I think that by now, most folks (children excluded of course) know what pro wrestling is. I hate to use the phrase sports entertainment, but it’s pretty accurate. There was a time when it was treated more like sport than entertainment by pretty much everyone, but in America, those days are mostly long gone. I say mostly not only because there are still companies that prefer to do their storytelling in the ring through matches rather than 20 minute promos and backstage skits, but also because there are still states like Georgia where things like this happen.
The incident occurred around 11 p.m. at the American Wrestling Federation (AWF) arena at 4193 U.S. 41 in Ringgold.
The promotion was putting on its monthly show, when Crowe, a spectator at the event, threatened and attacked long-time wrestler Paul Lee.
Deputies arrived on scene after Crowe allegedly jumped into the ring during the show and pulled a handgun on Lee.
According to Lee and several witnesses, Lee was participating in a match with “Iron Mann,” at which time he tied him up and was hitting him with a chair, reports show.
“I had him tied up and was beating on him, and this lady jumps up with a knife, cuts him loose, and then pulled a loaded gun on me,” Lee said. “She had that thing loaded with one in the chamber and the safety off. All it would have taken was for her to get shaky with that thing and it could have fired.”
Crowe also pointed the gun at the show’s commissioner “Robbie Rude,” reports show.
Lee says the woman has been to shows before and should have known that the incident going on with the other wrestler was part of the show.
“She’s been to several shows over the years off and on, but she was acting like a nut Saturday night,” Lee said.
According to police Cpl. Chris Faulk, Crowe admitted she pulled the gun on Lee because of the banter the two had engaged in.
“Ms. Crowe did indeed pull the gun on Mr. Lee because of the way he’d talked to her,” Faulk said. “She said, ‘he was talking mean to me, and I got mad. I guess I just let my temper get the best of me and I pulled my pistol on him’.”
Lee says he told Crowe “to sit her toothless self back down,” and that she then approached the ring.
And tougher gun laws aren’t necessary because why again?
Patricia Anne Crowe, who I kid you not is 59-years-old, was charged with aggravated assault and reckless conduct. She was released from jail after posting $4000 bond.
This reminded me of an incident from 2009 that saw some other crazy old bastard in Alabama go out to the car to fetch his trusty axe in order to save Mike Jackson from a group of dastardly heels.
From WrestlingObserver.com (On May 9, 2009): Karl Stern noted to us about a riot at a Southeastern Wrestling show last night. There were more than 250 fans at the show and during the Mike Jackson retirement ceremony, he was attacked by heels and the place came unglued. A woman reported a man pulled a knife on her and her husband. Before police could squelch the problem, an elderly man went to his vehicle and came in the arena with an axe to attack the heels. Police confiscated the axe before he attacked the heels. During all this, a woman actually called 911 to request an ambulance for Jackson because of the beatdown.
In a way it’s nice that it’s still possible for wrestlers to stir up this much of a reaction in people, but I’m not so sure about the idea that those people are allowed outside unaccompanied.