Brock Lesnar’s unforgettable clash with Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 19 remains etched in WWE history, showcasing a pivotal moment in both their careers.
While Lesnar emerged victorious in the bout for the Undisputed WWE Championship, it was the execution of a daring maneuver that left an indelible mark on the event.
In a move that defied expectations, Lesnar attempted a high-risk Shooting Star Press to secure the win, a decision attributed to the creative vision of WWE producer John Laurinaitis.
To this day we have no idea how Brock Lesnar avoided snapping his neck here 😳
The infamous shooting star press miss at WrestleMania 19…
It goes without saying, but Lesnar is tough as nails 💪#RuthlessAggression: The Next Big Thing pic.twitter.com/Zfto9Ph3lQ
— WWE on TNT Sports (@wweontnt) May 24, 2020
Reflecting on the match in his book “Death Clutch,” Lesnar revealed the strategic rationale behind the unconventional finish.
“Since we couldn’t beat each other with our best shots, we’d have to dig something out of our bag of tricks. I’d look around, trying to figure out how to beat Kurt. Then I’d climb to the top rope and hit the shooting star press to pin Kurt Angle and become a two-time WWE Heavyweight Champion. That was Big John’s finish, for the biggest match, on the biggest show of the year.”
Though the execution of the maneuver didn’t go as planned, with Lesnar falling short of a flawless landing, the moment remains etched in wrestling lore as a testament to his fearless approach to entertaining fans.
Reflecting on the incident, Kurt Angle admitted to being momentarily shaken by Lesnar’s risky move, fearing potential injury.
In an interview with True Geordie, Angle recalled the tense moments following the landing, expressing gratitude for Lesnar’s resilience.
“When he landed on his head I was like, ‘Oh s**t, he broke his neck too!’ I literally thought, you know, he was knocked out; he got a concussion, sprained his neck, he didn’t injure it too badly. But the way he landed, he could have been paralyzed. Thank God he has a 22-inch neck because that’s what protected him.”
Despite the scare, Lesnar’s legacy as one of WWE’s premier attractions endures, his willingness to undertake risks underscoring his commitment to thrilling audiences and solidifying his place in wrestling history.
