Shaquille O’Neal is undefeated in AEW.
The legendary basketball player had his one and only match for the promotion in March 2021, teaming with Jade Cargill to defeat the team of Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet.
O’Neal would take his fair share of bumps in the match, being bodyslammed and driven through a table by The American Nightmare. As most celebrities have little to no experience inside a ring prior to the big match, extra precautions are usually taken so that no one gets injured on the big stage.
AEW referee Bryce Remsburg officiated the match on Dynamite and has recalled the rehearsal process while appearing on the podcast Should I Keep This? Remsburg recalled Shaq only going through the match once the day before:
“I had to go to a wrestling school to rehearse that match. Everyone was there. It was like ‘Shaq will be here at 9:30.’ I was like ‘Okay.’ So we’re all standing around, going over the match, waiting for Shaq to show up. A big, giant pickup rolled up — he drove himself — Shaq walks in, rehearsed the match once, said he got it, and walked out. He was there for 15 minutes. ‘Okay, well, this is tomorrow, hope it goes well.'”
Thankfully the match did go well with everyone emerging from the match unscathed and Tony Khan declaring that the former NBA star is the greatest celebrity wrestler of all time.
The only mystery that remains is how O’Neal vanished from the ambulance.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Wrestling Career
Standing at over 7 feet tall, Shaq has the size to transition to the squared circle and the potential to dominate the competition. Despite the tag match being his AEW debut, it was not O’Neal’s in-ring debut. Having his first match at WrestleMania 32, Shaq competed in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, which was won by Baron Corbin.
H/t to Wrestling Inc.