WWE: 9 real life backstage fights
Placing large, competitive WWE Superstars in close quarters for almost a year is bound to cause unscripted consequences. In a world of plots, rivalries and strange storylines, real altercations backstage are usually underplayed or utilized as part of the story.
However, the tale behind such confrontations hits levels of entertainment that arguably exceed the WWE’s regular scripted programming. It’s no surprise that there have been countless reports of superstars going at each other’s throats, but the reasons behind these unsanctioned mini-bouts and their victors are worth noting.
These are nine notable real-life altercations and their winners:
#9 WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle had a classic feud which concluded with a memorable match at WrestleMania 19. The two legends have often been spotted together outside the ring, especially during WWE's Saudi tours, and have a good relationship. However, this wasn't always the case, with the two men taking part in a shoot fight before a North Dakota live event in 2003.
Here's what the Olympic Gold Medalist had to say about the incident:
Someone asked him how I would do against him and he said, ‘He’s too small, I’d kill him. So I walked up to him and said, ‘Did you say I’m too small for you that you would kill me?’ He said to me, ‘Kurt, you’re what? 215 (pounds)?' I said, ‘I’m 225 (pounds)’. He said, ‘Well I’m 315’. I said, ‘Well, I don’t have a problem, let’s get in the ring’. [Talk is Jericho podcast]
The bout concluded with Angle getting the better of Lesnar. Fortunately, this fight strengthened the bond between the two legends, who have been great friends since then.
#8 Sheamus Vs Yoshi Tatsu
Reportedly, Sheamus, Yoshi Tatsu and Ted Dibiase lived together in an apartment while training and working for FCW. The altercation began when Tatsu confronted Sheamus for returning a protein shaker/blender without cleaning it.
Sheamus had a repeated habit of doing so, and upon being confronted, the Irishman took offense and threw the shaker at Tatsu, who caught it. Sheamus then challenged the Japanese wrestler, who was formerly a boxer, to a fight. Unbeknownst to him, Tatsu had been trained to fight in the New Japan dojo in his early days.
Tatsu proceeded to "slap the sh*t out of him" according to Konnan. As per the coverage of AllwrestlingNews, Konnan stated that the fight was about Sheamus owing money and that the protein shaker was a merely a catalyst.
Regardless of which version of the story is true, both have the same man winning the brawl - Yoshi Tatsu.
#7 JBL vs. Joey Styles
@abbyfelicity1 JBL bullied Joey styles once & Joey styles knocked him out lol https://t.co/bVPWiquKHx
During his first WWE tour to Iraq, Styles was the target of JBL’s hazing. The WWE Hall of Famer would apparently bully the former ECW commentator constantly, with a lot of condescending comments and actions, including allegedly spilling a drink on Styles on purpose.
The veteran was known for such behavior with other wrestlers who ignored JBL’s constant devilry, despite not being able to stand his comments only because of his status. Styles, however, had enough of JBL’s impishness several days into the tour, when JBL, who had reportedly been drinking, said something to him.
Furious, Styles retaliated only to be separated by the other WWE Superstars. Once separated, JBL went to Styles, who landed a clean right hand strong enough to flatten Layfield and give him a black eye.
Surprising, yet true: Styles cold-cocked JBL to claim this victory.
#6 Simon Gotch vs Sin Cara
The former Sin Cara/Hunico was known to mix it up backstage in WWE. Now Cinta de Oro, he talked to Fightful about his fights with Chris Jericho, Simon Gotch and Sheamus
Full Article & Interview: fightful.com/wrestling/excl… https://t.co/EN6ZfDHprJ
Sin Cara is known for engaging in a lot of backstage fights that he has won. This one was no different, as Cara got the better of Simon Gotch in what the Wrestling Observer called a “quick and one-sided destruction”.
There aren’t too many details about the fight, except that it happened prior to SmackDown Live during catering. The actual reason underlying the brawl that Cara dominated isn’t clear, yet there is no doubt who the victor was.
#5 Nasty Boys vs Ken Shamrock
Ken Shamrock Talks Infamous Nasty Boys Fight, Frank Shamrock Relationship, MMA/Wrestling Status (Video) dlvr.it/RD6YfZ https://t.co/yOmHQsvjpx
Before Ken Shamrock became a UFC superstar, he was given a hard time during his WWE days. One of The Nasty Boys is rumored to have instigated the confrontation with inappropriate gestures at Shamrock and disappeared before the martial artist could do anything. Shamrock went to the Boys’ hotel, confronted them with a few heated words and told them they had some nerves pulling a stunt like that.
