CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CHARLOTTE SPORTS LIVE) — When you think of the most popular players in Carolina Panthers history, Kevin Greene has got to be near the top of the list.
However, there was one night in 1997 when he came close to becoming the most hated man in all of Charlotte.
“I think Kevin kind of wanted to,” recalls former WCW Senior Vice President Eric Bischoff. “But we felt it was going to be too much too soon.
So instead of playing the bad guy, Greene as instructed took in his usual cheers. Once again, he had made the Queen City proud, but this time it wasn’t for anything he did on a football field.
Images courtesy of Getty Images & the Associated Press
“For him, it was a dream come true, and you could see it on his face,” said friend and WWE Hall of Fame member Bill Goldberg.
You could also see the passion.
You see, somehow in the middle of a very successful NFL career, Greene at 33 had become a pro wrestler, and as the fans at what is now called Bojangles Coliseum learned, he was pretty good at it.
“He is the definition of infectious,” said Goldberg who also first met Greene during his short stint with the LA Rams. “You feel as though you are experiencing what he is experiencing at the time because it is bringing so much joy to him.”
That joy is what made the 6’3″, 245-pound Greene a fan of wrestling growing up.
It’s why fellow Charlotte legend Ric Flair didn’t have to ask twice, when just the year before, he wondered if Greene would have any interest in jumping into the ring.
“Kevin just threw himself into it. That is the amazing part,” said Bischoff, also a member of the WWE Hall of Fame. “He collapsed the learning cycle by about a year and a half. He really learned a lot in a very short period of time.”
Greene would wrestle a total of five matches within two years. In that short time. He’d share the ring with Flair, Piper, Goldberg, the NWO and the Giant.
There certainly would have more matches and more feuds, but in 1998, the Panthers included a clause in their contract, that specifically barred Greene from returning to the ring.
Just like that, his wrestling run was over.
“It sucked. I’ll just be honest with you,” Goldberg said. “I’m sure it was hard for him because he had to give up something that he loved.”
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12 Jun 1998: Kevin Greene in action during the WCW Bash at the Beach at the Cox Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport -
12 Jun 1998: Kevin Greene looks on during the WCW Bash at the Beach at the Cox Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport -
PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 27: Linebacker Kevin Greene #91 of the Carolina Panthers watches the action from the sideline during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Veterans Stadium on October 27, 1996 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) -
GREEN BAY, UNITED STATES: Quarterback Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers (R) follows the block of teammate Earl Dotson (L) on Carolina Panthers defender Kevin Greene (C) during their NFC championship game in Green Bay, Wisconsin 12 January. Favre completed 19-of-29 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns. The Packers won the game 30-13 and will meet the winner of the AFC championship in Super Bowl XXXI 26 January in New Orleans. AFP PHOTO/Vincent LAFORET (Photo credit should read VINCENT LAFORET/AFP via Getty Images) -
PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 29: Linebacker Kevin Greene #91 of the Carolina Panthers looks on from the sideline during a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on August 29, 1998 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Panthers 38-24. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
Today Green remains a big what-if for wrestling fans. But for the guys he worked with, there is no question, that this late Panther legend could have been a legend in the ring too.
“He understands what it took to reach such a high level in the NFL. I’m sure some of the same principals would have carried over into wrestling and he would learn what he needed to learn,” said Bischoff. “No doubt in my mind he could have.”
He would been so good that even in Charlotte, we would have booed him.
And ultimately, Greene would have loved every minute of it.