A pro wrestling schtick invoked the tragedy of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, in a lead-balloon bit that stunned even WWE fans, who are used to these outrageous acts.
World Wrestling Entertainment grappler Alexander Rusev and his manager Lana, who play comically anti-American Russians, were predictably booed as they stepped into the ring Sunday night in Tampa.
Then moments before WWE’s “Battleground” bout between Rusev and Jack Swagger, Lana — played by Florida-based actress Catherine Joe Perry — took the mic and told fans in her faux, over-the-top Russian accent: “You blame Russia for these recent current events?”
“Tonight we dedicate this match to the most powerful man in the world. Tonight we dedicate this match to the man that makes fools out of all of you Americans,” Lana said. “He is my role model. He is my idol, the president of Russia.”
UK sports journalist Simon Clark, via his Twitter handle @SimonClark8, summed up world disgust over the act: “Can’t believe WWE used Flight MH17 – ‘current events’ – as cheap heat in the Rusev v Swagger match. That’s not cool. #WWEBatleground.”
The wrestler, “Rusev,” is played by Bulgarian bodybuilder Miroslav Barnyashev.