10 Wrestlers Who Escaped Certain Death
3. Brutus Beefcake
Cut down in his prime, Brutus Beefcake was in the middle of the best run of his career when a horrendous parasailing accident put paid to any further ascendancy in the industry not related to his close-knit friendship with Hulk Hogan.
Set to dethrone Intercontinental Champion Mr Perfect at SummerSlam '90 having handed him his first televised loss at WrestleMania 6 earlier that year, Beefcake was hugely over and in magnificent shape after a not-unsuccessful run as a semi-main eventer for much of 1989.
Everything came to a screeching halt in July 1990 though, when a waterskiing colleague kicked him full force in the face following a miscommunication between Beefcake and the boat's driver.
Though he suffered horrific damage that left him out of full time action for three years, it was nearly so much worse. Beefcake's facial skeleton was crushed, with surgeons concerned about Brutus' chances of survival, thanks to the total collapse of his face muscles. With nerves, nose and jaw all wrecked, Beefcake had to hold his own mouth open just to breath until medics arrived.
His recovery was turned into an angle upon his 1993 return, as Money Inc assaulted him with repeated shots to the head, that in turn triggered Hulk Hogan's own return in time for a Tag Team Title match at WrestleMania 9.