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Pro wrestling has no shortage of critics, people who want to defame the art form by saying it is “fake.” The fact is that wrestlers don’t want to hurt each other, but injuries happen. The physical pain they cause each other is also very real.
Although Ken Shamrock had a legendary UFC career, during the early years of the company, his talents weren’t limited to the octagon. In the late 1990s, he transitioned to the world of professional wrestling, joining WWE and becoming a central figure during one of the company’s most famous eras, the Attitude Era. His aggressive style and MMA background gave him a unique presence in WWE, where he battled top stars like The Rock, Steve Austin, and The Undertaker. Shamrock’s crossover appeal made him a valuable asset to WWE during a time when pro wrestling was reaching unprecedented levels of popularity.
Despite his MMA roots, Shamrock has always been vocal about the physical demands and legitimacy of professional wrestling. After all, he took some brutal chair shots from The Rock, ones that are still legendary and considered very dangerous in hindsight.
In a recent interview with DJ Vlad, Shamrock addressed the long-standing misconception that wrestling is “fake,” using a specific moment in WWE history to drive his point home. He referenced an infamous 1998 match where he delivered a brutal chair shot to The Rock, a moment that has since become iconic in pro wrestling history.
“Oh, no question. But let me explain this in a way that I think that visually people might have a better understanding on why pro wrestling and people get physically beat up in pro wrestling is that I want people, if you haven’t ever seen it yet, but to go watch it, I want you to go and look at the most famous chair shot that has ever been thrown in a WWF match, and that is with Ken Shamrock and The Rock. When you see that chair shot, you tell me that the ending is predetermined. Tell me that this is stuff that happens in a wrestling match. Whereas that in the end, and because of the ending is predetermined, that wrestling is fake.”
Shamrock’s statement highlights the physical toll that professional wrestling can take on its performers. While outcomes may be predetermined, the level of punishment wrestlers endure is far from fake. Chair shots, high-risk maneuvers, and grueling matches can all lead to significant injuries, making pro wrestling an incredibly demanding and often dangerous profession.
As one of the most successful crossover athletes in sports entertainment, Shamrock’s career remains a testament to the dedication required to excel in both MMA and professional wrestling. He is already in the TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame, and he was inducted by The Rock. Only time will tell how long it takes before he gets the same honor in WWE.
Keep checking back with Ringside News for more on this story, and so many more. You may also check out a video of those brutal chair shots from The Rock to Ken Shamrock below.
What’s your take on Ken Shamrock’s legacy in pro wrestling? Will he make it into the WWE Hall of Fame, where he belongs? Let us know what you think in the comments section!
September 8, 2024 12:04 pm
