10 Best Wrestling Dives
1. "Don't Do It, Shane!" (Backlash 2001)
Whether it’s Steve Blackman yanking him from the Titantron or Kurt Angle suplexing him through plate glass at King of the Ring 2001, everyone has a favourite Shane McMahon moment. As far as sheer lunacy goes however, it’s hard to top his leap of faith at Backlash 2001.
There was only one way Shane was ever going to beat the Big Show in a Last Man Standing match: by doing something completely ludicrous. This moment remains the apex of his wrestling career, and while the leap looks like it hurts him a lot more than Big Show, it allowed the boss’ son to triumph in what seemed an unwinnable scenario.
Test’s interference helped neutralise the giant, but the decisive action was all McMahon’s. With his opponent down, Shane literally climbed the Titantron all the way to the top, then took a fateful step forward, plummeting 50ft before landing on the monster below.
Regardless of whether or not Shane put himself in these positions to compensate for his wealthy upbringing and nepotism-aided spot or not, he deserves all the credit in the world for putting his life on the line to entertain us. His greatest dive will be replayed forever, even if it gets harder and harder to watch with every passing year.