10 Wrestlers Who Almost Died In The Ring

2. Steve Austin

Think of all the magical Steve Austin moments we would have missed out on had he not recovered post-SummerSlam 1997. No Austin vs. McMahon feud, no WWF Title win at WrestleMania XIV, and no legendary 'Mania matches with The Rock. It's unthinkable, but Austin was very nearly robbed of his life, never mind his career.

Trusting Owen Hart to perform a sitting Tombstone Piledriver safely, Austin landed on the top of his head and was temporarily paralysed. Somehow, he was able to regain enough movement to slowly roll Hart up for the win, then briefly raise the Intercontinental Title above his head. That shouldn't have been possible, because the man's body must have been painfully weak.

Austin was lucky to escape SummerSlam '97 alive. If that sounds like hyperbole, consider the fact his neck was broken instantly. Had Austin's head been a few inches further down, then the move could have been terminal. Thank God it wasn't.