Shaquille O’Neal has always been known for his dominant presence on the court and has always been more than just a basketball player. His larger-than-life personality, coupled with his off-court ventures, has made him a household name. From his successful music career to his entertaining social media presence, Shaq has consistently captivated audiences. Now it seems his star power has extended to a different scene, even if only in the form of a picture.

The image in question captures the moment frozen in time. In a single frame, the seven-footer can be seen standing shoulder-to-shoulder with none other than Hulk Hogan, who was the iconic face of professional wrestling for decades. In 1994, Hulk Hogan debuted in WCW by appearing in the ‘Bash at the Beach‘ event. In the end, Hogan defeated Rick Flair to win the first-ever game of the event. However, it looked like Shaq already knew who was going to win. Just before the broadcast of the 1994 episode of WCW, the seven-footer had shot a promotional video twinning the iconic red and yellow ‘Hulkamnia‘ outfit along with Hulk Hogan. The still from the same video has recently appeared on the newly released Netflix documentary on the former boss of WWE Vince McMahon.

The ‘Mr. McMahon’ show was released on Wednesday on Netflix. The series delved into the life and career of the legendary WWE chairman, offering fans an unprecedented look behind the curtain of the wrestling world. From his humble beginnings to his rise to power, the documentary will explore McMahon’s impact on the entertainment industry and his controversial business practices. The appearance of Shaq really stirred a wave among his fans bringing back their old memories as most might have forgotten this.

Moreover, if you think that Shaq had no connection to wrestling, you are wrong. ‘Big Diesel’ has made significant appearances in the ring. His first was in 2009 when he was invited as the guest host of the matchup between Cryme Tyme (JTG and Shad Gaspard) and Jeri-Show (Big Show and Jericho). Although he was just the host, on seeing the wrestlers breaking the rules, he jumped onto the ring and ripped his shirt off to settle everything. His next prominent appearance in wrestling was in 2016 when he made a surprise visit in André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. It was a part of WrestleMania 32 and he faced Damian Sandow and Big Show before getting eliminated.

As the Netflix series continues to captivate audiences with its deep dive into the world of professional wrestling, this unexpected Shaq cameo adds an extra layer of intrigue. His ability to pop up in the most unexpected places, whether in a wrestling ring, on a police force, or in a documentary about one of entertainment’s most controversial figures, continues to cement his status as a true cultural icon. However, surprisingly the seven-footer had a small verbal argument with the main subject of the Netflix show. Or did he?

Shaquille O’Neal’s verbal attack on Vince McMahon

As mentioned earlier, Shaq debuted on the ring indirectly in 2009. But the seven-footer’s original appearance on the show dates back to 1998. In a recent interview, a WWE writer revealed an incident between the NBA great and WWE boss that not many people were aware of.

The incident was that McMahon, who was in his wheelchair, showed up in front of Shaq, who was sitting at the backstage on the set, and asked him if he had a backstage pass. The Los Angeles Lakers standout couldn’t show one and was asked by the boss to leave the backstage. While McMahon rolled out in his wheelchair there were only three words that came out of Shaq’s mouth, “What an a**hole.”

While most people thought this to be true at the time, Russo cleared that it was part of a script. This incident put a light on how most of the things in the WWE are scripted but at the same time showed how the intersection between two different sports entities can be entertainment-worthy.