René Duprée Claims WWE Ordered Him to Be Busted Open on Live TV Without Warning

René Duprée just dropped a disturbing behind-the-scenes story that adds another layer to WWE’s history of brutal backstage decisions.

On The Final Countdown to 2026 podcast, Duprée revealed that during a 2003 episode of RAW, he was legitimately busted open—by direct orders from WWE higher-ups. According to Duprée, the match involved him taking a hard shot from D-Von Dudley with a flagpole. But what he didn’t know at the time was that management had intentionally instructed D-Von to lay it in hard—without telling him first.

“I had a match with Bubba Dudley one time on RAW—2003. And the finish of the match was: D-Von comes in, hits me with the flagpole. He actually busted my head open—eight staples.”

“I get to the back, and Bubba—Bubba’s a bit of a loudmouth—goes, ‘That was a direct order from the boss.’ And D-Von was like, ‘Yep, yep, it was.’”

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Duprée wasn’t even given a warning. He speculated the order may have been retaliation for a perceived slight backstage the night before.

“F**k knows what I did wrong. Maybe it was because we were in Australia the night before and I didn’t sit at the monitor to watch Flair and Michaels. That could possibly be it. That’s what I tell myself.”

The real-world consequences were severe. Duprée said he had to be rushed to a hospital in Vancouver for treatment.

“If I were to lose my hair, there’s a big f**king scar right there. Eight staples.”

This isn’t the first time former WWE talent has spoken out about silent punishments from management, but Duprée’s story is especially disturbing due to the physical harm involved and the lack of communication. It paints a picture of a company culture where orders from the top could lead to real injuries without warning—just for heat or discipline.

René Duprée’s story adds to the growing collection of behind-the-scenes revelations about WWE’s chaotic and often reckless locker room environment. Whether this was an isolated incident or just one of many, it serves as a grim reminder of the price some talent paid—without ever knowing why.

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