8 Wrestlers Who Were Nearly KILLED By Fans

The word 'rugged' was coined for men like Harley Race. Straight from the reliquary labelled 'They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To', the NWA's permed and permanent fixture Race was known to cough back two packs of ciggies and a crate of beer of an evening, then brush off the after-effects - if any - and work a sixty minute broadway. Doubtless it was back on the town the moment the bell rang.

Even before the Missouri 'Mad Dog's coat was grizzled, Race bore the callouses required of a three decade career on the road and in the ring. They also saw him spring back up from an altercation that'd leave most mortals picking grapes off the bunch for weeks.

Back in 1965, a bleached-blonde and improbably styled 'Handsome' Harley was dining in Minneapolis' Chestnut, when he spotted a man at another table slap a woman during a heated argument. Race stepped in on the woman's behalf, knocking the instigator out with a single blow. In the tradition of all babyfaces, Harley found himself stabbed in the back - only literally - by the man's friend, who'd grabbed a piece of cutlery.

Race was transported to a hospital, where he was reported to be in a 'fair' condition. Doubtless the worst part was the ignominy of being forced to miss the evening's scheduled show for something as minor as being ran through with a knife. Strictly speaking not a 'fan', but shrugging off an assault like this as a mere flesh wound ensured angry punters would think twice about blindsiding Race for the rest of his legendary career.