Ken Shamrock’s Iconic WWE Chair Shot: A Calculated Risk by Design

UFC legend Ken Shamrock made a daring move when he joined WWE in the late 1990s. Despite his success in MMA, he embraced the entertainment aspect of pro wrestling, notably engaging in a heated rivalry with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson over the Intercontinental Championship. During one memorable Raw episode in March 1998, Shamrock took an iconic chair shot to the face from The Rock, a moment that has been replayed countless times. Years later, Shamrock revealed that the brutal spot was entirely his idea. He had grown wary of chair shots to the head and insisted that The Rock hit him directly in the face. Shamrock believed this method was safer, as it would prevent a concussion and allow him to sell the impact more effectively. Despite The Rock’s initial reluctance, he delivered a powerful blow, and Shamrock was satisfied with the outcome, describing it as ‘a lot better than I thought!’

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