10 Wrestling Matches That Were Difficult To Watch Live

7. Brock Lesnar Vs. Zack Gowen (SmackDown - 19 August, 2003)

Eddie Guerrero Judgement Day 2004
WWE Network

We realise that human chimney stack Brock Lesnar didn't really beat up a one-legged man on this episode of SmackDown, but it was rough, particularly as WWE had presented Zack Gowen as he was: a plucky, sympathetic underdog who'd had his limb amputated following a potentially fatal bout of cancer when he was eight years old.

'The Next Big Thing' ducked out to mock Gowen's mother before the bout had even started. Zack jumped him, diving out of the ring, then hitting his beastly foe with his prosthetic, but that was the end of his offence. Gowen, who was just 20 years old with less than 12 months' wrestling experience, ate a chairshot. Brock's disqualification didn't get the beatdown, though. He threw his bloodied opponent into the ringpost leg-first, then, in a final "f*** you," bundled Zack from his stretcher as the paramedics were taking him away.

While Gowen has since called it one of the funnest matches of his career, the sight of Lesnar picking him apart in front of his family, in his hometown, was wince-inducing, and Zack wrestled just three more televised bouts before the company released him.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.