Brock Lesnar Almost F5'd Someone Off The SmackDown Fist
Mia Lopez
Published Mar 28, 2026
There are a number of things fans who have been watching wrestling for a while long for in today's product. One of those things is the more elaborate staging and sets from bygone eras. There was a time when WWE would use a unique set for every single PPV. Now WrestleMania is usually the only show that gets that treatment. Using the same set for almost everything and just changing the color scheme cuts down on cost, saves time, and just reduces the hassle involved with creating multiple new sets every year.
The SmackDown Fist
The one set old school fans seem to miss the most is the one with the SmackDown Fist as its centerpiece. A set that was made to look like a giant pane of glass with a massive silver fist punching through it. Every time SmackDown celebrates an anniversary, fans hope it will make its return. Barring a CGI appearance a little while ago, the iconic SmackDown Fist hasn't been seen since its set was replaced well over a decade ago.
RELATED: A Love Letter To Smackdown's Fist Titantron
The Fist is remembered fondly for its impactful and unique look. However, former WWE Superstar Zach Gowen recently shared a story that had it happened, we would all remember the Fist for a very different reason. Gowen, who found himself on the wrong end of a Brock Lesnar beatdown on more than one occasion, revealed that WWE once wanted The Beast Incarnate to F5 him off the Fist and through the stage below.
An F5 Off The Fist
Gowen replied to a McDonald's tweet this week asking people what would they like to “bring back”. After replying “The SmackDown Fist”, Gowen responded to his own tweet, telling the tale of an opportunity, or perhaps that should be near-death experience, missed. “The original plan was for Brock to F5 off the FIST through the stage," Gowen tweeted.
“We couldn't come up with HOW we would get up there. That plan evolved into him throwing me down the stairs in a wheelchair.” If you haven't seen the wheelchair spot, Gowen attached a gif of it in the tweet above. Not quite as dangerous as being thrown off the SmackDown Fist, but still an awful bump to have to take. Lucky for Gowen, he wasn't actually the one who had to take it. That's actually a stuntperson being thrown down the stairs by Lesnar.
