Fan Ejected from Armageddon

[Toddy]

WWE Fan Robbed of History
By: Derek Greser 11/15/08

This past Sunday at WWE Armageddon 2008, history was made. In a shocking conclusion to the event, Jeff Hardy captured the WWE Championship. This would mark the first time that the high-flying Superstar would capture what is considered to be crown jewel of the sports entertainment business. Any fan of the WWE and/or Jeff Hardy can tell you this has been a long time coming. The event emanated from HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY. The event marked the 2nd ever Pay-Per-View event in the city and venue's history, as well as its first major title change.

29-Year-Old Tom Griffith attended the event, and had front-row seats. Tom has been a 20-year tenaciously loyal fan of the WWE. I know Tom personally and I can say that without question, the WWE is one of the biggest passions in his life. Tom has attended over 25 live events in Buffalo, Toronto, Philadelphia and Rochester. He has purchased countless WWE DVD's and box-sets (many on their release date), video games, memorabilia, clothing, and roughly $7000 dollars on pay-per-view events.

Unfortunately for Tom, he was not able to witness history. Prior to the main event, Armageddon featured a mid-card bout between Batista and Randy Orton. Tom, an avid fan of Randy lead his friends in a raucous chorus of boos Batista's entrance. They even dared to direct a naughty hand gesture (The same that mega-star Stone Cold Steve Austin used on television for years) at the 300 plus lb. powerhouse dubbed "The Animal". Batista himself made eye contact with Tom and his friends, and got right in their face before ascending the ring apron. Due to the quality of Tom's seats, this was clearly visible to fans at home as well as in the arena.

Tom then received a signal from one of the cameramen working outside the ring. This WWE employee made the "slit the throat" gesture at Tom which universally means "cut it out". Tom nodded, and decided that he had expressed himself enough. Minutes later, approximately 8 imposing looking men dressed in gray suits asked if they could speak with Tom in the aisle. Tom obliged and was then walked out of the arena, concluding in the gray suits tearing his ticket up in front of him. The explanation Tom was given was "The person renting this building tonight has requested you be removed from it". Tom spent the rest of the event outside in the freezing rain waiting for his friends who were still inside to drive him home.

In the past, WWE has encouraged their fans to express themselves. Vince McMahon has encouraged fans to bring signs to their support, or anti-support of his performers. This leads to the question; why was Tom removed? He was not involved in an altercation with anyone performing at or attending the event. He was not publically intoxicated. The only possible reason Tom was removed is that the powers-that-be at WWE wanted to protect the image of their Superstar Batista, who is presented as a fan-favorite.

The right thing to do here is to refund Tom's ticket price. In the interest of fairness, this should be the very minimum. The best case scenario is to give Tom priority seating at the next WWE event at HSBC to make up for this obvious mistreatment of a great patron and fan. This article will be sent to World Wrestling Entertainment as well as HSBC Arena and Tickets.com. The ball is now the court of these companies. Will any of them step up to right this wrong?

I am asking for the support of the Pro-Wrestling community to please let Tom's story be heard. Let's protect the right to express ourselves as fans, and paying customers.

- Derek Greser

Thoughts?

 

[Colin Gimp]

Sounds to me like the owner of the building wanted to kick the fans out to show support for the WWE who just rented the place out.

Meaning this has nothing to do with fan support or any of that shit. cracka plz Owner just wanted the WWE to come again.

 

[Kaptain KnicKy]

Yeh sounds like this was a noob-decision by the rentee of the building, not WWE. Then again, this could be a lame-ass cover up.

Don't see what the big deal is though, WWE have had Cena, their 'super face' being booed out of arena's before. Unless Big Dave wanted to make sure his "rep" was maintained with no boos, and had a cry over it. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not usually one to say that sorta thing, but the previous stories/news bout Dave seems that could be a likely scenario...

 

[Wordlife]

this is actually very Blue, and the guy who rented out the building for Armageddon to be there is a complete dumbfuck who tried to make himself known for being a goodguy when it came to helping out the "wwe's image" so to speak both live and on tv/ppv

This shit is all bullshit, and he should be refunded his ticket imo, cause your a fan, and you can do what you want, wherever you want... freedom of speech. When going to a live event, all they say is no filming, weapons of any kind, or charging the ring, etc... they never said shit about booing or giving a wrestler the finger, so wtf? This is like the dumbest and most redic. story I ever fucking heard.... complete bullshit on the owners part for being such a prick

 

[-TJ-]

BSed..... The owner of the building is a tard and should be killed

You no throw fan outta ring

 

[Soulpower]

I haven't read the report, but its obviously HHH's fault.. Maybe Cena's :shifty:

 

[seX-Power]

I haven't read the report, but its obviously HHH's fault.. Maybe Cena's :shifty:

I disagree, I think this will be blamed on TNA. Fire Russo imo.

 

[Travis40]

I really doubt there's a "Tom" or even an "HSBC Arena" for that matter >_>

 

[chessarmy]

I disagree, I think this will be blamed on TNA. Fire Russo imo.

lol

If this is true then shame on WWE. If I pay hundreds of dollars to go to a fucking PPV then I deserve the right to cheer and boo whoever I want. Also, rofl at the security saying the arena employers wanted him kicked out, what a lame ass excuse

 

[Mike Chaos]

Umm.. isnt the person renting the building out that night Vince McMahon and WWE... It's not like some random guy rents the arena out for Vince McMahon and makes decisions like that to kick people out.

 

[The Rated R CMStar]

I will play the bad guy here and disagree.

Nobody was bitching and moaning because he was booing or cheering. He flipped of a wrestler.

There you go tough guy, next guy think about doing something like that.

And lol at the guy who wrote this. Again, "Tom" didnt bring out a sign, he pulled the middle finger and went face to face with Batista. I consider that an altercation.

 

[Quintastic One]

If I were that kid I would sue for suppressing freedom of speech, as well as emotional trauma of being ejected from the arena as well as being left in the freezing cold rain. Knowing how the justice system and media would just love to get a crack at WWE again, the political pressure would give the kid free tickets for a whole years worth of events. I say go for it. lol

 

[C4]

Firstly, the guy renting out the building is obviously a WWE executive who organized the venue for Armageddon. Tom gestured the middle finger and probably pissed off Batista, that's somewhat offensive but getting thrown outside and having his ticket torn in front of him, it's just too much.

 

[★Chuck Zombie★]

If I were that kid I would sue for suppressing freedom of speech, as well as emotional trauma of being ejected from the arena as well as being left in the freezing cold rain. Knowing how the justice system and media would just love to get a crack at WWE again, the political pressure would give the kid free tickets for a whole years worth of events. I say go for it. lol

Freedom of Speech can be denied on private property. Only the government can not take away freedom of speech.

 

[Chuck Taylor's Grenade]

First of all these are professional wrestlers they should expect shit like this to happen (middle fingers and nasty chants). What this guy did was tame compared to what other crowds like ECW or that Angry Fan dude from PWG say or do. I guess bawwwwwwtista couldn't handle it.