How WWE Put A One-Legged Wrestler Through Hell
Highlights
- Zach Gowen's clash with Brock Lesnar was a violent, bloody spectacle that left him battered and bruised, with the intention of making Lesnar a more despised figure in the eyes of the audience.
- The presence of Gowen's mother added an emotional element to Lesnar's brutal assault, heightening the psychological impact of the rampage.
- WWE had originally planned an even more audacious stunt involving the SmackDown fist, but had to pivot to the wheelchair spot due to logistical challenges, demonstrating the lengths the company was willing to go for entertainment.
In the unforgiving realm of professional wrestling, tales of intense rivalries and astonishing performances often echo through the ages. Among these narratives, the brief yet captivating tenure of Zach Gowen in WWE stands out, largely obscured by the shadows of a single, remarkably brutal encounter with Brock Lesnar. As the ring bore witness to a symphony of chair shots and blood-soaked struggles, questions lingered: Was this violence meticulously scripted, or did reality eclipse the boundaries of planned chaos? In a recent revelation, Gowen sheds light on the extremes endured and the blurred lines between scripted brutality and the unscripted toll of a one-legged wrestler in the heart of the squared circle.
Year | Wins | Losses | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|
2003 | 6 | 10 | Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Vince McMahon, Big Show and more |
Brock Lesnar's Ruthless Assault On Zach Gowen
Brock Lesnar Once Threw Zach Gowen Down Stairs In A Wheelchair
Zach Gowen's brief stint in WWE reached its zenith on the fateful night of August 19, 2003, when he crossed paths with the formidable Brock Lesnar. This clash, while anticipated for its intensity, unfolded into a nightmarish spectacle that etched itself into the annals of wrestling history. Paired against "The Beast," Gowen faced an onslaught of chair shots to the head, leaving him bathed in crimson. Lesnar, fueled by relentless aggression, furthered the brutality by executing a spine-chilling F5 that slammed Gowen's one leg against the unyielding ring pole.
What made the ordeal even more emotionally charged was the presence of Gowen's mother in the front row, helplessly witnessing her son endure the ruthless punishment. The psychological impact of Lesnar's rampage was amplified by the juxtaposition of the monstrous acts and the familial connection within the narrative. Brock's aggression wasn't confined to the ring; he once sent Gowen, wheelchair-bound backstage, careening down a flight of stairs in a shocking display of brutality.
Should Zach Gowen Have Been A Bigger Star For WWE?
Zach Gowen wrestled on one leg, demonstrating remarkable athleticism and potential. However, he last under two years in WWE.Zach Gowen Reveals The Truth Behind The Violent Match With Brock Lesnar
WWE Wanted To Make Brock Lesnar A More Hated Heel
Two decades after the brutal encounter with Brock Lesnar, Zach Gowen opened up about the harrowing match in a candid interview with The False Finish. Describing it as one of the most violent episodes in WWE history, Gowen delved into the reasons behind the orchestrated brutality. According to him, the primary objective was to elevate Brock Lesnar's heat, making him an even more formidable and despised figure in the eyes of the audience. He said:
"It was only five, six minutes long. They needed Brock to be hated, and creative thought to themselves, 'How can we get Brock [hated]?' Like you said, beat up the local kid with one leg in front of his mom, bloody mess. That was the first time I ever [bladed] in my life was on 'SmackDown,' which is why it's a lot. It wasn't supposed to be that much, but I didn't know what the hell I was doing. Again, not something you'll ever see WWE do again."
In another interview with WrestlingNewsCo, he also shed light on another shocking moment from the match—the wheelchair spot. Vince McMahon personally pitched the idea of Gowen taking a fall down the stairs while in a wheelchair. However, Gowen's refusal led to the use of a stuntman for this dangerous stunt. Indeed, it wasn't Zach who took that bump, it was a stuntman. And it's great foresight by Gowen to deny doing that stunt.
Brock Lesnar Destroying Zach Gowen & 9 Other Disturbing SmackDown Moments You Forgot About
There have been some disturbing moments on SmackDown that the WWE Universe erased from their memories, like Brock Lesnar destroying Zach Gowen.Brock Lesnar Almost F5ed Zach Gowen Off The SmackDown Fist
Zach Gowen Wanted To Do The SmackDown Stunt
In a revelation that adds another layer to the already surreal narrative of Zach Gowen's WWE journey, it turns out that the wheelchair stunt wasn't even the most audacious plan the creative minds at WWE had in mind. The initial concept involved the towering SmackDown fist itself – an iconic symbol of the brand suspended high above the arena. The ambitious plan was for Brock Lesnar to execute his devastating F5 maneuver, sending Gowen plummeting from the colossal structure. He revealed to Chris Van Vliet:
“Do you remember the SmackDown fist? So we were going to be on top of this SmackDown fist, Brock Lesnar was going to toss me off this bad boy and I was gonna go through the stage, and that was the plan for like two or three weeks, we had to a pivot to the wheelchair spot down the stairs because creative, we couldn't figure out a plausible way for me and Brock Lesnar to be, a reason for us to be on top of the fist. Like how do we get up there? Did he drag me up there? Did he climb up? Is there a secret ladder like we couldn't figure that part out? I was really excited about that. Because you remember back in the day, dude, Shane McMahon falling off the set, Jeff Hardy doing all this crazy stuff, and I'm like, Man, I can't wait to, you know, to me like that, doing that stunt was exciting.”
The thought that Gowen was actually excited to do it is scary in its own way. Despite the seemingly chaotic and brutal nature of the on-screen performance, Gowen attested that, behind the scenes, Brock Lesnar exhibited a genuine concern for his safety. While the proposed stunt may have been beyond the realm of reality, it underscores the lengths to which WWE was willing to push the boundaries of entertainment during Zach Gowen's brief but unforgettable tenure in 2003.
