It’s Elimination Chamber Perth week, which means WWE talent is already in Australia and doing media work to promote Saturday’s show. Since WWE doesn’t visit the country all that often for premium live events, that means members of the press who don’t typically cover pro wrestling are suddenly asked to do so.
Some treat it respectfully. Others have to get their jokes in, and Austin Theory wasn’t too happy about one in that latter category.
In a clip that has been circulating widely on social media this morning, Theory was speaking with The West Australian’s editor-in-chief, Anthony De Ceglie, who called wrestling ‘fake’ and noted that ‘you’re not actually hitting each other.’
That got a fiery response from Theory, who ends up ending the interview abruptly.
Hold on a second. You brought me in here and you’re going to talk to me like this? No, man. Just ’cause you’re in charge of some s–t here, man, don’t mean you can talk to me like this.
After De Ceglie said, “I didn’t mean to offend you,” Theory continued.
Oh, you’re saying what I do is easy, and you’re in front of all your people in here talking about my job’s easy. You couldn’t walk a damn day in my shoes. Got me in here, dude, are you you kidding me man? I’ll smack the s–t out of you right now. I’m not playing around.
Theory had a few more choice words, including an f-bomb, on his way out.
— WrestleClipsnVids (@wrestlevidsclip) February 22, 2024
Because the inevitable “work or shoot?” question is in play here, it’s worth noting that Theory is very good at staying in character and that the outlet itself is sharing the video. But at least it’s acting like the interaction was real from the story it posted this morning.
In the end, it might not matter if the exchange was planned or not, because the side-eye that some journalists give pro wrestling is definitely real in some cases, and fans always appreciate when wrestlers stick up for the business. In that sense, Theory is definitely a face today whether he wants to be or not.
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