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The fights in professional wrestling may not be real, but the risks sure are!
Over the years, many wrestlers have suffered career-ending and life-threatening injuries because of this ‘fake sport’. However well one goes over the moves, mishaps in the ring are always bound to happen.
Some performers like Bret Hart pride themselves on never hurting anyone through their illustrious careers. Others are not as fortunate, and often have to carry the shame and the guilt for cutting someone’s run short, with their momentary lapse in caution.
Today, we bring you the names of 5 such men. Artists in the ring, whose names have been tainted because of the injuries they’ve caused to their peers!
#5 Goldberg
Two of the most recognisable names in professional wrestling took very different paths to get to the top. Bret Hart was an artist in the ring, honing his craft to such a fine degree that even his realistic looking offence never hurt anyone.
On the other hand, WCW needed a new superstar who resembled Stone Cold Steve Austin, to compete with WWE in the Monday Night Wars of the late 90s. The man, they found was Goldberg.
A former football player, Goldberg was thrust into the limelight without prior experience and went on a 173-0 streak short, squash matches without ever having an opportunity to properly learn the ropes, he faced several seasoned stars who would more often than not, carry him through matches.in
Also read: 5 WWE Superstars who masked their mediocre wrestling skills with charisma
At Starrcade 99, former Tag team Champions Goldberg and Bret Hart would collide in the ring, and a thrust kick from Goldberg would forever end Bret Hart’s career.
What’s worse is that Goldberg would cause more damage to Hart’s head from not being able to take submission moves in the right manner, by hitting Bret’s head on the mat several times thereafter.
Imagine the dream Bret Hart matches that never happened because of this- against Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar or even, Daniel Bryan.
According to Bret Hart in this interview, Curt Hennig and Haku too, had been badly hurt because of Bill Goldberg.
#4 The Rock
The year is 1999. It is the peak of the Attitude Era. Two of the hottest stars in the business, The Rock and Mankind are booked in an ‘I Quit’ match at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view.
Before going into the match, it had been decided that this would be a hard-hitting match that involved 5 chair shots to Mick Foley’s exposed head. Things somehow went out of hand during the match.
Mankind, while handcuffed, received 11 chair shots to his head with his family at ringside. Tearful, they were seen leaving the ringside area in the documentary ‘Beyond the Mat’. Foley says he remembers (a feat in itself) being upset with The Rock about the events that transpired. The Rock even apologised to him later.
The next time you see the Raw General Manager mess up his lines, blame The Rock for it! Here’s Foley’s account of the incident.
#3 Shinsuke Nakamura
Wonder why we see NXT Star Austin Aries as an announcer these days? This is because, at an NXT live event, The King of Strong Style would accidentally fracture Aries’ orbital bone with a truly devastating kick. One that could have made Aries go permanently blind!
A former Mixed Martial Arts practitioner, Nakamura is known for his stiff style against his opponents.
He had previously also dislocated Samoa Joe’s jaw with his finishing move, the Kinshasa. When he injured Aries, without realising the damage he had done, Nakamura rolled him over on the mat, aggravating Aries’ injury. A bit more caution next time can prevent such massive career-threatening injuries.
Austin Aries is missing out on an opportunity to shine and make his mark on 205 Live, at a time when the division needs stars like him. Strong Style isn’t his best friend!
#2 Seth Rollins
If there was ever a Hall of Fame for causing injuries, Seth Rollins would be the first inductee, and Bret Hart would do the honors! While Rollins is one of the best wrestlers of any age, injuries follow him around like Mary’s lamb.
Firstly, there was the injury to John Cena’s nose, caused by a knee gone awry. Then came the time when he ended the legendary Sting’s career with two Buckle Bombs (Sting refused to put the blame on Rollins and blamed old age for the injury).
More recently, at Summerslam, yet another Buckle Bomb gone wrong put Finn Balor’s astronomical push on an immediate hold, sending him out for several months.
Bret Hart, the recipient of a career ending injury from Goldberg as we have mentioned before, has been very critical of Seth Rollins’ work. It’s tragic to see a wrestler of Rollins’ calibre have his career so heavily marred because of these freak incidents.
Vince McMahon banned the Curb Stomp, but maybe the Buckle Bomb needs to go as well! Finn Balor, however, disagrees that Rollins is a dangerous worker, in the video below.
#1 Sting
Even when Sting had to retire as a result of the injury at Night of Champions, courtesy Seth Rollins, he never blamed Rollins for it.
This is because Sting had himself been in Rollins’ shoes once upon a time. When a top rope dive from Sting resulted in a mishap and caused Rude to blow out his C-4 and C-5 vertebrae, Rick Rude’s ravishing career was over for good.
Of course, this was not Sting’s fault but it is said that Rude always blamed Sting for the mishap. On the other hand, Sting said that the next time the two of them met, Sting and Rude shook hands, and they remained friends for as long as Rick Rude was alive.
According to Rude’s wife Michelle, Rick Rude was devastated by this injury at the prime of his career. He would die of an overdose just 5 years later.
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What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
