Wayne Rooney Slaps WWE Wrestler Wade Barrett
Manchester United star Wayne Rooney was involved in a theatrically heated display with wrestling giant Wade Barrett during a WWE road show in Manchester
No stranger to play-acting, Wayne Rooney took on a giant that rivals dread to face. But the Manchester United star striker knows no fear and when confronted by wrestling giant Wade Barrett during a WWE RAW roadshow in Manchester, Rooney took him head-on. (Wayne Rooney Granted Testimonial by Manchester United)
At 83 kgs and standing 176 cm tall, Rooney is not football's most intimidating figure. So to slap a muscular 6 feet 7-inch giant, weighing a solid 112 kgs needed some guts. There were no red cards as it was all in good humour as the theatrically heated display was clearly a scripted incident.
Soon after the show started, Barrett spotted the England captain in the front row. The wrestler taunted the England footballer, calling him to enter the ring.
"In this ring are two men who can be easily be described as championship material. Which is, of course, more than can be said of Wayne Rooney and Manchester United," Barrett said.
"I'd hate for your little boy to sit there and watch his own father fail. Because let's face it, he gets to experience that every single time you step on a football pitch."
Rooney loved the challenge and landed a tight slap to send Barret crashing to the floor.
According to the Daily Mail, the Manchester United and England captain attended the WWE RAW show along with Old Trafford No. 2 Ryan Giggs and former team-mate, now at West Bromwich Albion, Darren Fletcher. Rooney's six-year-old son Kai was also in tow.
A WWE source said: "It was brilliant. Wayne was in great spirits before the event and he happily agreed to take part in the stunt with Wade Barrett. The fans absolutely loved it and I'm sure his son Kai would have enjoyed it too."