This was one of the stranger WWF matches, and not because it took place inside of a steel cage, that was becoming normal at the time. It was 1987 in Florida and veteran Bruiser Brody was pitted against rookie Lex Luger. A few minutes in, Lex Luger begins to appear confused and frustrated. And that’s when things started.
He starts punching Bruiser Brody, takes down the referee when he pulls him off Brody, and then scales the side of the cage and leaves the arena, literally grabbing his keys and driving off without showering. The match was disqualified after Luger took down the ref.
Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle
These two world class athletes dominated the amateur wrestling circuit. Kurt Angle as a gold medal Olympian, and Brock Lesnar as a University of Minnesota champ, winning an NCAA championship and a two-time All-American title. They fought several times in the choreographed ring, but these two wanted a legitimate wrestling fight, especially Brock Lesnar who boasted he could easily take the Olympian.
When Kurt Angle heard Brock Lesnar say he could wipe the floor with him, he was ready to rumble. Brock Lesnar, taller and 80 pounds heavier, was a challenge, but Kurt Angle held his ground. It only lasted eight seconds before Vince McMahon told them to knock it off. The impromptu match was civilized, but without a conclusive winner.
The Nasty Boys vs. Ken Shamrock
Ken Shamrock nearly lost his life in this unscripted fight scene. Early in their careers, the three came to blows at a bar fight. Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags were an up and coming tag team duo aptly called The Nasty Boys, and Ken Shamrock was hanging out at the bar with a ring crewman and his girlfriend. Nasty Boy Brian Knobbs was schlockered and belligerent and set on sexually assaulting the girlfriend.
Ken Shamrock fumed at the attacks, jumped up, and warned Nasty Boy Knobbs, “Next time you touch her, I’m breaking your hand.” Next thing you know the bar bouncers broke up the fight, taking Ken Shamrock to the bathroom and sending The Nasty Boys to their motel room. Ken Shamrock, engulfed in rage, searched Brian Knobbs out. The bloody showdown inside the motel room would have killed Ken Shamrock if not for an ambulance ride to the hospital.
Kevin Nash vs. Roddy Piper
This scuffle triggered inside the ring during the WCW Monday Nitro contest. Teams Kevin Nash and Scott Hall versus Ric Flair and Roddy Piper were the main event, but it didn’t go as planned. Roddy Piper veered off the script, changing up what they had rehearsed, and Kevin Nash came unglued. After the show Roddy Piper and Ric Flair were hanging out in the locker room when Kevin Nash barged in, kicking the door in, by one account. He was screaming at Roddy Piper about whether he thinks he’s in charge of things around here, and then open-hand slapped him.
Piper’s bodyguard got between the two, but Nash threatened him, and he backed off from the much larger man. The fight reignited momentarily while Piper took a dive at Nash’s knee, and then Ric Flair and Piper’s bodyguard teamed up to pull them apart. Ironing things out, Kevin Nash let go of his animosity years ago, he said, even taking Roddy Piper on an Aruba trip.
Joey Styles vs. JBL
In the wrestling world, Justin Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) is an infamous coward and bully. However, his Texan persona went over well with audiences, especially during this particular tour – based in Iraq, to entertain the servicemen and women. One evening, in full bully mode, JBL, 6’6” and massive, after verbally assaulting a man all week, poured a drink on him. He topped the act by adding rude comments about his family. The recipient, Joey Styles was obviously furious. They attacked each other.
Fists were swinging. Others in the room tried to pull them apart, but not before Styles landed a knock down punch. JBL was humiliated. His choice to pick on someone a full foot shorter than he, plus 100 pounds lighter, and mere a television announcer, put him in his place. Joey Styles became a locker room hero of sorts. Someone finally stood up to the big Texas bully.