The line between real and fake can often be blurry in professional wrestling, with world class athletes mixing legitimate athletic manoeuvres and manufactured storylines.
The audience is supposed to be in on the joke – cheering for the good guys, and booing the bad guys – but sometimes, like earlier today, a fan tries to inject themselves into the action for real.
During this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw WWE superstar Seth Rollins was attacked by a fan who launched himself at the former world champion before being dragged away by security and WWE staff.
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Rollins, who is one of the biggest stars in the company and a master of drawing hatred from the fans as a heel (bad guy), had just left the ring at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and was walking to the backstage area when the fan appeared.
Initially, people thought it was a fellow wrestler, before they quickly realised the situation was far more serious.
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“WWE takes the safety of its performers very seriously,” a statement from the company read.
“The individual who attacked Seth Rollins has been turned over to the NYPD and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
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