Steve Blackman was a mainstay of WWE’s Attitude Era and a star remembered most for hitting hard and fast.
Blackman was six-time Hardcore Champion during a peak in WWE’s popularity and enjoyed brutal rivalries with Shane McMahon, The Rock and his Nation of Domination, Ken Shamrock to name just a few.
Debuting in 1997 as the famed Attitude Era was building momentum, he made his pay-per-view debut at the controversial Survivor Series in Montreal and was a regular fixture on screens for years after.
With quick feet and even quicker hands, the Pennsylvania native, who later opened his own martial arts school, became known for his dynamic ring entrance that saw him dazzle fans with a display using glowing escrima sticks.
After crunching battles with Shamrock in 1999, including a lion’s den match and an outing at SummerSlam, Blackman bizarrely worked as part of a comedic double act alongside veteran Al Snow with varying success, before moving back to more familiar territory in WWE’s hardcore division.
It was at this time he tangled with McMahon, their match at SummerSlam in 2000 producing one of the most eye-catching moments of the era.
Upstart Shane climbed the huge arena jumbotron – known then as the TitanTron – in an attempt to flee his menacing rival, only for Blackman to pursue him and whack him with a Singapore cane, forcing him into the long fall below – following it up with an elbow drop of his own for good measure.
It’s that crazy bout that again has fans talking this week. WWE uploaded a version of the match to its Vault YouTube channel, with the addition of an introduction from The Lethal Weapon himself.
While looking in great shape for 61, the star appeared very much three decades removed from his wrestling debut, his trademark short, spiked black hair and goatee now white and grey, though still neatly trimmed.
“I’m here to discuss my match with Shane at SummerSlam,” said the former grappler.
“That match was cool. I loved doing crazier stuff like that with the Hardcore matches. Shane was so hated at the time, it was so great getting pops [reactions] like that every time you hit him”
Blackman added: “When you’ve got the people like that… it’s just a great day. I hope you guys enjoy the match.”
Viewers are then treated to the 12-minute clash between Blackman and McMahon, WWE posting the video with an accompanying post on social media saying: “What’s STEVE BLACKMAN doing here?!”
WWE fans lapped up seeing the star again, one posting: “Holy s*** what!,” another adding: “Blast from the past!”
A third commented: “Dominating the hardcore division during its prime,” while another hailed: ‘Kendo Stick Warrior!’
Recalling the match itself, one fan said: “This match got me so hyped as a kid that it’s still living rent-free in my head. I was a huge Steve Blackman fan too, such a shame his career ended so soon.
“Really glad to see he’s doing well. Thanks for the awesome childhood memories.”
Blackman’s last WWE singles match came in mid-2001 before his official departure the following year.
