5 Times commentators were attacked by WWE Superstars

In the world of WWE, there are very few safe places - and it isn't always just the squared circle that can present dangerous.

Indeed, while the vast majority of the action we see each week takes place in the squared circle between the trained Superstars of WWE, there are always exceptions.

Sometimes, wrestlers take the action from their matches to outside the ring, into the crowd, into the backstage area and even out on the street!

There is one place, however, that you may not think of when you consider alternative locations for fights to break out or to take place - and that's the WWE commentary desk.

Each week for decades, the likes of Vince McMahon, Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler have provided the voices that have guided us through the action. But they haven't always been able to stay out of the way of that action or, at times, the wrath of WWE Superstars.

Today we're taking a look at some of the most infamous instances of commentators being attacked by WWE Superstars. From confrontations live on pay per view, to brawls on weekly television, some of these collisions provided unforgettable moments for fans watching.

#5. Vince McMahon and Bret Hart

Back in July 1997, Bret Hart was furious at Shawn Michaels being named the special guest referee for his WWE Championship match with The Undertaker at SummerSlam.

He decided to take his growing frustrations out on Vince McMahon, who was commentating at ringside. At this time, it was barely acknowledged on-screen that McMahon was anything more than a commentator - certainly, it was never detailed that he owned the entire company. This attack was a brilliant, early instance of WWE blurring that line and is one of the formative moments in the creation of the Vince McMahon character.

#4. Dio Maddin put through a table

Back during WWE Premiere Week, Dio Maddin was one of the big winners when he was handed one of the biggest posts in the WWE broadcast team - on the announce desk of Monday Night RAW, alongside Vic Joseph and Jerry 'The King' Lawler. It was a bold, fresh new approach by WWE, in the same week in which Friday Night SmackDown made its debut on FOX.

Sadly for him, the stint proved to be short, and Maddin was back pursuing his singles career as an NXT Superstar within six weeks or so.

In between, however, came one of the most brutal attacks on a commentator, when Brock Lesnar decimated Maddin. Lesnar had been confronting Lawler in his search for Rey Mysterio, when Maddin stood and squared up to The Beast in The King's defense. A tall, imposing man himself, Maddin was no meek mouse - but he was no match for Lesnar, who left him laying with an F5 through the table.

You can watch the tense confrontation and devastating assault above, courtesy of WWE's YouTube channel.

#3. Jim Ross stunned by Stone Cold

Stone Cold Steve Austin lashes out at Jim Ross. (Image courtesy: YouTube)

Back in 1997, Jim Ross was a major part of the WWE announce team, ready to step into the void of the lead commentator that was soon to be left by Vince McMahon.

Ross was at the announce desk when WWE presented Ground Zero on pay-per-view in the fall of that year. He was asked to step into the ring to interview with Sgt. Slaughter ahead of the surrendering of the tag team titles by the injured Stone Cold Steve Austin and Dude Love. Austin had been ruled unable to compete and, therefore, defend his titles as a result of an injury.

Seemingly an innocent bystander, Ross appeared to offer Austin no more than his heartfelt wishes given the Texan's plight. As we came to know, though, Stone Cold doesn't handle pity well - and for his 'trouble', Ross was nailed with a Stone Cold Stunner right then and there. Ouch! It was the end of Jim's night, as he was taken backstage for treatment.

#2. Michael Cole gets an F5

Michael Cole gets medical attention after being wiped out by Brock Lesnar

There are few more dominating Superstars in WWE history than 'The Beast Incarnate' Brock Lesnar.

As we detailed in back on page two with Lesnar's brutal assault on Dio Maddin, the former Universal Champion has absolutely no concerns over hitting out at whoever draws his ire.

Back at the climax of WrestleMania 31, Seth Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank contract as the main event match between Lesnar and Roman Reigns was drawing to a close. In what was remembered as daylight robbery, Rollins snared Lesnar's championship, leaving The Beast furious.

The next night, Michael Cole was among those to pay the price for that rage - with the experienced commentator left laying as a result of a devastating F5. Cole himself would later recall:

"The F5 is a tornado, you know, and it sounds trite but it was like a tornado because of the quickness and the power. The next thing I knew, I was outside the ring, it happened so fast. "

Hell hath no fury like a Beast scorned!

#1. Jerry Lawley blasted by Sheamus

After losing his WWE Championship to Randy Orton in a Six-Pack Challenge at Night of Champions in 2009, Sheamus was an angry man.

He was busy taking that anger out on just about everyone he came across, 'retiring' Jamie Noble after not only beating the veteran in a match on RAW, but relentlessly beating him in a post-match assault.

A couple of weeks later, Sheamus came out on RAW and threatened to harm anyone brave enough to step forward and challenge him. Perhaps wisely, nobody came forward. Clearly still bubbling with anger, the Celtic Warrior climbed out of the ring and assaulted the ringside timekeeper, yelling, "You got a problem with me?!". Clearly, it was an unprovoked assault.

One man who took exception to that was Jerry Lawler, who stood up from the announce desk to remonstrate with Sheamus - albeit from a distance. While Lawler only protested to Sheamus rather than physically getting involved, the Irishman still objected, and nailed The King with a nasty-looking Brogue Kick, leaving the Hall of Famer in a heap.