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Tomorrow night (July 14) is the 2013 Money in the Bank (MITB) pay-per-view (PPV), so I thought it would be only fitting to feature a ladder mishap in this week's edition of Slapstick Saturday.
Mr. Guerrero, front and center please.
One of this year's participants, Rob Van Dam, was challenging Eddie Guerrero for "Latino Heat's" Intercontinental Championship in a featured bout during Monday Night RAW, which took place back on May 27, 2002, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
With the belt hanging high above the ring, the match unfolded with the usual big spots, along with all the high-flying action you would expect from these two longtime veteran workers. Not surprisingly, the ringside fans were really getting into it.
Literally.
A spectator in attendance that night explains the surprising turn of events.
A bald-headed fan in an Edmonton Oilers jersey decided to run into the ring and push the ladder down while Guerrero was still on it. For a split second, I thought it was (Stone Cold Steve) Austin. Then, when I realized it wasn't, I got that sick, scared feeling in the pit of my stomach. Security was quick to act, but not quick enough; the damage had been done. Eddie, thank goodness, was able to leap off the ladder before the fan reached it, and even managed to get a shot in before he was hauled out of there by security. Even worse, the fans actually cheered the guy as he was hauled out of the ring and, no doubt, out of the building as well.
This was one of the worst fan-interference incidents that I can remember. We've seen a few guys hop the barrier, we've seen a few guys roll onto the apron and into the ring before getting caught, but I cannot remember an incident in recent history where a fan was actually able to get in the ring and attempt to injure a performer before security could catch him. I felt awful for RVD and Eddie having to deal with the guy, and I was embarrassed for Canadian wrestling fans everywhere - even more so after I heard fans CHEERING this idiot."
See for yourself.
Cat like reflexes!
Guerrero does a nice job of dismounting and landing on his feet, the same feet he would use to land a few licks of his own before security flushes that turd out of the arena.
Jim Ross: That's an overzealous fan!
Jerry Lawler: Some Canadian, what did you expect, J.R.?
Let's hope we don't have a repeat performance tomorrow night in Philly!