It is difficult for wrestling fans to always know when a match turns into a legitimate fight. Although it doesn't happen often, wrestling matches can sometimes turn into real fights in which both grapplers are delivering live rounds to their opponent. Occasionally, one wrestler may go into business for himself or herself and shoot on an opponent after growing angry. A slap, kick or an issue from the locker room could influence a wrestler to shoot on an opponent.

When fans witness a wrestler shooting on an opponent, they often grow quiet and confused over what they are seeing in the ring. Fans can detect when two grapplers aren't working with each other and it can lead to them not understanding what is fully going on in the ring. Most legitimate fights in the wrestling business took place before the current era of WWE and WWE-lite that we live in. Years ago, more issues existed between wrestlers, promotions and promoters. Today, wrestlers are more interested in taking to social media when they have a problem with someone rather than defending themselves in the ring.

The following list showcases matches that devolved into legitimate fights at some point during the bout. Whether it was due to an overly aggressive grappler or a personal issue, these matches became shoots whether both wrestlers wanted it or not.

15 Dulce Maria Garcia Rivas Vs Rosemary

It isn't often that wrestlers shoot on each other in modern wrestling. Most wrestlers today are too busy tweeting about their matches and love for fellow grapplers instead of confronting them in the ring over locker room problems. In August 2017, women's wrestler Dulce Maria Garcia Rivas was accused of shooting on her opponent former TNA Knockouts Champion Rosemary. The incident happened at TripleMania in Mexico. Garcia Rivas had returned to Mexico's AAA just a month before and won the Reina de Reinas Championship. In a four-way match at TripleMania, Sexy Star put Rosemary in an arm bar at the end of the match to win. However, the arm bar dislocated Rosemary's elbow. The incident came on the back of some strange locker room drama in AAA involving Sexy Star, Johnny Mundo, Vampiro and Taya Valkyrie.

Following the incident at TripleMania, a number of wrestlers spoke out against the actions of Rivas in the ring.

Cody Rhodes, the new king of the indies, stated she would never set foot in one of his locker rooms. Meanwhile, Road Dogg claimed the luchadora should be blacklisted from all wrestling companies. Sexy Star released a long statement after TripleMania. In the statement Sexy Star stated she had no idea Rosemary had been injured during the finish of the match.

14 Perry Saturn Vs Mike Bell

Many wrestling fans know about Perry Saturn's downward spiral over the last decade thanks to Steve Austin and Chris Jericho's podcasts. But many newer fans may not know just how tough the wrestler was inside and outside of the ring. A former United States Army Ranger, Saturn broke into wrestling through Killer Kowalski's school in Boston. Kowalski was the same man that trained Triple H and Chyna, and the former WWWF legend had a hand in turning out future stars. After working the indies, Saturn found success in ECW and WCW as part of Raven's flock. The grappler was then a part of the Radicalz with Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero and Dean Malenko. The quartet arrived in WWE in 2000 and began making a name for themselves with the company.

On a 2001 episode of Monday Night Raw, Saturn faced off with jobber Mike Bell. As a wrestler, Bell wasn't very good and during the match, he had difficulty executing a hip toss. Saturn went down awkwardly on the top of his head. In interviews since the incident, Saturn has stated he could have been hurt due to Bell's mess up in the ring. Saturn also stated when he got up from the move, he was filled with a rush of anger and couldn't stop himself. It resulted in Saturn laying some punches into Bell before tossing him through the ropes. Bell landed on the floor headfirst. Saturn was given a new comedy gimmick within the next few weeks.

13 Stan Hansen Vs Vader

By 1990, New Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling had already seen its most hostile years between each other. During the 1980s wrestling boom in Japan, American and Japanese wrestlers jump from company to company for massive paydays. Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, Abdullah The Butcher and others led the way as grapplers received big deals to sign for New Japan or All Japan. In February 1990, the two biggest Japanese wrestling companies held a joint super card at the Tokyo Dome. The main event saw All Japan's Hansen, just months before he would win his first AJPW Triple Crown Championship, battle New Japan's IWGP Champion Vader. The match was hyped as the two biggest foreign wrestlers of the time in Japan were to battle. In addition, both were the leading gaijins for their respective companies.

