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Scott Steiner’s Near-Death Experience in Puerto Rico

A Wrestling Legend’s Scary Ordeal

Scott Steiner is widely regarded as one of the most athletic and controversial figures in professional wrestling.¹

His nearly four-decade-long career has seen him win championships around the world, making a name for himself in WWE, WCW, and beyond.

However, a terrifying incident in Puerto Rico nearly cost him his life, leading to an experience that would forever shape his perspective.

In 2010, Scott Steiner traveled to Puerto Rico to compete in the legendary World Wrestling Council (WWC). A dominant force in the wrestling world, Steiner was known for his incredible strength, agility, and outspoken personality.

His visit to Puerto Rico was supposed to be just another chapter in his storied career, but it turned into something much more dramatic.

Jon, you must’ve lost your f-ing mind calling out Big Poppa Pump for an arm-wrestling match! My arms are bigger than your entire torso—this ain’t a fight, it’s a funeral! https://t.co/40XlA6rjug

— Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner (@ScottSteiner) March 5, 2025

WWC Championship Victory and Sudden Reign

On April 3, 2010, Steiner faced off against Puerto Rican wrestling icon Ray Gonzalez in a highly anticipated match.

The contest ended in disqualification, but three weeks later, Steiner avenged his loss by defeating Gonzalez to capture the WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship. His reign, however, was short-lived.

A rematch between the two ended in a No Contest, and due to an unexpected injury, Steiner was forced to vacate the championship after just 35 days. Gonzalez eventually won the vacant title, marking the end of Steiner’s brief yet memorable stint in Puerto Rico.

Steiner recently opened up about this frightening experience on Chris Jericho’s Talk Is Jericho podcast.

During the interview, he recounted how he suffered a serious throat injury while wrestling in Puerto Rico—an injury that quickly turned into a life-threatening situation.

Mysterious Symptoms Begin to Surface

According to Steiner, his ordeal started in a rather unusual way. After a match, he began to feel extremely cold, a sensation that only worsened as time passed.

“It was really strange because I started feeling cold, and I went to eat, and my throat—it was very hard to swallow,” Steiner recalled.

As his condition deteriorated, he tried taking a hot shower to warm himself up, but nothing worked. His body began shaking uncontrollably, and the severity of the situation became evident.

Scott Steiner’s Recovery

Miraculously, Steiner survived the ordeal, but the experience left a lasting impact. He spent the following weeks recovering and trying to process what had happened.²

The thought of being just hours away from death was something he couldn’t shake off easily.

The doctor’s revelation that he had only five hours to live was a chilling reminder of how unpredictable life can be—even for someone as tough as Steiner.

Faced with such grim news, Steiner had little choice but to undergo emergency surgery. He made a quick phone call to his family before the procedure, fully aware that he might not make it out alive.

The operation required doctors to administer a powerful drug to ease his pain. Unbeknownst to him, the substance was commonly used to induce a coma.

“I remember waking up to them pulling the cord, the breathing tube out of my throat… but I come to find out I was in a coma for two days,” Steiner said.

For someone who had undergone multiple surgeries throughout his wrestling career, this experience was unlike anything he had ever faced.

Why Steiner Never Returned to Puerto Rico

Despite his long career in wrestling, Steiner has never returned to Puerto Rico since that fateful event. In fact, his only other appearance in the country was during a TNA live event in 2007, where he teamed up with James Storm to face Jeff Jarrett and Puerto Rican wrestling star Apolo.

The near-death experience in 2010 was enough to make him wary of ever stepping foot in the country again.

With his symptoms worsening, Steiner was rushed to the hospital. Coincidentally, he was taken to the same medical facility where wrestling legend Bruiser Brody had tragically passed away in 1988 after being stabbed in a locker room incident.

Once Steiner arrived at the hospital, doctors delivered shocking news:

“I talked to the guy, and he says you’ve got five hours to live,” Steiner revealed.

At first, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. A man who had spent his entire career defying the odds in the wrestling ring was now in a fight for his life.

Scott Steiner’s Legacy in Wrestling

A Career Marked by Championships and Controversy

Steiner’s career has been defined by both his in-ring dominance and his larger-than-life personality.³

As one half of the legendary Steiner Brothers tag team alongside his brother Rick, he captured multiple championships in WCW and WWE.

Later, as a singles competitor, he reinvented himself as “Big Poppa Pump,” a loud, brash, and muscular powerhouse who captivated fans with his unique promos and intense matches.

In 2022, Steiner was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame alongside his brother, cementing his legacy as one of the all-time greats in professional wrestling.

His influence can still be seen in the industry today, with his nephew, Bron Breakker, following in his footsteps as a rising star in WWE.

Lessons Learned from Steiner’s Near-Death Experience

Steiner’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of listening to one’s body. His initial symptoms—feeling cold, difficulty swallowing, and uncontrollable shaking—were signs that something was seriously wrong.

Had he ignored them, the outcome could have been tragic.

The incident also highlights the physical toll that professional wrestling takes on its athletes. While fans often see wrestlers as larger-than-life superheroes, the reality is that their bodies endure immense strain and punishment.

Injuries, both minor and life-threatening, are an unfortunate reality of the business.

