Lex Luger Didn’t Think He’d Be Able To Slam Yokozuna On USS Intrepid

Lex Luger says that he was super nervous for his famous moment when he slammed Yokozuna on the USS Intrepid and didn’t think he’d be able to do it. The famous moment happened in New York City on the aircraft carrier on July 4th, 1993, right after he had turned babyface following a brief introductory WWE run as “The Narcissist.”

Lugar recounted the story of the slam in a Q&A with Going Ringside. He noted that he was nervous from the jump because of the helicopter ride and recalled how, as he’s noted before, the summer heat meant he didn’t have any footing. He credited Yokozuna with pulling off the moment. You can see highlights below:

On Being Nervous Beforehand:

“The helicopter ride in was nerve-wracking. I’d never been in helicopter ride, and the guy was like a Vietnam war guy out of the military. He was tilting it sideways, showing off, and we weren’t strapped in or anything. I was like, ‘This guy’s out of his mind.’

“So I was out there, and then Bobby Heenan came up to me on the way to the ring. And I didn’t realize they wanted me to shove him aside, because he was my manager as a heel. And he walked up to me. I’m going, ‘Hey, Bobby.’ I give him a hug. He goes, ‘Push me, you stupid –‘ I won’t say what he said. He said, ‘So, push me, you stupid S.O.B.'”

On Not Thinking He Could Pull It Off:

“I got in the ring, and the ring was like ice skates. I mean, the mat from the heat. And they had me wear jeans and a cowboy boots and a red, white, and blue shirt. I had absolutely zero footing. Now I think I’m going to have to try to slam him with no footing. I thought I was going to be like — you guys ever see the Roadrunner cartoons way back when where the Coyote got flattened? I thought I was going to be a puddle underneath Yoko with these boots. He’s just going to fall on top of me.

“I told Yoko when we went nose to nose and supposed to kind of talk trash to each other. I was just saying, ‘Yoko, we can’t do it. We can’t.’ I was panicked. ‘We can’t do it; we can’t do it. I have no footing. And Yoko is doing the Japanese [gimmick], but he was just a cool island boy. He goes, ‘No problem brother.’ He goes, ‘When I come out of the corner, just get a wide stance.’ He goes, ‘I’ll do it all.’ So really, I tell people he almost slammed himself if you watch. I got a wide base, and I had to try to get in there and hold him up. But he turned himself. I mean, he was unbelievable.”

On His Reaction Afterward:

“I was so relieved afterwards. People think my celebration, ‘Wow, you knew you were going to slam him?’ Some people didn’t. Yeah, I knew I was going to try to slam him, but I was so relieved. He goes, ‘Yeah, because you acted so excited.’ I was excited that live, it came off.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit Going Ringside with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.