himself admitted on this own ''A&E Biography'' episode,t he indeed took the name from the pistol, and from then on took the "Lex" from Lex Luthor. ("Lex Lu-'''thor'''", "Lex Lu-'''ger'''"...)

* MeaningfulName: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luger_pistol Luger]] is the name of one of the most well-developed handguns in history. The man himself admitted on the ''A&E Biographies'' episode about him that he indeed took the name from the pistol, and from then on took the "Lex" from Lex Luthor. ("Lex Lu-'''thor'''", "Lex Lu-'''ger'''"...) It's worth noting that one immigrant population in the U.S. that has never being well-represented ever, and ironically is the biggest in number, are the Germans. Since Poles,[[note]]Ivan Putski[[/note]] [[Wrestling/BrunoSammartino Italians]], and [[Wrestling/PedroMorales Puerto Ricans]] have being graced with a character of {{Superhero}} proportions in WWE (Lawrence Pfohl being, indeed, of German ancestry).

* PecFlex: He did it a lot during his run. Hell, he's probably one of the most famous examples of this trope in professional wrestling.

After leaving WCW in 1992, he jumped to the [[Wrestling/{{WWE}} WWF]] to be part of their ill-fated World Bodybuilding Federation. After that failed, Luger debuted in WWE at the start of 1993, where he would feud with [[Wrestling/CurtHennig Mr. Perfect]] until Wrestling/HulkHogan left after losing the WWF Championship to Wrestling/{{Yokozuna}} at ''King of the Ring.'' On July 4 on the ''U.S.S. Intrepid'', Luger became the first person in WWE to bodyslam Yokozuna, beginning a feud with him over the championship. However, Luger was never able to actually ''beat'' Yokozuna for the title, and ended up in the midcard before he suddenly jumped back to WCW on the debut episode of ''[[Wrestling/WCWMondayNitro Nitro]]'', where he remained to the bitter end. He would make sporatic appearances in Wrestling/{{TNA}} and elsewhere before retiring to Crockett's old turf, UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}. He would later suffer a spinal stroke in 2007, and spent three years relearning how to walk with the help of a walker.

* ArchEnemy: Wrestling/RicFlair, easily. He had many other feuds, but this was his biggest.
* TheAtoner: Is this nowadays. He is well aware of his less than sterling reputation and now helps the WWE in their Wellness Program. He also does a lot of interviews for the WWE Network and comes off as much more humble and down to earth as he was in his prime. He admits that when Wrestling/MissElizabeth died, he was in a dark place.

* ThisIsUnforgivable: It were his eyes, and not The Hulkster's ones, those that "lusted" Elizabeth.(!!!) Although Wrestling/RandySavage stated time and again he never had a beef on him for that, [[RealLifeWritesThePlot fandom never forgave him]]. Bonus points if we count he was ''already married'' by the time their relationship started.

* ZenSurvivor: After Liz passing and the subsequent divorce from his wife, he went from "Total Package" to complete train-wreck.
** Getting hooked on substances and doing time for a number of charges gong from misconduct to possession, he found religion inside-bars and attempted to improve his life.
** Lex already started to loose his chiseled physique during this period, and then he got the spinal stroke that left him paralized from neck-down, unable to even take care of himself. Bed-ridden for a whole year, then he had to go on with intensive recovery therapies. It took him several years to be able to get an independent life back again.
** Nowadays completely clean, he's nevertheless wheelchair-bound but thankful to still alive as he tries to help as many people as he can, as part of WWE's wellness and gym training programs.

* InstrumentOfMurder:

** The Louisville slugger he carried for a while (See above).

* ZenSurvivor: After Liz passing he went from "Total Package" to complete train-wreck.
** Getting hooked on substances and doing time for a number of charges gong from misconduct to possession. He found religion in-bars and attempted to improve his life.
** Lex started to loose his chiseled physique and then he got the spinal stroke that left him paralized from neck-down, unable to even take care of himself was left bed-ridden for a whole year and then had to go on with intensive recovery therapies. It took him several years to be able to have an independent life back again.
** Nowadays completely clean, nevertheless he's wheelchair-bound but thankful to still alive as he tries to help as many people as he can as part of WWE's wellness and gym training programs.

* ZenSurvivor: After Liz passing he went from "Total Package" to complete train-wreck. Getting hooked on substances and doing time for a number of charges gong from misconduct to posession, Lex lost his chiseled physique gradually and then he got the spinal stroke that left him wheelchair bound for several years. On jail he found religion and attempted to improve his life. Nowadays he's completely clean but left-a-husk of his former self, nevertheless he's thankful to still alive and trying to help as many people as he can as part of WWE's wellness program.

