10 Wrestling Matches You Won't Believe Happened In 2019

3. Ken Shamrock Vs. Joey Ryan - Impact Wrestling, October 26

Joey Ryan Ken Shamrock Impact
Impact Wrestling

Ken Shamrock in 1998 took one of the most vicious chair shots in pro wrestling history.

It was an ideal scenario for brain damage: nobody in WWF management knew (or cared) that such spots caused brain damage, Shamrock is batsh*t crazy and requested the Rock's hardest shot, and the Rock, as Mick Foley can attest, was a bit of a f*cker for laying it in.

21 years later, there was significantly more public outcry when Shamrock grabbed the penis of his opponent, with full consent, to facilitate the safest bump you will ever see in the context of a predetermined performance art that has been exposed as such for over a century.

There wasn't a great deal to this match, but it's still such a bizarre thing to have happened; Joey Ryan has convinced many a legend to take this spot, but Shamrock has a rep to protect that extends well beyond pro wrestling. Shamrock is also 55 years of age and super-shredded, which added to the incredulous visual. As for the story, it was a classic wrestling tale of power versus technique, only Ryan's penis was the source of said power. Shamrock went all in the d*ck-flip, selling his hand like a Randy Orton-hazed WWE creative writer, but swiftly put him away with an ankle lock.

An easy payday, and no big deal.

"But it's a man's penis! Ewww!"

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!