A 24-year-old man was arrested Monday night following a horrific attack on a WWE wrestler, a spokesperson for the New York Police Department told ESPN.
The man, who appeared to be a fan at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the WWE Raw TV show, ran up to WWE star Seth Rollins and tackled him during the live broadcast. The attacker and Rollins fought on the ground momentarily until security and WWE officials, including the referee, broke up the skirmish.
Initially, this change could be viewed live on television, but WWE cameras were quickly cut off when it became clear that this was not part of the script. Many spectators recorded the incident with phone cameras and posted it on social networks.
A police spokesman said charges against the man were pending and his name would be released once charges were formally filed.
“WWE takes the safety of its performers very seriously,” WWE wrote to ESPN in a statement. “The individual attacking Seth Rollins has been turned over to the NYPD and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Rollins, one of WWE’s biggest stars and former WWE champion, is walking back to the entrance after a Raw segment with wrestler Finn Balor. Upon reaching the top of the ramp, the assailant ran at full speed and nearly knocked Rollins, real name Colby Lopez, to the ground. Rollins, trying to stay in person, was able to come out of the back under his own power when officials stopped the attacker.
