WWE Hall of Famer and NXT announcer Booker T has called out Las Vegas security over safety concerns over WrestleMania 42 weekend.
The pro wrestling promotion has just concluded a multi-day stint in Las Vegas to put on their biggest show of the year, WrestleMania 42, inside Allegiant Stadium. Prior to the show, those in the area found out that many of the talent were staying at the MGM Grand Hotel. With the venue having a layout where those staying need to walk through the public casino to get to their rooms, fans were seen camping out beside elevators and inside the area of the hotel to try and meet the wrestlers.
One incident that was picked up by TMZ saw CM Punk smack a phone out of someone’s hand when they got to close to Bayley and his wife, AJ Lee, but that was not an isolated occurrence. Top stars including Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton were also mobbed by fans in the city as privacy was limited during their stay.
Speaking about his personal experiences in Vegas on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T called for the fans to be more respectful, adding that security needed to be tightened:
“I want to put a fan address out here. The fans were off the chain in Las Vegas. I love my fans, I really do, but I’m going to tell you right now: you guys really need to understand what the guys go through sometimes and give them that space. After the show, you see them working like crazy, and then they come in and you disrespect them when they’re with their kids, wives, and families. Then, something happens, one of the guys gets upset, and you hear about it on social media. We’re human. After a show like that. The show is over. Give the guys a little bit of a break and space. It’s taxing, it truly is.
“Walking through MGM Grand, we need some better security. It was really hard. I can only imagine what the Superstars, how they felt, because I got mobbed and I’m not even doing this anymore. Hopefully, we can get that fixed. I wish we had had better security. It was really bad, the worst I’ve ever seen.”
“He Was Filming Me In The Bathroom”: Booker T On WrestleMania 42 Incident
Continuing to recall his negative experience in the city, the NXT announcer said that one person was filming him in the bathroom:
“They were camped out everywhere they were camped out. You couldn’t walk anywhere. They were following you. In the bathroom, I remember the guy literally was filming me in the bathroom. And when I walked out he goes, ‘Hey, Booker.’ And I just kept walking because I was so mad because he was filming me in the bathroom.”
Taking to social media to give his own take on the situation, Drew McIntyre said the following:
For those fans who spent hard earned money on a chance to say hello, take a photo, have something signed, or give me one of my many, many bracelets, I appreciate each and every single one of you. To those who rushed my family and I in the hotel, kept your kids up till 2am throwing them in front of us, or shoved a camera in my face without asking, you’re lucky I’m a calm natured person outside the ring. Please don’t do that ever again.