Therefore, Hansen and Vader had to put on a big match; and neither could let their promotion down. Hansen entered the ring first and was tossing around his bull rope. On the end of it was a large, heavy cowbell. As Vader neared the ring, Hansen whipped the rope at Vader and caught him in the nose, breaking it. Vader was incensed and the two began hammering each other in the ring. Hansen backed Vader into the corner and unleashed some heavy fists. One of the Texan's punches knocked Vader's eye out of the socket. It wasn't on purpose, but the damage was done. Vader's eye swelled up and it was due to its closure that his eyeball was held in, so it could be put back in later.

12 Koko Ware Vs The Masked Patriot

Koko Ware will long be remembered for his "Birdman" gimmick in the WWE between September 1986 and June 1994. During his run, Ware was famous for his colourful ring attire and macaw bird Frankie. Before joining the WWE, Ware was a staple of Memphis wrestling's CWA promotion owned by Jerry Jarrett and Jerry "The King" Lawler. Working in the CWA, Ware won the tag team titles on seven occasions along with the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship six times. In February 1986, Ware appeared on the CWA's weekly television show from the WMC-TV studios. His opponent on the day was a wrestler known as The Masked Patriot. Although he had a gimmick, The Masked Patriot was just a jobber and perhaps was put under a mask so he could be used on TV later as someone else.

The two wrestlers locked up to start the match with The Masked Patriot backing Ware into the corner and delivering an open hand punch to the jaw. Ware immediately fired back with clubbing fists before whipping The Masked Patriot into the ropes and delivering a throat crushing clothesline that legitimately knocked The Masked Patriot out. Ware then laid shoot kicks into the dazed masked man before hauling his limp body up and delivering a shoot brainbuster. It wasn't over yet, as Ware slapped The Masked Patriot for good measure during the pin.

11 Bill Goldberg Vs Steven Regal

On the February 9, 1998 episode of Monday Nitro, WCW's biggest rising star, Bill Goldberg, was supposed to squash yet another helpless victim. This time around, WCW's booking committee decided Goldberg would guzzle Steven Regal. The English grappler still had some name value as a former WCW World TV Champion. So, Goldberg's win would have meaning. Over the years, there have been different versions of the story. One being that Regal misunderstood what the agents wanted to happen. Another, more believable account, is Regal was told something completely different by one agent while Goldberg was told something else by Eric Bischoff or another executive. By 1998, WCW's left hand had no idea what the right hand was doing. Therefore, it is plausible Regal was told something completely different.

When the two grapplers got into the ring, Regal believed he was to have a competitive match with Goldberg.

The result would make him look like a legit wrestler who could hold his own. As Regal grappled with Goldberg, the latter looked confused. The fans were too. The silence that engulfed the building was incredible and the tough guy that supposedly trained in MMA had now clue how to get out of Regal's wrestling holds. Regal was fired shortly after the match for killing the aura of Goldberg.

10 Paul Orndorff Vs Vader

Although this shoot didn't occur in the squared circle, it has become the most famous wrestling fight of all-time. Over the years, various stories have been told about the locker room fight between the two. Everyone states they know the "true" story, but in wrestling, it is hard to decipher which tale is accurate. Legend says, in 1995, Vader showed up late for a WCW taping at Center Stage. The big man was one of WCW's top stars, but the wrestling grind was getting to him. Vader was far grumpier than in years past and heavy drinking was part of the reason. Orndorff was working as a WCW agent and it was his job to get wrestlers to interviews on time during the taping. Orndorff was having difficulties getting Vader to do his interview on time.

After excluding Vader from the promos being taped, Vader confronted Orndorff in front of the locker room with a cocktail of curse words. Orndorff, who had a bad shoulder due to his WWE run with Hulk Hogan in 1986 and 1987, was considered one of the sport's toughest competitors. Orndorff didn't backdown and punched Vader in the face, stunning him. He then threw the big man to the ground and began stomping Vader's head until he was pulled off the big man. Vader would be suspended over the incident and folklore grew around the legit fight. Some stories claim Orndorff was wearing flip flops when he fought Vader giving Orndorff even more of a tough persona. The fight changed wrestling history in 1995 as Vader's planned WCW World Championship win was canceled and he was soon let go.

