WWE Legend Opens Up on NFL Legend Battling ALS’ ‘Freakish’ Strength That Left Him Scared: “He Was Unbelievably Strong”

Published 09/11/2022, 11:45 AM EDT

A sports person can have a completely different life once they are retired. Long-term injuries and health issues may prop up after they have hung their boots up. Many athletes have had a difficult time coping with health issues after retirement and are battling serious ailments.

Former NFL and WCW legend Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael is one such athlete whose life drastically changed after his retirement.

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A few years ago, the Chicago Bears legend found that he was struggling to grab and hold things. After the problem aggravated, he consulted a neurosurgeon who revealed he had ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

In this disease, nerve cells break down, which reduces functionality in the muscles, making it difficult to hold or grip things.

Since then, his pro wrestling colleagues have rallied around him. Jeff Jarrett recently joined many of McMichael’s ex-WCW colleagues for a fundraiser named ‘MoneyforMongo’ and talked about what it was like working in the ring with the NFL legend.

Jarrett termed Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael as the strongest guy he shared ring with

Attending a panel, a fundraiser for McMichael Jeff Jarrett was asked where would ‘Mongo’ rank among the strongest guys he had faced.

Jarrett replied, “When I’m asked who’s the strongest guy you’ve ever been in the ring with and I immediately say it’s an easy answer, Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael.”

The former WWE Intercontinental Champion also narrated an incident, which showcased the strength of the former Chicago Bears player.

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Jarrett recalled, “He wanted to do the thing where he would flip me all the way through. Then we call up the davy boy smith kind of power slam is what he wanted to go into. So one night coming off the ropes he grabbed me. And when he flung me up he flung me on his left shoulder.“

He continued, “I had no choice and now we’re up there and he’s holding me with his right arm but I’m on his left shoulder. It’s awkward as hell and I’m rolling off this shoulder and he just kind of lets go but then grabs me by my shoulders. And he picked me and then he got his other arm. I had no choice he flipped me from one side to

the other side on the shoulder. I’m like what the hell is going on and then we went to slam. But he was unbelievably strong just kind of freakishly strong”.

Though he is having a difficult time standing up now, ‘Mongo’ was once the strongest athlete in the NFL. The man known as ‘Ming the Merciless’ won the Super Bowl with Chicago Bears in 1985.

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Wrestling legends have come forward to help Mongo

Ever since ALS has taken its toll on the former WCW United States Champion, his wife Misty has taken care of him. But the cost of care is a lot. Former WCW legends recently joined a fundraiser to help him out with the cost of the treatment.

Jim Ross, Ric Flair, Tony Schiavone, and Eric Bischoff were some of the names that joined ‘MoneyforMongo’ fund raiser. Flair even paid ‘Mongo’ a visit recently and said he was worried about his health and didn’t know how long he can go.

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Steve McMichael will go down as a legend in both sports and entertainment. We can only hope he stays strong during his struggle with ALS.

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Written by:

Sherjeel Malik is a WWE writer at Essentially Sports. He has been a passionate Wrestling fan since childhood and his all-time favorites include 'The Hardy Boyz' and Randy Orton. Sherjeel also follows soccer religiously and is a Liverpool fan.

Edited by:

Pritam Priyedarshi

WWE Legend Opens Up on NFL Legend Battling ALS’ ‘Freakish’ Strength That Left Him Scared: “He Was Unbelievably Strong”

Jarrett termed Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael as the strongest guy he shared ring with

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Wrestling legends have come forward to help Mongo