5 Most Insane Things Happening In Wrestling Right Now (Nov 23)

3. David Arquette Wrestled A Death Match, Nearly Died

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Nick Gage was supposed to wrestle Joey Ryan at Joey Janela's GCW LA Confidential event over the weekend. Ryan, on the shelf following a torn pec, pulled out. Janela, because he is incredible at this banter wrestling business, dreamt up a stupefying replacement:

David.

F*cking.

Arquette.

The famous actor and former WCW World Heavyweight Champion, atoning for his affront to wrestling as part of a bizarre midlife crisis, actually entered a creditable, gung-ho performance in the context of death match wrestling; game for punishment, he took a pizza slicer to the mouth and a full-f*cking-on light tube shot to the skull. Things went awry as Gage worked Arquette's neck with shards of broken glass. Arquette has since taken responsibility for the resulting communication breakdown and ballsy shooting of his tough-nut opponent. Aware of his close proximity to the weapon, he panicked, and hooked Gage's leg. This drove the glass into his neck, not the other way 'round.

But should he have taken responsibility? Should Arquette really be fine with all this. Shouldn't he be fine as in your missus "fine"?

Janela should shoulder some of the blame. He booked this as a crazed, this-really-shouldn't-be-a-match-match because, as it turned out, it shouldn't have been a match.

Arquette, happily, has vowed never to wrestle a match like this again. Perhaps Janela, who put his own mad scientist brand over by putting Arquette in the match, should exercise a bit of restraint in future.

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!