Five wrestlers who have had near-death experiences
Pro-wrestling might be scripted, but that does not mean it is devoid of risks and fatalities. Many famous wrestlers have been taken close to death by their profession both on and off the ring. While most of the scripted injuries last for about a night before a wrestler makes a comeback, these instances are when they really did have a tryst with death.
Ric Flair astonishingly survived a plane crash
October 4, 1975, is one of the most horrifying dates in the life of 'Nature Boy' Flair. Flair and a host of other wrestlers were flying from Charlotte to Wilmington when their plane, during landing, ran out of fuel and hit a number of trees before hitting the ground. Flair suffered injuries and changed his style after the accident.
Jerry Lawler suffered a heart attack live on Raw
September 10, 2012, was one of the most disturbing moments in WWE history. Jerry 'The King' Lawler was doing his regular commentary with Michael Cole when he suddenly suffered a massive heart attack. He was immediately taken backstage. King was clinically dead for 20 minutes before EMTs resuscitated him to life. Cole carried on alone, informing fans about Lawler's health as well.
Shane McMahon survived a helicopter crash
Vince McMahon's son Shane has been quite a fearless wrestler himself, having had few iconic falls and scares to his name. But in 2017, Shane found himself in a helicopter crash, when, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, his private helicopter suffered a malfunction and was landed on the ocean itself. Shane, unharmed, was then taken to the coast by rescuers.
Mick Foley's ear was ripped off during a match
Mick Foley is one of the most hardcore wrestlers of all time, and there have been many occasions when he has put his life at risk. But, during a match against Vader, Foley's right ear was almost ripped off. "I knew enough about the human anatomy to know that if the pressure continued, I could suffer brain damage and even death", Foley later said.
A bicycle ride proved to be fatal for Bret Hart
Bret Hart suffered a major concussion during his 2000 match against Goldberg which did put an end to his in-ring career. Hart did return as the commissioner of World Wrestling All-Stars in 2002. But the same year he suffered a bicycle accident, causing a stroke in his right side of the brain, leaving his left side paralyzed. Strenuous therapy, finally, gave him mobility.
