WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi delivered pointed criticism of a recent high-risk maneuver performed by TNA Wrestlingโs Leon Slater during the Rebellion 2025 pay-per-view, using the incident to highlight crucial lessons about safety, trust, and match psychology in professional wrestling.
The controversial moment in question saw Slater execute a Swanton 450 splash from the top of the Ultimate X structure, reportedly around 15 feet in height. A group of wrestlers below was positioned to catch him โ but the catch appeared botched, and Slater landed hard on the floor. Although initial reports indicate Slater avoided serious injury, the moment sparked widespread concern within the wrestling community.
HOLY FXCKING SH!T!!!!! ๐ฑ๐ฑ
LEON SLATER WITH THE WILDEST SWANTON 450 IN HISTORY!!!! #TNARebellion pic.twitter.com/6CaHysBMGd
— ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ง (@WrestlingCovers) April 28, 2025
On the latest episode of his โRikishi Fatu Off The Topโ podcast, the Hall of Famer โ who had not seen the footage but was given a detailed account โ didnโt hold back in condemning those responsible for catching Slater.
โI think thatโs bull,โ Rikishi stated bluntly. โObviously they all talked about that spot beforeโฆ You got a guyโs body thatโs in your handsโฆ That responsibility, it falls on those cats that were out there, that thatโs whatโs supposed to be the make-believe cushion for this guyโฆ Shame on those guys.โ
He emphasized the potential career-ending danger of such moments:
โAt any given time โ 30 seconds โ somebody can end their careerโฆ If youโre going to do a spot with meโฆ damn itโฆ I need to be there for you.โ
Rikishi, known for taking his own infamous bump off the Hell in a Cell during the 2000 Armageddon main event, made a sharp distinction between personal risk and shared responsibility. His fall, he recalled, was carefully calculated with the use of crash pads and ultimately fell on him alone. However, Slaterโs dive required collective coordination and trust, which he believes was violated.
โIf that was me, and nobody caught me, I would have had to take a chair to everybodyโs head out thereโฆ There would have been a shoot fight when I came through the locker room,โ Rikishi said, clearly agitated. โIf you guys are listening, man, this ainโt a jokeโฆ Understand that.โ
Beyond the safety concerns, Rikishi used the incident to advocate for a return to fundamentals in professional wrestling โ particularly storytelling and match psychology over pure spectacle.
โYou donโt really need to do all those big high spots. You can still have a pop by learning how to do psychology, theatrical movement, to be able to tell a storyโฆ Learn to tell stories.โ
He advised young talent to focus on connecting emotionally with the audience through facial expressions, body language, and proper pacing, rather than relying solely on dangerous stunts.
โPerfect your craft. Perfect your craft. And understand this โ this is not a game.โ
Rikishiโs remarks echo the sentiments of many veterans who have long warned against the increasing reliance on viral โwowโ moments that risk both physical harm and dilute the core values of wrestling psychology. His passionate defense of in-ring trust and safety serves as a sobering reminder of the real-life consequences behind the ropes.
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(h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription)
