In September of 1984, Jesse Ventura was involved in a program with then-WWF Champion Hulk Hogan.
After losing three consecutive title matches against The Hulkster, Ventura was set to challenge for the title yet again, but a medical emergency landed him in the hospital in critical condition and put an end to his title aspirations.
Speaking on a panel at Steel City Con, Ventura claimed that he was on his way to winning the championship from Hulk Hogan when fate intervened, sending him to the hospital with multiple blood clots that he said were the result of his hectic travel schedule as a professional wrestler.
“I’m a great believer sometimes in fate and destiny. And I think fate and destiny play somewhat a role, for whatever reason that might be. Like the night before I was to wrestle Hulk Hogan for the World Heavyweight Title in Los Angeles, I ended up in critical condition in the San Diego hospital with massive blood clots from 28 days of flying in a row.”
Jesse Ventura Never Won The WWF Championship From Hulk Hogan
While the health setback was undoubtedly scary and had a large effect on Ventura’s career, he believes some good came from the ordeal as it led to him becoming one of the most iconic color commentators of all time.
“Many times in life when something dastardly happens to you, it leads to something good as a result of it, and I never got my shot at Hogan … but what did I get to do? While I was convalescing, Vince McMahon called me and he said Jesse, I have an idea. And I said, what is it Vince? He said, we’ve never had a villain on the microphone before, you think you could do color commentating and broadcast matches?”
h/t WrestlingInc