A fan who attacked pro wrestler Seth Rollins during WWE Raw on Monday night is now facing the legal consequences. During the live show at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Rollins left fan favorite wrestler Finn Balor flattened in the ring after two Curb Stomps, his trademark maneuver, prompting raucous boos from the audience. The storyline apparently went too far for one fan in attendance, as 24-year-old Elisah Spencer rushed past security to attack Rollins as the wrestler was on his way backstage.

Footage of the incident has gone viral online with some fans recording what happened from other angles, revealing more than what was shown on television. Spencer goes to tackle the wrestler, but Rollins subdues him with a headlock as referees and security guards intervene. After they were separated, Rollins could be seen screaming at Spencer as he was escorted out of the building, with the “Monday Night Messiah” clearly angry but fortunately not seriously injured. Rollins suffered a swollen lip but reportedly refused medical attention, appearing again on Raw for a separate segment later in the show.

Shortly after the attack, a WWE statement read that the company “takes the safety of its performers very seriously.” They also noted that “the individual who attacked Seth Rollins has been turned over to the NYPD and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." ESPN’s Marc Raimondi now reports that the fan has officially been charged with attempted assault and attempted violation of arts and cultural affairs.

There have been many instances of pro wrestlers getting attacked by fans at wrestling shows getting a little too invested in the storylines, usually resulting in the wrestlers taking shots at the fans to protect themselves. It even happened at the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2019 when a man attacked retired wrestler Bret Hart during his induction speech. Security and other wrestlers were quick to come to Hart's aid, roughing up his attacker in the process. Oddly enough, this also happened at the Barclays Center where this new incident just happened with Seth Rollins.

"It was a bad day for that guy. I feel bad that it happened,” Hart later said of his attack on the Sunday Night’s Main Event podcast. “It was a stupid thing to do… [But] you can't take anything for granted. Wrestling fans are very passionate. They get caught up in the storylines and all the things that go into wrestling and all that's good but I wouldn't recommend attacking wrestlers at Hall of Fames."

Asked why the fan may have attacked him, Hart said, “They just want the attention. They want the headline. They want us all to talk about it on the radio right now. This is the first time I've talked about it. I feel bad it happened. I don't feel bad for him. He got hurt pretty good, I think. Some of the wrestlers that jumped on him landed on me pretty hard by trying to protect me which I appreciate but it's a better left unsaid kind of thing."

Trying to get involved in the action at pro wrestling events will bring both legal and physical consequences, so in any case, it’s always best to stay behind the guardrails. You can also watch the action from the comfort of your own home by streaming WWE content on Peacock.