Steve Blackman Details Near-Death Experience that Massively Delayed WWE Career

Blackman, who now runs a successful bail bondsman business, was initially lined up for a WWE contract in 1989. Blackman had impressed with a number of appearances on WWE house shows. These included a debut win against David Sammartino, son of WWE legend Bruno. But just as Blackman was about to sign with the company, tragedy struck.

Sitting down for his first interview in 18 years, Blackman revealed how a severe illness not only cost him his first WWE opportunity, but very nearly his life as well.

“They said I probably had dysentery and malaria. It was so bad. When I landed in Africa on Thursday, I weighed 267 the next Thursday, when I left the hospital I weighed 232. I was 35 pounds lighter in six days,” revealed Blackman on Insight with Chris Van Vliet. “I thought I was gonna die from just complete dehydration, which is pretty much where you die from with dysentery.”

After his condition worsened, NJPW and ECW alum Gary Albright helped Blackman get released from the local hospital where he was being treated. However, that would prove to be just the beginning of his tortuous road to recovery. After surviving a hellish journey home that involved extensive layovers in Kenya and Holland, Blackman was bedridden for several years.

“I was two and a half years on my deathbed, another two and a half years on medicine,” said Blackman. “If I tried to do push-ups one day… I would literally stand up, crawl over, lay down, and sleep till the next day. It was so debilitating.”

Steve Blackman’s WWE Debut: A Moment Almost a Decade in the Making

After recovering from the brink of death, Blackman picked up where he left off. After spending a further four years recovering muscle mass, Blackman got a second WWE tryout with the help of Owen Hart, Brian Pillman, and Jim Cornette. He made his debut on the main roster in 1997.

Blackman’s martial arts persona made him a memorable figure during the Attitude Era. Blackman beat many of WWE’s top stars during his early run, including Jeff Jarrett, Owen Hart, and future WWE Champions The Rock, JBL, and Jeff Hardy.

Blackman was also a key player during the peak years of the chaotic Hardcore Championship scene. Appearing during the 24/7 era of the title, Steve Blackman held the title six times for a combined 172 days – more than any other wrestler in WWE history.