Brock Lesnar’s infamous shooting star press botch at WrestleMania 19 remains one of the most talked-about moments in WWE history. Now, an AEW star has shared insights into the chaotic backstage scene that followed the incident.
During the championship bout against Kurt Angle, Lesnar’s ambitious shooting star press attempt ended in a concussion, leading to concerns for his well-being. Despite the mishap, Lesnar’s determination to continue the match prevailed, showcasing his resilience.
Matt Hardy, on his show “The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy,” shed light on the backstage atmosphere at Seattle’s Safeco Field after Lesnar’s return to the locker room. Hardy recalled the moment Ron Simmons jokingly commented on Lesnar’s daring move, saying,
“It was very, very scary. At one point, after we knew he was OK, Ron Simmons — who I love — was like, ‘I don’t know man. He was listening to Shelton [Benjamin] too much. At OVW, they had this big monster flipping out, and he went there and flipped up … and flipped out.”
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Simmons’ advice to Hardy before his subsequent matches against Lesnar was to avoid letting him “flip out,” a humorous reference to the dangerous maneuver. Hardy also expressed his appreciation for Lesnar’s attempt to create a memorable WrestleMania moment and acknowledged the incident potentially altered the way Lesnar approached his in-ring work moving forward.
“I applaud Brock for attempting that, to create a WrestleMania moment — I understand why he did it.”
“But the fact that that happened, and he just decided, ‘I’m not gonna do that anymore and I can just work smarter and’ … I almost feel like that [incident] changed the way he worked.”
Lesnar’s decision to work smarter rather than attempting risky maneuvers signifies a pivotal moment in his wrestling career, shaping his approach to matches and ensuring his safety inside the squared circle.
The shooting star press incident, despite being a setback, showcased Lesnar’s determination and adaptability, highlighting his evolution as a professional wrestler.