Rumors say that Shamrock was clubbed to the back of the head with a steel phone, after which the Nasty Boys stomped the living legend with their boots. Although it technically wasn’t a fair fight, the Nasty Boys claimed victory.
Years later, Shamrock would meet them again by chance only to have Saggs walk up to him and brag about the victory. Shamrock apparently looked him in the eye and said he would kill him.
Saggs, however, insisted that the incident took place a long time ago to no real avail. Billy Gunn, who was with Shamrock, had to calm him down. Despite being pulled apart, Shamrock chased Saggs down and threatened to knock him out right there. Saggs replied that it would be a felony and Shamrock recollects the anger that immediately left him upon the realization.
#4 Batista vs Booker T
Batista bragged about how WWE SmackDown ratings had dropped subsequent to him leaving and also spoke highly of his quick rise to fame in the company. In a room full of egos, it's no surprise that Batista rubbed a lot of the superstars the wrong way.
The man who finally confronted him was WWE Hall of Famer Booker T. They reportedly argued backstage for 5 minutes before exchanging blows. The brawl that ensued apparently lasted for 30 seconds until Booker T got the best of Batista.
After the beating, Booker was praised for finally shutting Batista’s ranting mouth. In an interview with wrestlinginc.com, King Booker insisted that the issue wasn’t exaggerated.
"The thing is, when you're in a fight, it's different from an MMA fight. That's the thing with me. I've fought my whole life. You don't just call a person out to a fight if you don't know their background, what they've been through, and how to test them. That was his mistake, and I think it was definitely a case of him underestimating me, and thinking he was the bigger guy,”
Booker was quoted as saying the above in an interview.
#3 Khali vs Big Show
The battle of giants began after the former WWE Superstar Big Show realized that Khali had stolen one of his trademark spots. Everyone knows Big Show’s overhand chop that looks like it caves in his opponent’s chest and Khali knows it a bit too well.
After imitating the Show, Khali was confronted by his equally large co-worker backstage. The Big Show let Khali know that he saw what he did and told him to stop it. Khali’s crude response threw Show into a fit as he threw the Indian’s bag to the corner.
Khali accepted what he presumed was an invitation to a duel and Big Show connected with his first punch right on Khali’s jaw. The Indian WWE Hall of Famer was pushed back with the impact and the two began to unleash giant fists at each other until Show took a wild swing and tripped over a chair, causing him to crash onto the floor with Khali on top of him.
The Big Show considers this a loss as Khali landed on top. It certainly sounds like a more entertaining fight than the ones they’ve had on-air!
#2 Randy Savage vs Road Warrior Hawk
Although the reason for the altercation is unclear, the two wrestlers had a heated exchange not in WWE, but backstage at a show in New Japan in 1996. The exchange ended with Hawk knocking out Savage with a right hook. Making him the winner of round 1.
The Macho Man, however, refused to let bygones be bygones and threw a sucker punch at Hawk when he put out a hand in friendship. This happened a whole three years later behind the scenes at a Kid Rock concert in Florida.
Savage’s then girlfriend Stephanie Bellars and another woman who was with them proceeded to attack Hawk’s wife, badly injuring her. Hawk said he would take legal action against the women but never did. He refused to take action against Savage as he believed feuds between wrestlers couldn’t be settled in court.
Since there isn’t a clear winner, it's safe to say that anybody who has watched either of the two fights is the winner in this case.
#1 Chris Jericho vs Brock Lesnar
Chris Jericho opens up about 2016 backstage fight with Brock Lesnar https://t.co/4rXI7QIg9L
To end the article, we bring back former WWE Champion Brock Lesnar. After The Beast Incarnate decided to go off on Randy Orton in what looked like the most brutal way possible during Summerslam, Jericho reportedly went to the gorilla position to figure out what exactly had happened and if Orton was okay.
When asked by Mike Hayes if the finish happened the way it was supposed to and on not receiving a real answer from Hayes, Jericho referred to his response as ‘rubbish’.
Y2J apparently said so as the Beast Incarnate returned from the ring. Lesnar presumed Jericho was referring to the fight and reportedly called him a coward or something to that effect. Furthermore, Lesnar allegedly told Jericho to mind his business.
Lesnar pushed Jericho and he proceeded to slam his forehead against Brock while continuing to exchange words. Lesnar apparently told Jericho to punch him or kiss him as the two tangled up against the wall as Triple H broke up the fight.
Things got heated enough for the two to go at it again immediately after. This time, Vince McMahon stepped in between the two. Jericho continued to scream as McMahon tried to calm him down. Triple H later told Vince that Lesnar had started it and Y2J was merely standing up for himself.
Although there wasn’t any real winner in the argument, I think it's pretty obvious that big bullies can’t really be considered winners.
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