Chris Jericho has been suspended indefinitely from the WWE due to what WWE describes as an “irresponsible act of denigrating the Brazilian flag” at a live event in São Paulo, Brazil, on May 24.
According to F4WOnline.com, the incident resulted in Jericho narrowly avoiding arrest and being rushed to the airport to get out of the country into Ecuador. Following the initial announcement, WWE.com posted an account of the events:
“At a WWE Live Event in at São Paulo, Brazil, on Thursday evening, Chris Jericho reportedly denigrated the Brazilian flag during a match against WWE Champion CM Punk. Suspended indefinitely, Jericho responded to the incident in his own words.
‘I made a bad judgment call in the course of entertaining [WWE] fans in Brazil,” Jericho told WWE.com. “I apologized to the people in the crowd for showing disrespect.’
During Jericho’s match with the WWE Champion at São Paulo’s Ginásio do Ibirapuera, the flag found its way into the ring, where Jericho crumpled it up and then kicked it.
Local law enforcement stopped the bout and gave Jericho the opportunity to apologize to those in attendance or face incarceration. The former World Champion expressed his regret to the crowd and the WWE Live Event continued.
Due to his actions, WWE officials suspended Jericho indefinitely.
‘It was a bad move,’ Jericho said. ‘I did it with [our] fans’ entertainment in mind and I’ll accept the consequences for that.'”
TMZ have reported that the flag stunt was not planned or approved by WWE officials.
This does not mark the first instance of a WWE performer being punished for crimes against national pride; in March 2011 WWE were forced to dismiss long-time wrestler and road agent Dave “Fit” Finlay after Finlay authorized the interruption of the American national anthem by The Miz during a house show, drawing ire from the National Guard members in attendance. If Finlay’s sacking is any indication, Jericho may well have got off lightly with just a suspension.
Jericho has since expressed further regret on Twitter, writing: “Just for the record I love Brazil and wish we could’ve spent more time here. Beautiful country!” He goes on to joke that he is “Currently scrubbing toilets in the WWE Executive washroom…”
The current condition of these toilets has yet to be confirmed.
Credit: WWE.com; F4WOnline.com; TMZ.com
