The saying ‘life imitates art’ holds true in the professional wrestling industry more than anywhere else. From Chris Benoit and Nancy falling in love during an angle back in WCW, to Stephanie McMahon and Triple H tying the knot in WWE, the line between ‘kayfabe’ and reality has been blurred on numerous occasions.
There have been instances when the storylines spilt into real life – the on-screen rivalry between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, for instance, led to both men hating each other's guts. While what happens inside a wrestling ring is scripted and carefully choreographed, there have been instances when the performers involved were not pretending!
We take a look at five real WWE Superstars’ fights which were caught on camera, either in the ring, or outside of it.
#5 Perry Saturn versus Mike Bell
When Saturn came to WWE along with Malenko, Guerrero and Benoit, many felt he would be the breakout star among the group. Saturn had the intensity, the physique and worked a physical style – all attributes that should’ve made him a top star. Perry also won the WWE European Championship and the WWE Hardcore Championship, but his push came to a screeching halt in 2001.
During an edition of WWE Metal, Perry Saturn took on a jobber, Mike Bell. During the course of the bout, Bell botched a sequence of hip toss and arm drag, with Saturn landing awkwardly on his neck. This ticked Perry Saturn off, as he proceeded to club Bell before throwing him out of the ring!
Bell landed on his head and neck on the outside – a dangerous move which could’ve ended badly. Bell was fine, however, Saturn proceeded to ram his opponent against the steel steps! The WWE management wasn’t pleased with Saturn’s behaviour, to say the least, and he was then given the infamous gimmick, where he fell in love with a mop, as punishment.
#4 Kurt Angle versus Daniel Puder
During the 2004 season of Tough Enough, Kurt Angle challenged the competitors for a shoot match (or an amateur wrestling match, according to varying reports). Puder accepted Kurt’s challenge, and while Angle thought he’d get the easy victory, Puder immediately utilised his knowledge and MMA background. Training with the likes of Javier Mendez at the famed American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) meant that Kurt put himself in a bad predicament.
After jousting for position, Puder locked Kurt in a Kimura, while Kurt took Puder down. Puder had the Kimura locked in, as one of the two referees in the ring, Jimmy Korderas counted to three. Puder’s shoulder wasn’t even on the mat, but the WWE management had to act fast, considering Angle’s arm could’ve been snapped on national television!
Kurt obviously wasn’t pleased with Puder’s antics, and exchanged words with the rookie. However, to this day, the fans remember Puder as the guy that nearly snapped an Olympic gold medalist’s arm in a WWE ring.
#3 The Big Show punches an unruly fan
The problem with calling someone a “giant” on camera, is that sometimes the fans try to test their mettle by squaring up against them. The Big Show, who was known as “The Giant” in WCW, is one of the largest Superstars in WWE history. However, in 1998, a fan found out just how tough professional wrestlers really are – the hard way.
After an event at the Nassau Colosseum, Show went to the bar for a drink. However, that was when one gentleman thought it would be wise to pick a fight with the Superstar. In the end, Big Show lost his cool and proceeded to punch the man, breaking his jaw in the process!
It was all caught on tape, and while Show was arrested after the assault, the judge found him not guilty in 1999.
#2 John “Bradshaw” Layfield goes after The Blue Meanie
ECW vs WWE ONS 2005 by marshal99
JBL was always known to be the locker room bully. While the wrestlers in the 90’s had a certain code, JBL pushed his luck too many times. The WWE Superstars at the time also hated the WCW and ECW Superstars, and when WWE bought WCW and ECW, the WWE performers weren’t thrilled to work with those that tried to put them out of a job.
Fast forward to 2005, and Vince McMahon came up with the idea to have a one-night-only PPV with the former ECW talent. This resulted in an ECW One Night Stand PPV, and to close the show, Austin invited the RAW and SmackDown Superstars to have a showdown with the “ECW rejects”. During the melee, JBL legitimately laid into the Blue Meanie, and busted him open.
JBL would get his comeuppance, however, with Stevie Richards connecting with a hard chair shot to the head on SmackDown a few weeks later.
#1 Chris Jericho punches a fan
Chris Jericho is known for many things – as the lead singer of Fozzy, as an actor, and more prominently as one of the greatest WWE Superstars of this generation. However, Jericho is also remembered as the guy that punched a fan during a scuffle!
Back in 2008, Jericho was getting ready to leave after a house show, but he was soon surrounded by a bunch of fans and hecklers blocking his path.
The security did very little and did not intervene for the longest time. Jericho had to take matters into his own hands when the fans were getting aggressive. This led to Jericho punching a fan, and spitting on a woman!
Jericho then went on a tirade, cursing the fans and the security personnel. Chris told them to do their job, before scurrying away in his SUV.
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