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Professional wrestlers don't get enough credit for putting their bodies on the line when giving all they've got in a wrestling ring. Although it's entertainment, any match of one's career could be their very last. For instance, one could look at the final bout of Droz's career after taking a life-threatening powerbomb on a SmackDown taping in late 1999. Some might wonder, especially those who were too young to remember the Attitude Era, how did the botched powerbomb that Droz took end his wrestling career and nearly cost his life?
Related: 10 Wrestlers Whose Career Ended In The Worst Possible Way
The Real-Life Risks Of Professional Wrestling
Regardless of how some people feel about professional wrestling, one can't deny that professional wrestlers are some of the finest athletes out there. Some tend to look past that, considering that professional wrestling is often an easy target for those who aren't very familiar with the genre. Yes, professional wrestling is entertainment, but it's not something everyone can do.
To add to the rough lifestyle of the wrestling business, any match could be the final bout of anyone's career. Because of this, many fans are probably aware of some of the most gruesome freak accidents in WWE, like the botch piledriver spot at SummerSlam 1997 when Steve Austin got dropped on his head and became paralyzed for a brief moment. Another was the botch powerbomb from D'Lo Brown to Droz on an unaired match during an October 1999 taping of SmackDown, which ultimately ended Droz's wrestling career.
Related: 10 Things WWE Fans Should Know About The Beyond The Mat Documentary
Droz's Background In Football And Wrestling
As WWE's Attitude Era emphasized compelling and goofy characters, it didn't take long for Droz to get signed by WWE as he had a comedic gimmick developed from the start. For those who don't know much about Droz, real name Darren Drozdov, he was a former NFL player who played three seasons from 1993 to 1995. Playing as a defensive tackle, he was mainly known for his stint with the Denver Broncos.
From his football days, it was noted that Droz had a legitimate chronic vomiting issue, as there was a moment when he threw up on live TV during a broadcast on Monday Night Football. According to a 1993 Sports Illustrated article, Droz threw up almost every game that season.
Because of Droz's reputation for throwing up, it became a goofy persona he took up upon his arrival to WWE in 1998. Keep in mind that Droz didn't have much experience in the wrestling business before getting signed to WWE, although he did spend time in ECW.
Nonetheless, Droz's "throwing up" gimmick was good enough for WWE to use going forward, as one could watch the scene from Beyond The Mat where Droz met up with Vince McMahon to show his "throwing up" persona. From that point, debuting in May 1998 as Puke, Droz spent over a year in WWE among the many colorful characters of the Attitude Era as a bizarre figure, even having a short stint with LOD 2000.
A Non-Televised Freak Accident Left Droz Paralyzed
In one of the most infamous freak accidents in WWE, on an October 1999 taping of SmackDown in Long Island, Droz's wrestling career ended during a non-televised match with D'Lo Brown. As D'Lo Brown went to deliver his running powerbomb maneuver on Droz, Droz couldn't lift himself into the powerbomb position as D'Lo Brown couldn't get a good grip. During the events of the match, Droz did admit to wearing a loose shirt.
Because of the poor execution of the powerbomb, Droz landed on his head upon getting the running powerbomb maneuver, severely fracturing the two vertebrae in his neck. Moments after the accident, Droz was immediately sent to a nearby hospital, where he underwent surgery to reduce pressure.
As the match never made its way to air on TV, it's worth mentioning the short footage of Droz getting stretchered in the ring was used for the "Don't Try This At Home" WWE commercials. Thankfully, Droz survived after suffering a life-threatening injury, but considering it left him as a quadriplegic, there was no way he could continue wrestling.
Related: 10 Things WWE Fans May Not Know About D-Lo BrownHowever, he did continue to work for WWE as a writer and contributor for the company's website and magazine content, including on WWE Byte This! Droz has regained movement in his upper body since the accident while also holding no bad blood towards D'Lo Brown for the botched powerbomb.
