5 WWE Superstars who nearly died in the ring

We all know professional wrestling is dangerous because if it wasn't, anyone who was able would do it.

Not only do you have to spend countless hours away from your family, but there is the risk of injuries that could occur at any show.

Even worse, there are some WWE Superstars who have found themselves in life-threatening situations but were thankfully able to escape.

These Superstars got new-found respect on how dangerous wrestling can be, and what they'll do to entertain the fans.

Here are five WWE Superstars who nearly died in the ring, but miraculously survived.

#5 Tyson Kidd (2015)

Kidd, with wife Natalya, and Cesaro, whom he held the Tag Team Titles with

Tyson Kidd was one of WWE’s most reliable workhorses, debuting in the company’s ECW brand in 2009.

After a resurgence of his career in NXT in 2014, the Canadian star faced off against a relatively new Samoa Joe, who had used his signature muscle buster for over a decade.

Unfortunately, in this dark match, the move fractured Kidd’s neck, sadly ending his in-ring career just as Kidd was becoming a big star once again.

The only upside to all this, if there is one, is that Kidd’s injury could’ve been much worse. He underwent surgery that required 16 staples, four screws and the insertion of a rod into a neck, an operation that according to Kidd, only 5% of people survive.

In an interview, Dave Meltzer compared the injury to the horse-riding accident actor Christopher Reeve suffered in 1995, which led the former Superman paralyzed for life.

Nowadays, Kidd has transitioned to a backstage role, and appears regularly on Total Divas alongside wife Natalya.

#4 Gangrel (1999)

The Vampire was nearly put down for good on RAW in 1999

In folklore, there are only a handful of items that can harm a vampire, namely Holy Water, Garlic, Silver and sunlight.

But in a February 1999 edition of RAW is War, Gangrel nearly lost his life on live television, in the most horrific of ways.

After crossing The Undertaker’s Ministry of Darkness, Gangrel was to be hanged over the top rope with a noose, though the company erroneously tried to save face by calling It a bull rope instead.

Speaking on Sean Waltman’s podcast in 2016, Gangrel revealed that after bouncing off the ring-apron, the noose tightened, with the Vampire certain he was going to die, as the noose continued to crush his neck.

Thankfully, it was Mideon, who thankfully wasn’t Naked Mideon at the time, who saved the day, noticing the real danger Gangrel was in, and alleviated some of the pressure, saving his life in the process.

#3 Scott Steiner (2007)

Steiner, seen here in WCW, nearly died in 2007

After leaving WWE in 2004, it was only a matter of time before Scott Steiner brought his unique physique and even more unique promos to TNA Wrestling.

Appearing at a house show in San Juan, Big Poppa Pump teamed with James Storm, to take on Jeff Jarrett and local star, Apollo.

During the match, Apollo caught Freakzilla off-guard with a quick kick to the throat, which led to Steiner coughing up blood.

He was quickly rushed to the hospital, where the situation looked grim, as he was diagnosed with a torn trachea, and reportedly given less than six hours to live.

Over the next month, Steiner would face all sort of procedures to repair his body, including doctors having to cut through his ribs and lungs to repair the wound.

As if that wasn’t enough, Steiner wasn’t allowed to fly back to the mainland, as the cabin pressure could’ve caused his lung to collapse, meaning the former WCW star travelled back on boat, on a trip that took a grueling, painful week for Big Poppa Pump.

#2 Marty Garner (1996)

Garner could've died when he took on the future World Champion

Many fans will never have heard of Marty Garner, but they’ll certainly know of his opponent in the match that nearly took Garner’s life: Triple H.

In May 1996, Garner faced Helmsley, still working as a snobby blue-blood, during a taping of WWF Superstars. During the match, the future King of Kings attempted a Pedigree.

Unfortunately, Garner had never taken the move before, and thinking it was some kind of powerbomb or suplex, jumped far too high, with Garner crashing on the top of his head, suffering neck damage.

To make the injury more shocking, the botched move was not edited out of any broadcast of Superstars, and was even featured as the WWF’s Slam of the Week.

After close examination, doctors concluded that Garner had nearly been paralysed by the move, but much like many stars on this list, returned to wrestling not long after.

#1 Dean Ambrose (2017)

Ambrose is scheduled to leave WWE after WrestleMania 35.

In an interview with the Monitor, Dean Ambrose recently revealed that he was very close to death due to a recent incident during his recovery.

After going under the knife for a triceps injury in December 2017, a Staph infection was detected, one that could’ve ended the former WWE Champion’s life. Ambrose said:

“I ended up having two different surgeries. I had this MRSA, Staph infection. I nearly died. I was in the hospital for a week, plugged up to this antibiotic drip thing, and I was on all these antibiotics for months, that make you puke and cr*p your pants.

To go from not being able to eat my Froot Loops, to being able to get back in the ring and throw people around and throw punches and do everything back to normal, it was a very gratifying feeling.”

Thankfully, Ambrose has been able to return, teaming with his Shield-brother Seth Rollins, before betraying him in one of the most shocking heel turns in recent memory.