During a recent appearance on the Talk’n Shop podcast with Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson, wrestling promoter and Georgia deputy sheriff Chris “Lazer” Johnson shared the detailed, firsthand account of the night he saved Scott Steiner’s life. The incident occurred backstage at a TNA Wrestling taping in Atlanta in March 2020.
Johnson, a co-owner of Lariato Pro Wrestling with The Good Brothers, was at the TNA show at the Coca-Cola Roxy, where he had driven the promotion’s ring. He explained that after Steiner had finished a promo segment in the ring, he collapsed upon returning backstage. “I just happened to go check on something, and Scott’s laying in the floor,” Johnson began. “And there’s people around him, they’re holding his hand and they’re talking to him.”
He quickly realized the severity of the situation and the inaction of those around Steiner. “I’m getting close to him, and he’s purple, like his lips. Brother’s not breathing,” Johnson recounted. “Why are we holding hands, right? And I know nobody at this point… I’m like, ‘Listen, we’ve got to do this.’ So I jumped in and I start to compress chest compressors.” Johnson, a first responder, explained his immediate actions: “If you’re unresponsive, even though you’re not breathing, if you’re getting blood pumped to your organs, they’re usually going to be okay… If you keep that blood pumping… you’re probably not going to go braindead.”
As another person jumped in to help with the chest compressions, medical personnel arrived with a defibrillator. “They come in with a defibrillator and all the things and shock him and send him on his way,” Johnson said. He admitted that he was not optimistic about Steiner’s chances at that moment. “And I’ll be honest, I told him this after we talked. I did not think he was alive when he left.”
Doc Gallows, who was not present but heard about the incident from TNA management, confirmed the story and Steiner’s gratitude. He stated that Steiner is “forever indebted” to Johnson for his life-saving intervention. “He will say that,” Gallows added. “He says ‘Lazer saved my life.'” The full interview, where Johnson also discusses his history with The Good Brothers and running Lariato Pro, is available on the Talk’n Shop podcast.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Talkn Shop with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
