A former WWE star has told the story behind overcoming paralysis and wrestling for the largest company in the world.
At 4 foot 5 inches tall, Hornswoggle making it in the land of the giants was always going to be a monumental task. However, despite this, Hornswoggle was able to defy the odds, remain a part of the company for a decade and reigned as the Cruiserweight Champion. While recounting his story in a new interview, the former WWE star has revealed just how unlikely his odds were in making it as a pro wrestler.
Appearing as a guest on The Undertaker’s Six Feet Under podcast, the former Cruiserweight Champion recounted battling with scoliosis and how he required surgery that left him paralysed:
“When I was young my people, we’re born with scoliosis. When I was born, I had it real bad and when I was four, they tried to do the surgery on me to straighten it.
The doctor never did a surgery on a person like me. So he cut me open, he hit a nerve in my spine and ended up paralyzing me cuz he’s never done surgery on my people. I was four. I had that surgery and then was paralyzed from the waist down and just full body cast.”
Scoliosis is a condition that affects the spine, causing abnormal curves that leave the spine in a S or C shape. Continuing his story, Hornswoggle noted that they were able to find a surgeon who was able to help him walk, but was advised to not participate in contact sports…
“Then we found a doctor in Minneapolis who specializes in little person surgeries and put a rod in my back. First thing he says when we get out of surgery to my parents at the time is ‘Hey no trampolines and no contact sports.’
Years and years later obviously when I started working for WWE, He randomly like emailed or called my dad or something. He was like ‘I see he didn’t listen to me very much’ and my dad goes ‘yeah he didn’t listen to me either obviously’”
Hornswoggle In WWE
First known to fans as Finlay’s little bastard and helping Finlay pick up the victory, Hornswoggle was factored into multiple major storylines during his WWE tenure. Revealed to be Vince McMahon’s son in 2007, the former Cruiserweight Champion was also the man behind the laptop of the Anonymous Raw General Manager and the mascot for 3MB.
H/t to SEScoops.