Interesting question I pose

[Undertaker]

So, with all the negative media surrounding CM Punk's seemingly unprofessional actions I decided to check a few non-wrestling sites for further information. I found yet another case of a "wrestler vs fan" incident at a SmackDown house show last Saturday between Alberto Del Rio and a young child. He done the typical heel thing of ripping up the young child's poster/sign. Now, it begs to question that if wrestlers are going to get psychically involved with fans whether rightly or wrongly and also criminally damage fan signs should the WWE have tougher punishments in place and stop the practice of over-selling a heel gimmick? Obviously in Punk's case that's slightly different because it appears that this isn't a work but the majority of people seem to think Punk was right in retaliating so shouldn't the same morals be used in the case of Alberto Del Rio? Should it be ok for a wrestler to criminally damage a fans sign? This wouldn't happen out on the street.

I personally think this practice of engaging with the fans has to stop unfortunately. Some fans take wrestling too seriously and get too excited but the same can also be said for the wrestlers. Wrestlers shouldn't lay their hands on fans and fans shouldn't lay their hands on wrestlers.

Here is the story regarding the Del Rio incident:

A mother will do anything to protect her kid -- just ask former "Shark Tank" winner Shelly Ehler ... who's picking a fight with a 6'5", 239-pound WWE star after he made her 8-year-old cry.

Ehler -- who scored a $75k investment on "Tank" for her ShoNo towels -- has a serious beef with Alberto Del Rio ... who snatched her son's handmade sign during a WWE event in Anaheim, CA this weekend ... and RIPPED IT UP (or at least tried to).

In the video (above) Del Rio isn't quite strong enough to rip the sign in half (it is cardboard) ... so he takes off small, pathetic, chunks instead.

FYI -- it's standard practice for the wrestlers to interact with audience members "in character." In this case, the sign was pro-Sheamus ... the wrestling arch-nemesis of Del Rio.

But TMZ spoke to Shelly, who says her 8-year-old was terrified by the wrestler's actions and instantly burst into tears. She adds, "Del Rio is a bully. I looked at him and said 'he's crying' ... and he mocked him."

Read more: 'Shark Tank' Winner to WWE Star Alberto Del Rio -- You Made My Son Cry ... Now Apologize | TMZ.com

'Shark Tank' Winner to WWE Star Alberto Del Rio -- You Made My Son Cry ... Now Apologize | TMZ.com

 

[PHX]

This is a simple case of a heel being a heel and has happened for years. Signs get ripped up all the time and heels make kids cry all the time so nothing is gonna happen with this.

 

[zigglerHEEL]

Yeah, while I see your point Taker, the two incidents will be handled in completely different ways and should be... I read that Shaemus has offered a signed piture and to meet with the child next time they are in the area and that should handle that situation completely.... Punk could be in real trouble because HE is the professional, he chose to go into the crowd and I wonder if security even knew about it because they usually have the area pretty maintained when a wrestler "escapes" into the crowd. No matter how much of a douche that fan or whatever fan was being, he's got to keep his cool. As for completely doing away with fan/wrestler interaction I don't think you can do that. Take D. Bryan for instance when he does the Yes/No back and forth with a fan at ringside, that's part of what has gotten him so over with the fans, and Mysterio placing a mask on a young fan at ringside Is he gonna have to stop if a kid across the aisle starts crying because he wasn't picked..... Again I see your point (especially in today's times when people try to sue over just about anything) but it's too much a part of the show to completely do away with it.

 

[PHX]

Fab will probably love the last tweet in this encounter.

 

[Deezy]

Rodriguez is awesome, and these marks need to learn the difference between character and reality.

I doubt Anthony Hopkins has people thinking he is going to eat them when they meet him.

 

[Keith]

The two are totally different. Ripping up a fans sign is no big deal really, personally if I was a wrestler I might avoid ripping up a childs sign, but still that is standard heel practice, what Punk did was a different matter.

 

[Deezy]

Oh like Jericho crumpling a flag and getting suspended for it?

Can't be a heel these days, people have such thin skin.

 

[Keith]

Oh like Jericho crumpling a flag and getting suspended for it?

Can't be a heel these days, people have such thin skin.

Well the thing with the Jericho incident was that didn't know than that was against the law in Brazil so it was a honest mistake on his part.

 

[Deezy]

He knew, he did the same shit in India and didn't get in trouble for it, but that was in 02 and people are alot more sensitive nowadays.

 

[Keith]

He knew, he did the same shit in India and didn't get in trouble for it, but that was in 02 and people are alot more sensitive nowadays.

Oh ok didn't know about the India one. Fair enough.

 

[John McHenry]

Criminally damaging a sign? Really? First off all signs are subject to confiscation so it being ripped during the course of the event would be the same thing not to mention you should just be proud that he picked out your sign. This is grasping at straws and its whats wrong with this new era of wrestling fan.

 

[Keith]

Criminally damaging a sign? Really? First off all signs are subject to confiscation so it being ripped during the course of the event would be the same thing not to mention you should just be proud that he picked out your sign. This is grasping at straws and its whats wrong with this new era of wrestling fan.

And the modern world as a whole.

 

[John McHenry]

And the modern world as a whole.

Yeah I almost said but true.

 

[Chris]

I had my sign ripped when I was 8 at one of the few shows I've been to. I thought it was cool.

 

[PHX]

I would personally brag if I got my sign ripped and pie faced by CM Punk.