Employees were left stunned when a real life stoush broke out between The West Australian’s editor in chief and wrestling superstar Austin Theory – who threatened to “smack the s… out of him”.
Theory was at the newspaper’s offices to do a video interview with the sports department when a chat to editor Anthony De Ceglie turned ugly.
What seemed like friendly banter got serious as Theory took offence at wrestling being called “fake” and not as “hard” as Australian Rules football or Rugby League.
Shocked staff were genuinely unsure what to do as Theory got so wild he had to be carted away by WWE security.
“You brought me here and you’re going to talk to me like this?” he said.
“Just cause you’re in charge of some s… doesn’t mean you can talk to me like this.
“You’re saying what I do is easy and you’re in front of all of your people talking about my job is easy … you couldn’t walk a damn day in my shoes.
“Are you kidding me man? I will smack the s… outta you right now.
“I’m not playing around. Y’all bring me all the way out here for some media and this guy is talking his f….. head off.
“What’s his problem?”
The WWE wrestling universe is in Perth ahead of Saturday’s Elimination Chamber event at Optus Stadium.
The major pay per view is the event just before Wrestlemania and has attracted the company’s biggest names to Western Australia – from Logan Paul to Rhea Rhipley and Drew McIntyre.
There are even hopes that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will jet into town at the last minute.
One staff member Kay Fabe said it looked like a genuine fight was going to break out.
“I was seriously worried about what was going to happen,” they said.
“Thankfully security stepped in. Anthony was genuinely worried.”