He debuted in Florida and was pushed hard right off the bat, defeating Wrestling/ChiefWahooMcDaniel for the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/fl-south-h.html NWA Southern (Florida) Heavyweight Title]] a mere 19 ''days'' into his career. He would hold the title two more times before Wrestling/NationalWrestlingAlliance promoter Jim Crockett closed down Florida. Crockett, obviously sensing drawing power in Luger, brought him up to Wrestling/{{WCW}}, where he was x5 [[https://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-us-h.html NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Champion]], and earned the first of his three [[https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/ma-nwa-t.html NWA/WCW Tag Team titles]] (1x w/Wrestling/BarryWindham, 1x w/Wrestling/{{Sting}} and 1x w/[[Wrestling/BigShow The Giant]]) and the first of his two [[https://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-h.html World Heavyweight titles]], winding up as the second winner of WCW Triple Crown ever.

* {{Biography}}: His 2013 autobiography ''Wrestling with the Devil: The True Story of a World Champion Professional Wrestler - His Reign, Ruin, and Redemption''

* HiddenDepths: According to Wrestling/JimCornette Luger's perceived attitude problems were blown out of proportion. He never meant to be arrogant or disrespectful, he was just oblivious or uninterested in all the pro wrestling business quirks.
** Wrestling/RicFlair had similar sentiments, saying that Luger was just very introverted and had no idea how arrogant he came off as. If you sat and talked to him he was actually a nice thoughtful guy.

* {{Jerkass}}: Was a very effective heel in his prime because his naturally arrogant personality shone through. He was much less convincing as a face.

He debuted in Florida and was pushed hard right off the bat, defeating Wrestling/ChiefWahooMcDaniel for the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/fl-south-h.html NWA Southern (Florida) Heavyweight Title]] a mere 19 ''days'' into his career. He would hold the title two more times before Wrestling/NationalWrestlingAlliance promoter Jim Crockett closed down Florida. Crockett, obviously sensing drawing power in Luger, brought him up to Wrestling/{{WCW}}, where he was x5 [[https://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-us-h.html NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Champion]], and earned the first of his three [[https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/ma-nwa-t.html NWA/WCW Tag Team titles]] (1x w/Wrestling/BarryWindham, 1x w/Wrestling/{{Sting}} and 1x w/[[Wrestling/BigShow The Giant]]) and the first of his two [[https://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-h.html Wolrd Heavyweight titles]], winding up as the second winner of WCW Triple Crown ever.

* {{Biography}}: His 2013 autobiography ''[[LongTitle Wrestling with the Devil: The True Story of a World Champion Professional Wrestler - His Reign, Ruin, and Redemption]]''

* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Between 1998 until the end of WCW, he'd turned so many times that somewhere along the line he lost any semblance of personality or momentum he'd ever had. He did avert this a few times, though. He was a face for the entirety of 1994 and of 1997, the latter due to his being one of the lead guys in the fight against the nWo.

* AwesomeMcCoolName: ''Lex Luger''. No... really! If we're to believe the story, he choose it from [[ComicBook/LexLuthor the most famous super villain]] ever.

* MeaningfulName:
** '''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luger_pistol Luger]]''' is the name of one of the most well-developed handguns in history.
** It's worth noting that one immigrant population in the U.S. that has never being well-represented ever, and ironically is the biggest in number, are the Germans. Since Poles,[[note]]Ivan Putski[[/note]] [[Wrestling/BrunoSammartino Italians]], and [[Wrestling/PedroMorales Puerto Ricans]] have being graced with a character of {{Superhero}} proportions in WWE (Being Lawrence Pfohl, indeed, of German ancestry).

* AwesomeMcCoolName: ''Lex Luger''. No... really! If we're to believe the story, he choose it from [[SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor the most famous super villain]] ever.

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: For the Horsemen, as his considerable strength and musculature [[TheBrute made him stand out]] among the rest of the group (Flair, Wrestling/ArnAnderson, Tully Blanchard and manager Wrestling/JamesJDillon), including the man he replaced in the group (Ole Anderson), who were all {{Badass Normal}}s.

* SignatureMove: For one, a ''Gorilla Press Slam''. And he really had this thing for counter a ''Hammerlock'' with another by passing under his opponent's armpit.

* ImprobableWeaponUser:

** His hairspray, a maneuver borrowed from The Fabulous Freebirds and Wrestling/RickMartel.

* HiddenDepths: According to Wrestling/JimCornette Luger's perceived attitude problems were blown out of proportion.
He never meant to be arrogant or disrespectful, he was just oblivious or uninterested in all the pro wrestling business quirks.

It was never that Lex was obnoxious or aloof backstage. The main cause is because he's actually a very cultured person, and back in the day, he was just oblivious or uninterested in all the pro wrestling business quirks.
** Wrestling/RicFlair had similar sentiments, saying that Luger was just very introverted and had no idea how aloof he came off as. If you sat and talked to him you'd find him to be a nice thoughtful guy.

* HiddenDepths: According to Wrestling/JimCornette is not that Lex were obnoxious or aloof backstage. The main cause is because he's actually a very cultured person, and back in the day, he was just oblivious or uninterested in all the pro wrestling business quirks.

As usual, you can find the basics at [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lex_Luger The Other Wiki.]]

*** Wrestling/TheFourHorsemen[=/=]Wrestling/DungeonOfDoom "[[VillainTeamUp Alliance to End Hulkamania.]]"