10 Hidden Gems & Curiosities From WWE Network
5. Vader Vs. Ken Shamrock - In Your House: A Cold Day In Hell (1997)
In Your House: A Cold Day In Hell, in 1997, saw shaven bear Vader face new UFC import Ken Shamrock. In spite of Shamrock's pre-UFC wrestling training he didn't seem to understand what pro wrestling actually was and proceeded to batter Vader way too hard for the big man's liking. Considering Vader had previously fought in matches in Japan that were one step off being actual fights, Shamrock must have gone beyond stiffness into the realms of attempted murder.
In spite of Vader's audible calls to 'ease up', a hyperactive Shamrock kept on bludgeoning with full shoot fight power. So Vader mauled him around the head with the most brutal shoot lariat the WWE has ever seen, almost decapitating Shamrock. Vader was legitimately injured in this violent breakdown of a match and Shamrock was shown to be far from the point where he could be fully trusted in the ring.
As a curiosity showing what happens when things don't quite go right, and an illustration of Vader's badassitude, this one is well worth digging out.