It’s all fake... that is what those who hate on wrestling will usually say when stating why they don't like the sports entertainment business.
However, what they conveniently ignore is the risks that the performers take are very real and can lead to some very serious injuries and in the worst cases, death.
Fans of the wrestling business have seen countless occasions where performers have got themselves injured in action and this is the reason why shows of WWE normally starts with a message urging fans to not try what they see in the ring at home.
So, what about the times that wrestlers have managed to avoid injury, not just because of themselves but because of their opponent?
YouTube channel ‘Wrestlelamia’ recently uploaded a video titled ’11 WWE Wrestlers Who Saved Their Opponent from Injury or Even Death!’ The list involves some of the biggest names in the business as well.
The first incident comes from WWE’s best era... the ‘Attitude Era.’
The invasion angle was at its peak and just days away from the ‘Winner Takes All’ match at the 2001 Survivor Series. There were numerous wrestlers in the ring all floored at this point as finishing moves were being hit left, right and centre.
Kurt Angle goes to use his finishing move ‘The Angle Slam’ on the Big Show, but doesn’t realise that there is a steel chair where he was about to plant him. Lucky for the seven foot giant, The Undertaker, who was on the floor at the time, noticed the chair and managed to cooly slide it out the ring before Show landed on it.
The most interesting inclusion into this list for us is the match between The British Bulldog and Bret Hart at SummerSlam 1992, which was held at Wembley.
The 25-minute match is absolute classic, but what you might not know is that before the match, Bulldog had allegedly taken drugs, which left him in no state to perform, meaning that Hart not only had to save Bulldog from hurting himself, but also save the entire match.
Seth Rollins also nearly found himself getting impaled on an episode of RAW in 2014, after he and other members of ‘The Authority’ interrupted a match between Roman Reigns and Randy Orton. Rollins signalled for the cage above the ring to be lowered before grabbing a steel chair.
However, Rollins slightly mistimed his entrance to the ring and was nearly impaled by one of the spikes at the bottom of the cage which holds it in place. Fortunately, Rollins was able to get out of the way of the spike seconds before it made any contact with him and saved himself.
The eight other inclusions in the list are worth checking out as well, so a watch of the list is recommended.
The video is an important reminder of just how dangerous the wrestling business is and how bad things can go if it is not done by professionals.