Perhaps the biggest lesson from Steiner’s experience is the unpredictability of life. One moment, he was competing in the ring as he had done for decades. The next, he was being told he had only five hours to live.

His story serves as a powerful testament to resilience, survival, and the will to fight—even outside the squared circle.

Also Read: Bron Breakker Bio, Age, Career, Family, Net Worth And More

Scott Steiner Shares Update with Fans

Scott Steiner, the legendary WCW and WWE Hall of Famer, has been increasing his engagement with fans through social media and public appearances.

Known for his larger-than-life personality and unparalleled in-ring ability, “Big Poppa Pump” has remained an iconic figure in professional wrestling.

From autograph signings to online interactions, Steiner has been making sure his fans stay updated on his latest moves. Recently, he announced his upcoming appearance at the Mad Monster Party Film Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, set to take place from March 7 to March 9 at the Crowne Plaza Perimeter at Ravinia Hotel.

“If you want to meet greatness, be in Atlanta this weekend,” Steiner wrote on X (formerly Twitter), stirring excitement among his followers.

With Steiner continuing to embrace fan interactions, let’s take a look at his career highlights, his journey in wrestling, and what this latest update means for his legacy.

A Career Defined by Dominance

Scott Steiner’s career has been one of dominance, controversy, and unfiltered charisma.

Bursting onto the professional wrestling scene in the late 1980s, Steiner quickly made a name for himself due to his impressive amateur wrestling background and unmatched strength.

Alongside his brother, Rick Steiner, Scott formed The Steiner Brothers, one of the most dominant tag teams in wrestling history.

Their blend of power and technical prowess made them fan favorites in promotions such as WCW, WWE, and NJPW. The duo captured multiple championships, including:

• WCW World Tag Team Championships
• WWF Tag Team Championships
• IWGP Tag Team Championships

The Steiner Brothers were known for their brutal suplexes, innovative tandem offense, and intimidating presence inside the ring. Their reign in WCW during the early ’90s solidified their legacy as one of the greatest tag teams ever.

The Birth of “Big Poppa Pump”

While Scott had always been an athletic powerhouse, his transformation into “Big Poppa Pump” in the late 1990s took his career to another level. Steiner adopted a more aggressive, brash persona, complete with bleached-blonde hair, sunglasses, and his signature chainmail headgear.

This new version of Scott Steiner saw him transition into a main event singles star in WCW. With his intimidating physique and unmatched intensity, he dominated the heavyweight division and became WCW World Heavyweight Champion in 2000.

Memorable Feuds and WCW Championship Run

As WCW World Champion, Steiner had legendary feuds with top stars such as:

• Goldberg
• Booker T
• Diamond Dallas Page
• Sid Vicious

His vicious in-ring style and unfiltered promos made him one of WCW’s most unpredictable and must-see attractions. Even as WCW was nearing its end in 2001, Steiner remained a central figure in the company’s final years.

Scott Steiner’s WWE and TNA Stints

After WCW was purchased by WWE in 2001, many fans anticipated Scott Steiner’s arrival in WWE.

That moment came in 2002, when he made his highly anticipated return at Survivor Series, confronting Triple H.

Feud with Triple H

Steiner was immediately thrust into a World Heavyweight Championship feud with Triple H, culminating in two title matches at:

• Royal Rumble 2003
• No Way Out 2003

However, despite his undeniable star power, Steiner’s WWE run was marred by injuries and creative decisions that limited his momentum. By 2004, he left WWE, eventually finding a new home in TNA Wrestling.

Success in TNA

In Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), Steiner once again reinvented himself, aligning with groups like The Main Event Mafia and feuding with stars such as:

• Kurt Angle
• Samoa Joe
• AJ Styles
• Christian Cage

His time in TNA from 2006 to 2012 further cemented his reputation as a wrestling veteran who could still deliver hard-hitting matches and captivating promos.

The Steiner Math Promo: A Viral Sensation

Beyond his accolades inside the ring, Scott Steiner became a pop culture icon thanks to his now-infamous “Steiner Math” promo in TNA.

In 2008, ahead of his match against Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle, Steiner delivered a mathematical breakdown of his chances of winning, filled with hilariously exaggerated percentages and absurd logic.

Some highlights from the promo include:

“You got a 33 1/3 percent chance of winning, but I got a 66 2/3 percent chance, because Kurt Angle knows he can’t beat me.”

The promo went viral and remains one of the most quoted and beloved promos in wrestling history. Even today, it is referenced in memes, t-shirts, and online videos, proving Steiner’s lasting influence on pop culture.

Hall of Fame Recognition and Legacy

WWE Hall of Fame Induction (2022)

Despite his criticisms of WWE over the years, Scott Steiner and his brother Rick were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2022.

Their contributions to tag team wrestling and Scott’s influence as a singles competitor were finally recognized on a grand stage.

Other Hall of Fame Honors

In addition to his WWE Hall of Fame induction, Steiner has received several other honors, including:

• Tragos/Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2014)
• Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame (2021)

These accolades further highlight his impact on the wrestling industry across multiple decades.

Also Read: Who Is Christa Podsedly (Scott Steiner Wife)? WWE Star Married Life Explored

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