Jericho saves day in Winnipeg
By MICHELE YEO -- For the Winnipeg Sun
Wrestling fans experienced a mix of emotions at yesterday's World
Wrestling Federation match at the Winnipeg Arena.
Boos and hisses filled the arena when it was announced that fan favourite
The Rock would be a no-show.
But the hisses turned to cheers when fans learned Winnipeg native Chris
Jericho would step into the ring instead.
WWF officials said trouble at the airport in Miami, Fla., was the reason
for The Rock's absence.
"The Rock was leaving Miami when some nut jumped a fence and ran out on the
runway," said WWF road agent Dave Hepner.
He said The Rock's flight was delayed and he missed his connecting flight
from Chicago to Winnipeg.
A reporter with the Miami Herald confirmed the incident, saying 10 to 12
flights were delayed.
"A man ran out on the runway saying he was home-sick for Cuba," said Elaine
Devalle.
She said police arrested the man three hours later.
Hepner said he was sorry to see fans disappointed and they were invited to
obtain a refund during intermission.
"It's disappointing," said one woman, who brought her two sons. "With the
amount of money you pay you expect to see him."
"That pretty much sucks," said 23-year-old Don Feakes.
Jericho, who was originally only scheduled to make a guest appearance,
stepped into the ring for the last match.
During the first half Jericho strutted out and blew kisses to the crowd.
Clad in a pair of black vinyl pants and a silver-and-black shirt Jericho
introduced himself as "the newest hero of this city."
Fellow wrestler Big Boss Man stepped into the ring to put Jericho in his
place.
Greeted with hostility from the crowd, The Boss Man said "If Canada was a
living, breathing thing, Winnipeg would be its a--hole and you'd be a turd."
The crowd dressed mostly in shirts with wrestling phrases like "suck-it"
and "put the smack down" went wild.
Jericho and Big Boss Man tangled again when the Winnipegger stepped in to
replace The Rock.
"One of the places I've always wanted to wrestle in was the Winnipeg
Arena," said Jericho, who won the match.
