When it was announced that Shaquille O’Neal, 48, would make her professional wrestling debut, it was natural to be at least a little skeptical that the fight would be a good one. Shaq has spent 20 physical seasons in the NBA and, although pro wrestling is a script, it is still a very physical sport that wears and tears the body.
HERE WE GO! If you’re not watching, you better tune in now!
Watch #AEWDynamite Now @TNTDrama.@SHAQ @Jade_Cargill pic.twitter.com/wmM5X7Bl3I– All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 4, 2021
Until the test, Shaq exceeded expectations when he and Jade Cargill defeated Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet in a high-impact mixed tag team fight in AEW: Dynamite.
Shaq and Cody braked first and Shaq showed his strength right away. While Cody had the ability to fight, Shaq had size and that was what made the confrontation believable. Shaq shook Cody like a rag doll and hit him in the chest with the kind of sound you can hear all over Daily’s Place. Shaq even shot the chair back and where everyone will be talking, he and Cody passed a few tables outside the ring.
.@SHAQ pass by the table! ?
Watch #AEWDynamite Now @TNTDrama pic.twitter.com/RVGmeqCR4h– All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 4, 2021
Not to be overshadowed, Cargill and Velvet put on a show on their own. With Shaq not being an AEW regular and Cody already an established star, this was a platform for the two women, who are new to AEW, to shine. And that is exactly what happened after the place of the table.
Velvet stood her ground, but Cargill was the star and, in the end, she won the match for her and Shaq. Cargill is strong and athletic and as AEW did not do the best in its women’s division, this match was a great launch pad for two women who can really help make the division stronger.
As far as Shaq is concerned, I kind of want to see him fight again. I probably wouldn’t have said that before tonight, but he can hold on to the ring. Obviously, even without your Inside the NBA duties, I wouldn’t want Shaq to fight every week. But if the situation works and he has an opponent who can lead him in a big game, it can be nice to have Shaq playing one or two games a year and be an attraction for PPV and ticket sales when we get back to the full arenas.
[Photo: @AEW]