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From the NBA court to the broadcasting studio, Shaquille O’Neal has conquered it all. All because he doesn’t do anything half-hearted. The 7’1″ giant has experimented in everything and always leaves fans wanting more. DJ Diesel returned with a new album after his early success in music. He’s also committed to expanding his restaurant business across the country. During all this, Shaq doesn’t stop working on himself in case he gets called to the ring.

O’Neal had a bizarre but interesting entrance into the wrestling business in the past. The ones who saw him at large were left amazed by his work. An AEW insider is dishing the efforts The Big Aristotle put into winning a wrestling title.

Shaquille O’Neal remembered for his legendary AEW debut

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Dynamite got extra interesting in March 2021 thanks to the Los Angeles Lakers legend. Shaquille O’Neal made his in-ring debut on AEW in an epic matchup. He joined Jade Cargill to take on Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet. Shaq and Jade emerged victorious, thanks in part to O’Neal’s intense preparation.

Along with his hilarious feud with Cody Rhodes, O’Neal stole the show. However, Shaq’s match remains memorable for many reasons.

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Bryce Remsburg has refereed many wrestling matches in his career including this one on March 3, 2021. He appeared on the Should I Keep This podcast recently and said he was impressed by Diesel before the actual match. He also revealed Shaq’s dramatic arrival to the rehearsal.

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Everyone was there…So we’re all standing around, going over the match, waiting for Shaq to show up. A big, giant pickup rolled up – he drove himself – Shaq walks in, rehearsed the match once, said he got it, and walked out.” 

How long did that take? “He was there for 15 minutes. ‘Okay, well, this is tomorrow, hope it goes well.'” It did meet the referee’s standards. Not only did Shaq win the tag team event, he brought the entertainment.

Shaq on his wrestling shortcomings

The four-time NBA champion appeared in WWE before his AEW debut. After all, DJ Diesel is a die-hard wrestling fan.

He was a host/presenter before his first in-ring match in WWE. He’s named multiple pros he’s a fan of including Hulk Hogan. But it’s Ric Flair who left him feeling inadequate.

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O’Neal wanted to imitate Ric’s iconic shout but even he can’t get his battle cry perfect. “I wish I could do it. I can’t go high.” 

Though he left quite the impression on wrestling fans, he didn’t walk out of the ring unscathed. He was carted off in an ambulance after fighting Rhodes. While Shaq was dying to get even, one young viewer thought that was it for him.

My nephew still asks if he’s still in the ambulance,” Remsburg said on the podcast. “It blows his mind that his giant man somehow disappeared, but he sees him on commercials sometimes and is like, ‘how did he get on there!'” 

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Shaq should do Remsburg a solid and return for a revenge match to AEW soon for his nephew. Are you hopeful for his wrestling comeback?

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