9 Taz Vs Sabu

Today, Taz and Sabu are friendly with one another. However, at the height of the original ECW in the mid to late 1990s, the two wrestlers hated each other with a passion. The two stars practically built ECW and they were two of the promotion's longest running grapplers. In 1994, Taz and Sabu won the ECW World Tag Team titles from Public Enemy. The duo was set to defend the belts at an upcoming ECW Arena show. However, Sabu was booked to wrestle in Japan, a country he worked in regularly while he only did the occasional show for ECW at the time. Sabu chose to go to ECW and it fuelled hate in Taz that didn't end for years.

Taz gave shoot promo after shoot promo about Sabu throughout 1995 and 1996, attempting to coax him into the ring. Finally, Paul Heyman booked the two wrestlers for the company's first ever pay-per-view, Barely Legal. The match was incredibly stiff and Taz legitimately took out his frustrations on Sabu. The "Human Suplex Machine" has admitted he believed his hype and lived the gimmick, which made him difficult to work with. At one point, Taz got Sabu in a cross-face and laid stiff forearms into his opponent's face. Sabu's nose was busted from the shots. The two would continue to pepper each other through the nearly 18-minute match. The two would wrestle again down the line several times. In a later match, Taz broke Sabu's neck (again) as he dragon Taz-plexed him through a table. Oh, my God!

8 Steve Williams Vs Steve Ray

Howard Brody's wrestling memoir Swimming with Piranhas, gives great detail about the mysterious Herb Abrams. The former UWF (not to be confused with Bill Watts' UWF or Japan's UWF) was one of wrestling's most bizarre promoters of all-time. Abrams' UWF ran from 1990 to 1992, and he booked shows using old WWE and WCW talent along with territory wrestlers few knew about. One wrestler Abrams booked regularly was "Dr. Death" Steve Williams. A legit tough guy, Williams had cut his teeth in Watts' Mid-South and UWF before moving to Jim Crockett Promotions, WCW and All Japan Pro Wrestling. Abrams loved to party with his wrestlers, and Brody recounts a get together Abrams, Williams and Bam Bam Bigelow had as the UWF was getting off the ground.

Abrams was considered paranoid by many who met him. It could have been due to the drugs he allegedly took. In 1991, Abrams' paranoia hit a new high as he believed his wife was sleeping with wrestler "Wild Thing" Steve Ray. Abrams also thought Ray had stolen cocaine and money from him. So, what did Abrams do? He pai Williams an extra $100 to shoot on Ray in their match. Williams can be seen delivering stiff takedowns, but Ray does fight back with kicks to Williams' head. At one point, Williams rams Ray's back into the corner post and it looks disgusting. The fans in attendance of the show loved what they saw, however. Fans were cheering loudly as the two shot on each other.

7 Lex Luger Vs Bruiser Brody

Lex Luger and Bruiser Brody's cage match from 1987  has gone down in wrestling history as one of the strangest incidents. Luger was on his way to superstardom in the business. Debuting around 18 months earlier, Luger was one of the top wrestlers in the Florida territory. Championship Wrestling from Florida had been a major promotion years early, but the company was on the downturn when Luger arrived. However, he gave the company hope of a revival thanks to his good looks and persona. In January 1987, Luger was pitted against Brody. The giant wrestler was brought into the promotion to pop the houses, something companies all over the United States did with Brody and Abdullah The Butcher during the 1980s. Although great at what he did, Brody had gained a reputation as a renegade and regularly angered promoters for doing whatever he wanted. According to one wrestling historian, Brody would take liberties with wrestlers, if he wanted to as well.

Prior to the cage match, Luger attempted to talk over the match with Brody in the locker room.

Brody was not interested and felt Luger was disrespecting him. Luger had barely been in the business and was telling the veteran how things would work. When the match started, it began as many do. However, Brody quickly stopped selling Luger's offense and just stood in the ring looking at his opponent. Brody didn't even move. Not knowing what to do, Luger tried to get out of the ring, but the door wouldn't open. Luger then scaled the chain link cage and hurried back to the locker room.Some claim Luger grabbed his gear, got into his car without changing and drove home. Luger states he confronted Brody afterwards and the two spoke about it. Later that year, Luger would join Jim Crockett Promotions-NWA. In July 1988, Brody would be stabbed to death in Puerto Rico by fellow wrestler Jose Gonzalez.

