WWE Star Austin Theory’s stoush with The West Australian’s editor Anthony De Ceglie makes global headlines

The real-life stoush between WWE star Austin Theory and The West Australian’s editor-in-chief Anthony De Ceglie has made headlines around the world overnight.

Visiting WA’s largest newspaper on Friday to promote Perth’s Elimination Chamber event at Optus Stadium on Saturday, Theory’s casual meeting with The West’s top dog turned shake down fast.

After De Ceglie made the cardinal sin of dropping the word “fake” around a professional wrestler, their chat escalated into a spat where Theory needed to be forcefully removed by WWE security.

“You brought me here and you’re going to talk to me like this?” remarked Theory, responding to claims of his beloved sport being not quite as “hard” as Aussie Rules or rugby league.

While newsroom staffers saw it all unfold, footage of the scenes has travelled far and wide, touching a nerve with overseas fans of the sport.

Popular WWE platform Wrestle Features shared the scenes, with followers quick to defend Theory’s reaction.

“I don’t think non-fans realise how offensive it is to tell wrestlers it’s fake,” commented one.

Another said: “Journalist deserved that answer.”

Fox News in the US caught wind of the heated exchange, sharing an image of Theory that depicted just how imposing a figure he can become when fired up.

UK lifestyle publication Metro called out the encounter, after De Ceglie shared his side of events to the publication.

“I didn’t mean to offend him, we’re all very excited here in town. I never knew they were so sensitive over the word ‘fake’,” he said.

“If I knew they were that sensitive I would have never said it to him! I was thinking, this guy’s gonna kill me!”

SPORTbible, the tongue-in-cheek sports arm of LADbible, noted eye-witnesses were “seriously worried” for the defenceless editor, who would’ve felt like he was in the ring with the statuesque star after his ill-advised comments.

Wrestling fans with their fingers on the ever-beating pulse of WWE would have heard the comments of Aussie drawcard Grayson Waller, who has since challenged “dumb Aussie journos” to a tag-team match with his partner Theory.

Ringside News shared the anger he and the wrestling fraternity felt after the controversial claims from De Ceglie.

Theory and Waller currently form the duo A-Town Down Under, and after this latest clash outside the ring, Perth fans will be licking their lips at the thought of seeing the two in action on Saturday.