Wrestling isn’t perfect. Sometimes there are mistakes. And sometimes these mistakes can look dangerous. Wrestlers are trained professionals, but that doesn’t stop them from doing things that look scary and outright stupid. Even when done right, a move can look like it really really hurt.
It looks like it is dangerous because it is supposed to look like that, and also because it probably did hurt. We’ve documented 25 of the scariest screw-ups, botches, and regular moves that just look scary that we could find in wrestling gif form. Some of these are less scary than others, though. In this slideshow, you’ll see everything from a wrestler being blown-up to having to a wrestler having to dodge the dangers of flying streamers.
A screw-up in wrestling can be dangerous and bring a gasp, or silly and bring a laugh. To get us started, let’s look at a “screw-up” that should definitely give you a bit of a chuckle…
Smooth entrance
Remember, these are trained professionals, but they aren’t trained to fall like that! The ring ropes are often the enemy of even the most trained and talented of wrestlers. This happens a lot on the indie scene since they aren’t using the highest quality equipment. As you’ll see in the next slide, ring ropes can even fluster future WWE Champions.
Ring Ropes Breaking
You can see the wind get knocked out of a very young Daniel Bryan. Of course, this happened on a little indie show. It is possible this was the fault of crappy ropes. Or maybe his opponent was just crazy strong. Either way, that looked like it really hurt. Surely this doesn’t happen in WWE, right? Wrong.
Ring Ropes Breaking 2
Worst Royal Rumble Elimination Ever
This is Taka Michinoku’s “exit” during this Royal Rumble in 2000. They replayed this nasty exit about a dozen times. Taka was taken to a local “medical facility.” Pretty sure he was concussed, at the very least. Here’s another painful ring departure that was replayed over and over again.
Enzo Amore knocked out by the ring rope
You can’t teach that! Maybe that explains Enzo’s bizarre behavior. WWE replayed The Smacktalker Skywalker getting his bell-rung easily 100 times between the time it happened and when Amore returned to the ring a few weeks later. But don’t worry, dumb things happening on the edge of the ring aren’t always accidents. Especially on the indie scene, wrestlers pull-off STUPID moves on the ring apron. Anything to get that crowd reaction.
I don’t even know what this is
The proper name for this is “reverserana” but I just call it DUMB! This is from Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, a cult-esque independent promotion that runs in a VFW hall in Southern California. They’re known for their crazy matches and blend of comedy and “strong style.” The next slide is a perfect example.
Just crowd surfing and then…
This is some of the fun you see at a PWG show! Wrestling isn’t always serious. You have to laugh a little bit. Otherwise the idea that people settle differences by fake fighting in their underwear would just be absurd. Here’s another example of a “serious” wrestling accident that is seriously funny.
Why you shouldn’t throw streamers
This is a Japanese tradition that Americans haven’t quite mastered. The above wrestler is Adam Cole. Let’s move from one up-and-comer to an Icon. Even some of the best wrestlers of all time make dumb and dangerous mistakes.
Sting vs. a Chair
Even The Icon Sting could make a silly mistake or two. It couldn’t have happened to a worse part of his body. More than any other, injuries to the neck and head have ended dozens of careers. Maybe our next superstar would be wise to take heed.
Cesaro shows off impressive neck strength
Ryback saving Kalisto’s life
Despite Ryback being sort of a jerk, this is one of the nicest things he’s ever done. Sadly, it was this feud and its placement on the PPV card that led to Ryback leaving the WWE for good. At least The Big Guy did a Nice Guy thing before he took his copy of The Secret and went home. But our next scary fall involved both parties. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anyone to catch them on this one.
The scariest top-rope powerbomb ever
Shockingly, no one died during this one. You can’t tell from here, but the guy hitting the turnbuckle with the back of his head is the same guy who fell into the ring on slide one. But please believe me, despite what you see he is a good wrestler. His name is Jimmy Jacobs. He actually works for WWE now as a writer. While this mistake was shocking, the one you’ll see next was explosive and even MORE stupid.
Japanese wrestling dot gif
Believe me, this isn’t even as weird as Japanese wrestling gets. And if you’re wondering what those ropes are made out of, the answer is barbed wire rigged to explode. This was from the promotion FMW. The matches in FMW made ECW look like episodes of Sesame Street. They used everything from barbed wire, explosives, fire, and even machetes. But surely this is the only time this happened in this match, right? Wrong.
Japan again
Also, barbed wire rigged to explode but just sitting in a pile on the ground. And while we’re on the subject of wrestlers using explosions in a match, let’s see what Mick Foley and Terry Funk have to say about the matter. This next gif is also from the insane wrestling federation known as FMW.
[tps_title]Terry Funk Blowing Up Mick Foley[/tps_title]
Believe it or not, Mick Foley did something silly and dangerous. Of course you knew that. WWE would later reference these matches as proof that Mick Foley was crazy and willing to do anything to win a match. With this on our brains, let’s look back at one of Mick’s more dangerous stunts. No, not that one. The other one.
Mick Foley falling THROUGH the cage
The horrible fall that you didn’t see from that Hell in a Cell match. This was actually an accident. But Foley continued the match. Because he’s nuts. Later on in the bout, the Undertaker would throw Foley onto thumbtacks and drop him on his head. Speaking of finishing the match, let’s take a look at John Cena overcoming the odds and a knee to the face.
John Cena’s Broken Nose
The Streak Ends
Brock concusses himself
Billy Kidman’s Falling Shooting Star
Davey Richards’ Falling Shooting Star
https://gfycat.com/portlyshamefulguernseycow
I think he just got the wind knocked out of him. Davey Richards isn’t known as a high-flyer but is a tag-team and technical wrestling specialist. Please just stick to what you know. Sometimes the ring isn’t the biggest enemy, it is another wrestler.
Lucha Libra dot gif
The man doing the kicking is Ultimo Guerrero, who is pretty much the Mexican Triple H. The person in the monkey suit is named KeMonito. This has to be the funniest wrestling gif of all time. I chuckle every time I watch it. It is absurd. Violent. There’s a guy in a monkey suit! It has everything. But now prepare yourself for the WORST fall from the ring EVER SEEN!
How did she survive this?
This one is included because it is hilarious. Also, Eva Marie was allegedly put into this match by the producers to teach her a lesson about being arrogant. This was one of the very few matches she worked on television. She was around for four years and never showed any substantial improvement. Good riddance. While this looks intentional and stupid, the final .gif looks accidental and AWESOME!
Gracefully exiting the ring
This is actually not a botch. The man pulling off this dangerous fall is the wrestler Chris Hamrick. The move is appropriately enough called the “Hamrick Bump.” This was done in the early 90s too. Back then jumping out of the ring was saved for the rare PPV main event or a high-flyer spectacular.
Did we miss one of your favorite “scary” or silly moments? Share your thoughts in the comments below.