10 Brutal Times Wrestlers Worked Stiff

Though you still wouldn't welcome the idea of sharing the squared-circle with Samoa Joe in 2021, it'd be fair to state that the Samoan Submission Machine has mellowed ever so slightly over the years.

For an example of just how diabolical he could be in the days of his youth, look no further than the time he very nearly murdered Necro Butcher in front of a paying crowd. Starting hot, the two titans treated each other's skulls like dough with sickening forearms, only to follow that up with legit headbutts - busting open Butcher in the process - and a suplex from Joe to his rival off the apron that saw Butcher's neck crumple underneath his body.

Simply put, this one wasn't for the faint-hearted as the three-time NXT Champion refused to hold back when powerbombing his opponent onto a guardrail and German suplexing Butcher into a steel chair. Thankfully, Necro was mercifully put out of his misery by a number of gruelling knee strikes and kicks to the skull, staying down for the ten-count - all while CM Punk cheered on his "best friend" from the commentary booth.

What a world 2005 was, eh?