Wayne Rooney slaps Wade Barrett on WWE Raw (Image: WWE.com)
Manchester United Wayne Rooney put slapped WWE superstar Wade Barrett in front of thousands of fans at the Manchester Arena on Monday night. The England captain attended the WWE Raw show along with Ryan Giggs and former team-mate Darren Fletcher.
Rooney was ringside with his six-year-old son, Kai. After spotting Rooney in the front row, Manchester-wrestler Wade Barrett attempted to humiliate the 30-year-old striker on the microphone.
Barrett, goaded the England international, saying: ‘In this ring are two men who can be easily be described as championship material. Which is, of course, more than can be said of Wayne Rooney and Manchester United.’
Barrett then made his insult personal as he made reference to Rooney’s eldest son.
Don’t play games With Wayne Rooney!pic.twitter.com/pp0Bj3s757
— Man United Master (@ManUtdMaster) November 10, 2015
According to mail online report, he said, ‘I’d hate for your little boy to sit there and watch his own father fail. Because let’s face it, he gets to experience that every single time you step on a football pitch.’
The rant prompted Rooney to rise from his chair and challenge Barrett to a fight. And moments later the pair came to blows with Rooney landing a thumping slap across the wrestler’s face. The frenzied Manchester crowd chanted Rooney’s name as the striker’s blow left Barrett sprawling on the floor.
The incident – true to professional wrestling – was of course scripted and England skipper Rooney ‘revelled’ his role. Afterwards, Barrett tweeted: ‘I’m heading to Old Trafford early tomorrow morning. I hope @WayneRooney has the guts to meet me there.’ He then added: ‘Does anyone have Phil Bardsley’s phone number?’
Rooney, of course, is no stranger to ‘pretend’ fighting after a video of him apparently being knocked out by Phil Bardsley went viral in March.
The WWE, meanwhile, conclude their 10-day tour of the UK in Minehead this weekend.
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