6 Steiner Brothers Vs Nasty Boys

The Steiner Brothers were one of the stiffest tag teams to ever step into the squared circle. The duo regularly dumped jobbers on their heads with suplexes, clotheslines and Frankensteiners. The Nasty Boys were just as rough and tumble as the Steiners; and when the two teams faced off in WCW in 1990, it led to some incredibly brutal matches. The Nasty Boys hadn't been in WCW long when the team was paired with the Steiners. According to Brian Knobbs, when the Nasty Boys arrived in WCW, no teams wanted to wrestle Rick and Scott because they were too stiff. Knobbs explained when wrestling the Steiners, it didn't matter if you want to do something because the brothers were strong enough to make you go wherever they wanted.

The two teams met at Halloween Havoc 1990. Rick and Scott were defending their NWA United States Tag Team Championship in the first of four title bouts that night. For over 15 minutes, the two teams laid into each other with fists, kicks, suplexes and chairs. It is difficult to tell what is a work and what is a legitimate fight in the bout. The stiffness didn't stop after Scott pinned Knobbs as the Nasty Boys later attacked the Steiners during an interview and beat them down with kicks and punches.

5 Nick Bockwinkel/Harley Race Vs Stan Hansen/Bruiser Brody

In 1984, Harley Race and Nick Bockwinkel, two of the greatest world heavyweight champions of all-time, squared off with Stan Hansen and Bruiser Brody. The match took play in All Japan Pro Wrestling as a part of the Real World Tag League tournament. The four wrestlers were always known for putting good, stiff matches. Early in the bout, Brody laid into Bockwinkel with a hard kick that floored the former AWA World Champion. Throughout the match, Brody was uncooperative with Bockwinkel. After tagging out, Race got some payback for his partner. When Hansen failed to let the former NWA World Champion suplex him by going down to one knee, Race did it anyway.

The Missouri-native was known as one of the toughest grapplers in the world, and his sheer strength got the big Texan up and over. The match continued with both teams laying in some stiff shots. In the end, the bout finished in a double DQ as both teams battled on the floor with chairs. The Real World Tag League in 1984 would finished with Hansen and Brody joint second place with Race and Bockwinkel. Other notable stiff tag teams in the tournament were the British Bulldogs and Terry and Dory Funk Jr.

4 Tom Prichard Vs Tracy Smothers

Tom Prichard and Tracy Smothers were two of the biggest stars in Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Smothers was the company's top babyface and was regularly in the heavyweight title picture. Prichard was one third of the Heavenly Bodies with Stan Lane (later Jimmy Del Rey) and manager Jim Cornette. Despite being on top, the duo wasn't the best of friends. Prichard had made statements around the SMW locker room that Smothers had injured some of the promotion's talent. Smothers wasn't happy with Prichard's accusations of hurting other wrestlers. To get back at Prichard, Smothers shot on him in a battle royal; but it was stopped by the others in the ring.

Smothers was known for being a tough guy who could handle himself in a fight despite being tall and lanky. So, Prichard was probably lucky it was broken up. Later that night, Prichard attempted to smooth things over with Smothers. Driving home from the show, Prichard and Brian Lee made a stop off. They were joined by Smothers and the Rock 'n' Roll Express. Prichard wanted to talk things over, but Smother was ready to continue the fight. According to the wrestlers that were with them, the two began tussling when a police car pulled up. Not wanting to go to jail for fighting, the wrestlers convinced the cops they were simply practicing wrestling moves for an upcoming show.

