NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal knocks out spectator and leaves wrestling match in an ambulance

Shaq had a spectacular showing at his first All Elite Wresting match!

By Michael Herold, Lena Grotticelli

Jacksonville, Florida - Kazaam! A spectator proved you shouldn't mess with ex-genie Shaquille O'Neal – or the basketball star might just open up a can of whoop a**!

O'Neal shared pictures of himself training for the wrestling match on his Instagram channel (collage).
O'Neal shared pictures of himself training for the wrestling match on his Instagram channel (collage).  © Instagram/Screenshots/shaq

Normally the 7-foot-tall player throws balls into hoops, but last Wednesday night he threw himself into the wrestling ring during his debut on TV's All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite on TNT.

The four-time NBA champion teamed up with fellow ex-basketball player Jade Cargill in a tag-team match against pro-wrestlers Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet.

And things got spectacular!

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The 48-year-old went ham on a spectator after he unexpectedly hit the ex-NBA player with a chair from the side of the ring.

Shaq didn't hesitate – he grabbed the man and slammed him to the ground with one punch.

It is said the attacker was not a fan but rather another AEW wrestler who was mingling with the crowd.

While the act fueled a long-held belief that WWE shows are staged, Shaq displayed impressive moves and may even have incurred some personal injury.

He hammered Rhodes to the ground with a Powerbomb throw but was later flung from the ring by his opponent.

O'Neal crashed through two tables and needed medical help.

Social media highlighted the wrestling match

Shaquille O'Neal disappeared from the ambulance without a trace

Shaq acted in film comedies after his basketball career ended (archive image).
Shaq acted in film comedies after his basketball career ended (archive image).  © Instagram/Screenshot/shaq

Despite Shaq being down for the count, the basketball players won the fight against the pro-wrestlers.

His teammate Cargill went on to beat her opponent Red Velvet in an underdog defeat.

Afterwards, injured O'Neal was taken from the event by stretcher to an ambulance.

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Yet, his former genie magic served him well: when a broadcaster went to check on him, the Kazaam actor had disappeared!

O'Neal mostly works as a sports commentator nowadays and dabbled in movies after his basketball career ended, but this was not the first time Shaq has been in the wrestling ring.

He promoted the sport with Hulk Hogan in the 1990s and took part in WWE's WrestleMania in 2016.

Whether his injuries in this showing were real or not, his debut and mysterious end on the TV show was a knockout!

Cover photo: Instagram/Screenshots/shaq

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