WWE Ring Collapses On ‘Monday Night Raw,’ Big Show Explains How Stunt Is Done

Most episodes of “Monday Night Raw” conclude with one of WWE’s top superstars winning a match in the main event, but the most recent ending was a little bit different. There was no official winner in the match between Braun Strowman and Big Show, as it came to a sudden stop when the ring collapsed.

It happened when Strowman delivered a superplex to Big Show, who was standing on the top rope. Both wrestlers were lying motionless after the ring collapsed, and referee John Cone tumbled out of the ring and onto the floor.

This isn’t the first time that a WWE ring has collapsed in a match between two big men. It’s happened twice before with Big Show at the center of both instances.

The first ring collapse happened on an episode of “SmackDown” on June 12, 2003 when Brock Lesnar delivered the same move to Big Show. Eight years later at Vengeance on Oct. 23, 2011, the ring collapsed when Mark Henry hit Big Show with a superplex.

For years, Big Show had said the first ring collapse wasn’t staged. He eventually admitted on an episode of “Talk is Jericho” in 2015 that it was planned.

"We did a spot right before we broke the ring where we’re both down and they shoot a real close-up of both of us selling,” Big Show told Jericho. “Well in that time, [WWE Stunt Coordinator] Ellis [Edwards] had airbags under the ring. So they had lifted the ring a couple inches. So now, when I’m standing on that top corner, that ring is like standing on marbles. Because it’s moving. Of course, now I’ve got my fat ass up in the air, 500 pounds on a not very stable surface … So then the ring broke. I just remember when it happened because … you don’t know how the stunt is going to look. But man, it was so perfectly timed the way we did it and Ellis did a great job of setting up. That thing collapsed and everybody they bought it so long.”

Strowman is billed as 6’8, 385 pounds. Big Show is 7’0, 383 pounds.

While Big Show was still lying down when Monday’s show ended, Strowman was up and ready for another fight. WWE has built him up to be a monster heel, and he could be headed for a WWE Universal Championship match with Brock Lesnar in the near future.

Strowman will face Roman Reigns at WWE Payback on April 30. Reigns is the only wrestler that has ever pinned Strowman.