In one of the most iconic moments in SmackDown history, Brock Lesnar suplexed Big Show and the entire ring collapsed. But was it real?
The answer is yes and no. The ring did collapse for real, but it was a spot pre-planned by stunt co-ordinator Ellis Edwards. Big Show lied about it for years by saying that the spot wasn’t pre-planned. He admitted on an episode of Talk is Jericho in 2015 for the first time that the ring was, in fact, rigged that night.
Big Show explained that right before the stunt, the camera team shot a close-up of him and Lesnar selling. During that time, Edwards had under the ring filled with airbags.
Big Show admitted that no one knew how it would look, but once Brock Lesnar suplexed him, it was all timed perfectly:
The match on SmackDown ended without a finish, but it didn’t matter. Brock Lesnar and Big Show, thanks to Ellis Edwards, had one of SmackDown’s most legendary moments.
The Brock Lesnar-Big Show suplex from Mike Chioda’s perspective
When looking back at the spot, the focus is often on Brock Lesnar or Big Show. But perhaps one of the most underappreciated parts about the moment that made it even better was referee Mike Chioda’s reaction.
Mike Chioda knew beforehand that the Brock Lesnar-Big Show suplex spot would be a big moment and he was told to sell it to make the moment bigger. Speaking to Chris Van Vliet, the veteran referee said:
Mike Chioda’s reaction translated well to television, but the crowd’s reaction is what ultimately made the moment as iconic as it is. Chioda admitted that the pop wasn’t as big as The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania X8, but it was “up there”.
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