Could Ken Shamrock be on his way back to WWE?
On the September 19th episode of Monday Night Raw, Seth Rollins and Matt Riddle proved that the growing tension between the two is far from over. As Riddle was teaming with Rey Mysterio to take on The Judgment Day, Rollins interfered and hit Riddle with a chair. The two brawled backstage and Rollins said that he’d fight Riddle anywhere, and the Original Bro responded by challenging his foe to a Fight Pit match.
Riddle was part of the first Fight Pit match in NXT, taking on Timothy Thatcher in May of 2020. The structure is differentiated from a traditional steel cage match as it has no door and features platforms at the top of the cage. The only way to win the bout is by submission or knockout, so escaping the cage is not an option.
While the Fight Pit has not yet been seen on WWE’s main roster, the match bears a striking resemblance to the Lion’s Den match made famous by Ken Shamrock in the late 1990’s. The match originated during his feud with Owen Hart in 1998, and he would go on to face the likes of Vince McMahon and Steve Blackman in later bouts inside the cage. That structure was built around an octagonal ring, but the lack of doors and the rules are the same.
With news that the Fight Pit is set to be resurrected at Extreme Rules, a fan on social media pointed out that Ken Shamrock would be the perfect special guest referee for the bout. Shamrock famously officiated the match between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13. Shamrock himself declared that he couldn’t agree more, indicating that he’s interested in returning to WWE in a guest capacity.
Couldn’t agree more! https://t.co/Zv5lyOrnx8
— KEN SHAMROCK (@ShamrockKen) September 20, 2022
Shamrock last appeared for the WWE in late 1999, feuding with current AEW star Chris Jericho. While there have been rumors of him returning to the company on a number of occasions, the two sides have never come to an agreement.