A Brooklyn man was arrested Monday night following an attack on a WWE wrestler, a New York Police Department spokesperson told ESPN.
Elisah Spencer, 24, ran at WWE star Seth Rollins and tackled him during the live broadcast of WWE’s Monday Night Raw at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The attacker and Rollins fought on the ground momentarily until security and WWE officials, including referees, broke up the skirmish.
Spencer is being charged with attempted assault and attempted violation of arts and cultural affairs (disrupting a live sporting event), according to the NYPD. Police say that at about 9:20 p.m. local time, Spencer left his seating section, jumped the metal barricade and attacked Rollins, who suffered swelling to his lip.
Rollins refused medical attention, according to police.
The altercation could be seen live on television initially, but WWE cameras quickly cut away when it became apparent it wasn’t part of the script. Many spectators captured the incident with their cellphone cameras and posted it to social media.
“WWE takes the safety of its performers very seriously,” WWE said in a statement to ESPN. “The individual who attacked Seth Rollins has been turned over to the NYPD and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Rollins, one of WWE’s biggest stars and a former WWE champion, was walking back toward the entrance way following a Raw segment with wrestler Finn Balor. As Rollins reached the top of the ramp, the attacker came running at full speed and roughly tackled Rollins, whose real name is Colby Lopez, to the ground. Rollins was able to walk away under his own power once officials contained the attacker.
