The Undertaker remembers another time wrestlers got physical on a WWE flight.
While nowhere near as controversial as the Plane Ride from Hell back in 2002, multiple stars would still try to assert their dominance on another overseas flight in 2006. The trip saw multiple Superstars travel to Baghdad for the annual Tribute to the Troops event to honour the armed forces.
The stars in question were CM Punk, Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin. On the flight, Punk was asked how he would fair against Lashley and Benjamin, who were both accomplished amateur wrestlers in their own rights. Speaking on Six Feet Under, Undertaker described how the interaction went and Punk’s surprising response:
“We’re drinking, everyone is carrying on. Somehow or another, the discussion comes up. I don’t know if Vince instigated this one or not. Bradshaw was on this flight too. The topic comes up as we’re on the way over. CM Punk, he fashioned himself as a jiu-jitsu practitioner. Someone broached the question, ‘You did jiu-jitsu. How long do you think you could last with one of these two wrestlers?’ It was Bobby Lashley, who wrestled for the Army, and Shelton Benjamin, who wrestled at Minnesota. Two high-level amateur wrestlers. To Phil’s credit, he said, ‘I’ll tap them out.’ That was about all it took. Now, the pot begins to really get stirred.
Vince McMahon, who was also on the flight, would react how most would expect him to and only encouraged the behaviour. Taker continued, recalling how Punk faired in each of the separate contests:
Shelton, at this time, he didn’t drink at all. I remember Vince pouring a styrofoam cup full of wine, and Shelton just gulps it down. I honestly can’t remember who went first. There is not a lot of room. It’s tight, but there’s enough room. I want to say the first match lasted about 47 seconds. The other one was sub-40, where they had taken them down and pinned him. He didn’t back down, but my goodness, it was like blood in the water and two great white sharks circling. They could not wait. They didn’t disappoint. That was another fine case of Vince McMahon sh*t disturbing,”
The Undertaker Discusses Tag Team Wrestling
A common theme of Taker’s podcast is Mount Rushmores, where The Deadman names his top 4 of a specific wrestling category. In a recent episode, The Undertaker named his 4 all-time favourite tag teams in wrestling.
H/t to Fightful.