This past weekend at a WWE live event, during a match between Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns, one particular fan felt the need to throw a replica Money in the Bank briefcase at the back of Reigns’ head.
What a moron.
Why did he do it? YouTube fame? If he did, from my research, there seems to be no clear footage of the incident. Could it have been a case of him having liquid courage? Maybe, but can you really call a person that, without provocation, chucked a briefcase ten feet from behind a protective guardrail courageous?
Sometimes, provoked or not, fans can take professional wrestling a bit too serious, to the point in which they think some sort of physical involvement on their behalf will make things better. I know from personal experience. I guess it’s a testament to the wrestler and their character. Whether it’s a polarizing good guy or a dastardly villian, if you can get someone emotionally invested into your persona that they want to fight you, you must be doing something right. However, as a fan, it’s never right– or smart– for you to get involved in the action.
The man that launched a briefcase at the head of Reigns, as dumb as he apparently is, was still smart enough to know that had he entered the ring to try and attack the WWE Superstar, he just might have left in an ambulance. Entering the ring at a professional wrestling event is no different than walking onto an NFL football field while a game is in progress. By entering a physical environment for which you do not belong, you relinquish all of your rights. The organization, nor the performer, is responsible for what happens to you next.
You paid a ticket to watch the action– not take part in it.
Today, I thought I’d take a look back at some of my personal favorite fan versus wrestler moments… and trust me… rarely does the fan come out on top:
Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Attack A Sting Fan : Halloween Havoc 1997
Leading up to their inevitable encounter at WCW Starrcade 1997, Hollywood Hulk Hogan was out to prove that he and the nWo could destroy Sting. During his cage encounter at Halloween Havoc 1997 with the late “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Hogan was hellbent on making an example out of him. While wearing a Sting mask, Hollywood, along with Randy Savage and the nWo tried to beat down “Hot Rod.” Unfortunately, one Sting Fan didn’t particularly like this, and proceeded to jump the rail, climb the fifteen foot high steel cage, and attempt to stop the onslaught on Piper.
Hogan and Macho Man were quick to pounce on the Sting fan, with Macho holding the fan so that Hulk could deliver some punches and kicks. Even when Doug Dillinger and his crack WCW Security staff tried to intervene, Savage continued to try and maul the Stinger fan. Sucked to be that guy!
Chris Jericho Punches A Fan: WWF Raw, March 2002
If you blinked, you might have missed it, as the WWF camera crews were quick to cut away from it when it happened just a few weeks away from WrestleMania X-8, but some a-hole thought it was a good idea to try to attack the then Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. Boy, was he wrong.
Macho Man Attacks A Fan: WCW Nitro, May 1997
As Macho Man was applying lipstick to “Big Sexy” Kevin Nash, a fan entered the ring, and Savage was all over him. Randy loved fans… not so much when they decided to enter the ring though.
Fan Attacks Raven: WCW Thunder, 1998
This is one of the few cases in which a fan got over on a wrestler. To WCW Security’s credit, they were quick to act on the incident. Knowing Raven like I do, I’m honestly shocked he didn’t jump on this guy.
Announcer And Ref Stop Fan: WCW Nitro, December 1997
If there is one thing that sucks more than getting beat up by a wrestler on live television, it’s getting beat up by ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta, and a referee nicknamed “Pee-Wee.” This wasn’t the first time a ref got the better of a fan, though…
Ref Knees and Chokes Out Fan: WCW Nitro, September 1997
Despite the slogan, WCW wrestlers and officials didn’t play when it came to fans entering the squared circle.
During a match involving Dean Malenko and Psychosis, a fan thought it’d be cool to get involved.
Bad idea.
It wasn’t “The Man of 1,000 Holds” that the ignorant spectator had to worry about. It was referee Brian Hildebrand.
Upon spotting the fan slide in, Brian delivered a picture perfect knee strike, one that would make any MMA fighter applaud. He followed that up with a textbook front face lock before the embarrassed fan was pulled from the ring. Without question, this one is my favorite, and judging from his reaction on commentary, it was Bobby Heenan’s, too.
Got a favorite fan versus wrestler moment within the guardrails that I didn’t mention? Let me know!
-Greg
