In the world of sports legends, few names resonate as powerfully as Shaquille O’Neal. The 7-foot-1 behemoth dominated the NBA for 19 seasons. However, Shaq’s larger-than-life persona extends far beyond the hardwood, making waves in the music industry with his stage name DJ Diesel, entertainment industry, and most surprisingly, in the world of professional wrestling. While Shaq’s NBA legacy is etched in stone, his relationship with World Wrestling Entertainment has been a roller coaster ride. Let’s see how.

The Big Diesel’s first WWE appearance was in 2009; however, before that, in 1998, there was an incident that not many people know about. In a recent interview, writer Vince Russo revealed an unexpected moment between Shaquille O’Neal and former WWE CEO Vince McMahon. “Vince says ‘I don’t give a sh*t who you are, get the hell out of here,’ and Vince rolls away and Shaquille just says ‘what an a**hole,’” revealed Russo on Rewind Recap Relive.

But what lead to such a tense moment? It was all part of a script. In 1998, Shaq was playing with the Los Angeles Lakers and had recently become an All-Star for the sixth time. One night he went to a wrestling match, where writer Russo was working backstage, and upon seeing the Lakers Legend, he came up with an idea on his mind. “I’m backstage, I’m working, it’s during the show. I’m working. Who walks in to bullshit with the boys? Shaquille O’Neal,” said Russo in the interview.

The idea was simple, ex-WWE boss Vince McMahon would show up to Shaq in his wheelchair, as his leg was broken by Kane and Undertaker a few days back. McMahon would ask O’Neal for his backstage pass and then would ask the seven-footer to leave. This script was successful, and the best part about it was that no one that day was expecting the Big Diesel to be at the match. Moreover, the 63-year-old writer recalled that Shaq didn’t even ask for any money for this stunt.

However, as said before, this wasn’t the only time the NBA legend was seen in the wrestling universe.

Shaquille O’Neal’s appearances in the world of wrestling

Big Diesel’s forays in the wrestling universe were as interesting as his slam dunks on the basketball court. The 7-foot-1 center first stepped into the ring in 2009 when he served as a guest host for the match between Cryme Tyme (JTG and Shad Gaspard) and Jeri-Show (Big Show and Jericho). However, when the four-time NBA champion saw injustice being done, he ripped his shirt off and intervened in the match.

Shaq’s most significant WWE moment came at WrestleMania 32 in 2016, where he made a surprise appearance in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. The basketball icon eliminated Damian Sandow and had another face-off with Big Show before both were eliminated by other competitors.

Apart from WWE, Big Diesel has also made appearances in wrestling shows like WCW and AEW Dynamite. Throughout his appearances, Shaq has demonstrated a genuine passion for professional wrestling, seamlessly blending his larger-than-life personality with the theatrical world of WWE.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.