3 Jim Duggan Vs Bruiser Brody

Bruce Prichard begin working for Houston wrestling promoter Paul Boesch as a kid. Prichard got a first-hand knowledge the business from his mentor, and later, he went to the WWE and became Vince McMahon's right-hand man. Houston was one of the premier wrestling cities in America during the 1970s and 1980s. Boesch ran the city at the Sam Houston Coliseum and booked some of the best talent from around the globe. Boesch hired Buck Robley to book the town in the early 1980s. Robley had a great mind for the business and in shoot interviews claimed credit for creating Bruiser Brody, Junkyard Dog and the Fabulous Freebirds gimmicks. Robley hired his old friend Brody to work in Houston to bring in big crowds. Boesch wanted Brody to work his shows badly, Brody brought one of his proteges with him, a green wrestler by the name of Jim Duggan.

The promotion ran an angle in which Brody was blinded by Duggan to set up a big feud to light up the town.

Just as the feud is getting started, according to Prichard, Brody grew angry with Boesch. The anger was most likely over money as Brody had a reputation for holding up promoters for more cash. On the night of his return from the blinding, Brody walked to the ring for his match with Duggan. The big man sat down in the middle of the squared circle with his legs and arms folded. New to the business, Duggan was confused and didn't know what to do. Unwilling to work, Robley told Duggan to beat up Brody. So, the future "Hacksaw" began laying the boots to his mentor. After taking legit kicks, Brody laid down in the center of the ring and allowed Duggan to pin him. Boesch was furious.

2 Jack Donovan Vs Tojo Yamamoto

In December 2015, The 6:05 Superpodcast's episode 6 detailed one of the most unknown matches turned shoots in wrestling history. Host "The Great" Brian Last also reported on the fall out that occurred between wrestlers after the altercation. In the mid-1970s, promoters Nick Gulas and John Cazana become enemies in the Tennessee and Kentucky wrestling areas. In July 1973, Jack Donovan was offered $7,500 by Gulas to double cross Cazana, a promoter he had a good relationship with. Donovan turned down the offer, wanting to continue working for both promoters. After turning down the offer to double cross Cazana, he was told he would be putting over Tojo Yamamoto despite being prime for a main event position. Donovan refused and the two were at odds with the match's ending.

In the ring, Donovan worked over Yamamoto in the corner until the Japanese wrestler landed a stiff slap into his opponent. Donovan then stuck his finger in Yamamoto's eye and popped it out before taking Yamamoto down. The match had turned into a legitimate fight. The next day, things were turned up a notch when the company shot its weekly interviews at a local TV station. After doing interviews, Fargo, Yamamoto and Jerry Jarrett attacked Donovan at the studio. Yamamoto had a weapon, but as he attempted to take it from his trousers during the melee, it dropped to the floor. Fargo and Jarrett got a hold of Donovan. Yamamoto took a wooden shoe and brought it down over the held wrestler's head and face. It busted Donovan open, splitting his lip up through his nostril and took a piece of his nose off. Donovan escaped the room, but in an interview years later, stated he thought the trio was going to kill him.

1 Akira Maeda (Multiple Occasions)

Akira Maeda was involved in three matches turned shoots during his career that grabbed wrestling headlines. Maeda was a graduate of the New Japan dojo and worked for the company between 1978 and 1984. After quick stop-off in WWE, Maeda and other former New Japan workers formed the UWF. The company put on "worked" shoot matches. In late 1985, Maeda and booker Satoru Sayama (the original Tiger Mask) met in the ring. The two worked stiff until the bout was ended in a no contest due to Maeda shooting on Sayama in the "worked" match. Months later, Maeda was back in New Japan, but he was up to his old tricks. Wrestling Andre The Giant, one of the most popular foreign wrestlers in Japan, Maeda refused to put him over.

During the match, Andre stopped selling Maeda's offense, so the Japanese fighter began shoot kicking him in the legs. Andrea then laid down for Maeda to pin him, allowing the Japanese wrestler to win despite that not being booked. New Japan owner Antonio Inoki then came to the ring and demanded the bout to be ended in one of the most bizarre incidents in wrestling history. Fans had no idea what was happening. Over a year later, Maeda finally went too far. In a six-man tag match Riki Choshu was putting Maeda's teammate Osamu Kido in a sharpshooter. Maeda casually strolled into the ring and sucker kicked Choshu in the face, breaking his orbital bone. Maeda was angry with Choshu as he believed the wrestler was holding him down in New Japan.