Ex-WWE star reveals Shane McMahon's role in huge Brock Lesnar botch
Brock Lesnar suffered a concussion after botching a Shooting Star Press against Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 19 in 2003. In a recent video, former WWE wrestler Stevie Richards disclosed details about Shane McMahon's role in the risky move.
Lesnar honed his craft in WWE's Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) developmental system between 2000 and 2002, before joining the main roster. The Beast Incarnate occasionally performed a Shooting Star Press in OVW. However, he had never used the athletic top-rope move in a televised main roster match before WrestleMania 19.
On Maven Huffman's YouTube channel, Richards said Vince McMahon's son allegedly goaded Lesnar by claiming he would not be able to perform the move:
"The origin of this Shooting Star was Shane McMahon kept egging Brock on, from what I remember, that he couldn't do it. 'You can't do it. You can't do it. You can't do it.' And Brock had done it before, cleanly. I think it [Lesnar successfully practicing the Shooting Star Press] might have been even that day." [21:02 – 21:21]
Lesnar was supposed to land front-first on top of Angle, but he failed to rotate his entire body and landed awkwardly head-first. He soon returned to his feet and won the match with his F-5 finisher.
Maven on Brock Lesnar's Shooting Star Press backstage reaction
Between 2001 and 2005, Maven wrestled for WWE. The former Hardcore Champion is best remembered for winning the inaugural season of the Tough Enough reality show. He also feuded with The Undertaker and featured in Brock Lesnar's memorable RAW debut in 2002.
Maven told Stevie Richards that Lesnar looked unhappy when he returned backstage after his match with Kurt Angle:
"I remember seeing Brock. I wasn't close to him but I was a good 20 feet away. He was not happy. He was p****d." [23:01 – 23:08]
Lesnar captured the WWE Championship in the WrestleMania 19 main event. He later revealed in his book, Death Clutch, that former WWE talent relations executive John Laurinaitis urged him to perform the Shooting Star Press.
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Please credit Maven Huffman and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.