Scott Steiner Reflects On Near-Fatal Injury That Left Him Hours From Death

WWE Hall of Famer Scott Steiner has opened up about a life-threatening injury he suffered in 2007, revealing that doctors gave him just five hours to live.

Speaking on Talk Is Jericho with Chris Jericho, Scott Steiner recalled the terrifying incident, which took place at a TNA house show in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on 3 June 2007. During his match, his opponent, Apolo, accidentally struck him in the throat with a kick. At first, he brushed it off, but soon after, he realised something was seriously wrong.

“It was really strange because I started feeling cold, and I went to eat, and it was very hard to swallow. Finally, I jumped in the shower, took a hot shower, and nothing would work, and I started shaking.”

Concerned for his health, Steiner sought medical attention. At the hospital, he received shocking news—his trachea had been torn, and without immediate surgery, he had only hours to live.

“Finally, I called the ambulance, and I actually went to the same hospital that Bruiser Brody died at. I talked to the guy, and he says, ‘You’ve got five hours to live.’”

Steiner underwent emergency surgery and was placed in a medically induced coma for two days.

“I remember waking up to them pulling the breathing tube out of my throat, but I came to find out I was in a coma for two days. It didn’t feel like any other surgery that I had.”

After two weeks in hospital, doctors drained fluid from his lungs. Unable to fly home due to the risk of lung collapse, he instead took a cruise ship back to the mainland. Incredibly, just six weeks later, he was back in the ring.

What Did Scott Steiner Say About Claims That He Took Steroids?

Scott Steiner defended himself from accusations that he took steroids and said that he never failed a drug test in his wrestling career. Steiner said that during his transition to his “Big Poppa Pump” character he underwent a strict diet change to get into better shape, and because he became leaner, he looked bigger, is what he claimed.

H/t to ITRWrestling.com