Sylvester Stallone Has 'Never Recovered' From Steve Austin Body Slam Scene Despite Having 7 Surgeries
Sylvester Stallone got candid about the injury he acquired after an intense fighting scene with Steve Austin.
Stallone has opened up about the seven major surgeries he underwent after filming a fight scene with his wrester-turned-actor co-star for their 2010 movie "The Expendables."
The "Rambo" star ended up with a fractured neck after a body slam scene with Austin, and he spoke about it in detail on his reality TV show "The Family Stallone," which is currently in its second season.
"I did stupid stuff. I was directing 'Expendables' and, like an idiot, I'm doing take 10, take whatever, and I remember one slam, and I could actually feel one bang," the 77-year-old actor recalled on the show, per the New York Post.
Stallone said Austin was aware of what had happened to him. He reportedly had a metal plate inserted into his neck and needed spinal fusions and treatment for dislocated shoulders.
"Steve knew," Stallone continued. "I never recovered from 'Expendables 1.' After that film, it was never physically the same. I've warned people: Don't do your own stunts."
He also recounted that in a twist of fate during his early procedures, he was put in an adjacent hospital bed with fellow "The Expendables" star Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was also undergoing surgery for a shoulder injury.
Meanwhile, Stallone's wife, Jennifer Flavin, admitted that she was terrified every time he had to undergo a procedure for his injuries.
"Sly tries to mask the pain, pretending like it didn't happen," the 55-year-old supermodel said. "He doesn't like people to know he's had so many back surgeries. It's very scary for our family every time Sly has to go through surgery because you never know ... no one knows."
Stallone's daughter, Scarlet Rose Stallone, shared the same concern as her mom. According to her, it wasn't easy to see her dad in those "painful" operations.
"It's really hard to see my father go through yet another painful operation," Scarlet said. "My whole childhood, he's been in pain. He did everything he could to push through the pain and be present, but I couldn't imagine every waking moment you are just hurting."
Stallone attempted to make light of the topic by joking that his injuries would make him the perfect actor to play Quasimodo "if they ever need a remake of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame.'"
"The Family Stallone" Season 2 premieres on Wednesday on Paramount+.
