NewsBite

Sunrise interview with Aussie WWE star descends into chaos: ‘I’m going to punch you’

A recent episode of Seven’s morning show Sunrise was thrown into chaos when a guest snapped over the show “disrespecting” him.

Sunrise interview descends into chaos: ‘I’m going to punch you’

A recent episode of Seven’s morning show Sunrise was thrown into chaos, when a wrestler being interviewed got a little too real for hosts Natalie Barr and Matt Doran.

The pair were interviewing WWE “royalty”, Aussie wrestler Grayson Waller and America’s LA Knight.

The interview started well enough, with wrestling rivals Waller and Knight engaging in some good-natured trash talk about each other.

Watch WWE TV shows and PLEs live via Kayo Sports, Binge and Foxtel. New to Kayo? Start your free trial and get streaming now >

“I’m getting a bit scared here – I’m glad I’m sitting on this side of the couch,” Barr said.

The trash talk continued as the pair discussed YouTuber-turned-wrestler Logan Paul, but the interview really went south when Barr tried to wrap things up by asking the wrestlers if they could “give me one of your signature moves.”

“Can I give you one?” asked a confused Knight, clearly wondering if Sunrise host Natalie Barr was really asking him to body slam her live on national television.

Things went from zero to 100 real quick.
Things went from zero to 100 real quick.

“Well... our floor manager maybe? He’s available,” she pleaded, as both Waller and Knight shook their heads, clearly not keen for an impromptu wrestling match.

As the show’s floor manager walked into shot, fists up and ready to fight, Waller snapped.

“I don’t think you understand – if I come over there right now, we’re going to have the police here, cos I’m not going to give you some fake punch. I’m going to punch you straight in the jaw,” he said, rising from his seat as Doran also leapt up to contain him.

Matt Doran scurries behind the sofa.
Matt Doran scurries behind the sofa.

“The disrespect that you have, even talking to me? You want to talk to me like this ain’t real? Don’t act all tough lad, don’t act all tough,” he fumed, as Doran instructed the crew member to make a quick exit.

Still on his feet, Waller continued ranting about the “disrespect” he’d been subjected to.

“I’m not disrespecting you,” said a cowering Nat Barr.

“Nah, you’re alright, we love you,” Waller said, before the hosts quickly wrapped up the interview.

Nat Barr and Matt Doran seemed rattled after the outburst.
Nat Barr and Matt Doran seemed rattled after the outburst.

“Well … it was certainly something. More in a moment,” said Doran.

Waller’s face – and antics – might be familiar to reality TV fans: He was a controversial contestant on the 2019 season of Australian Survivor, competing under his real name of Matthew Farrelly.

He proved divisive among his fellow contestants and viewers due to his aggressive nature in challenges, with teammate and former AFL player Abby Holmes dubbing him an “actual idiot.” 

But Farrelly, who is also a high school teacher when he’s not wrestling, soon embraced the epithet, selling “ACTUAL IDIOT” T-shirts at his wrestling matches.

“I had a feeling that most of my airtime was probably going to be me yelling and screaming, and I’m OK with that,” he told news.com.au after his elimination from the show.

Originally published as Sunrise interview with Aussie WWE star descends into chaos: ‘I’m going to punch you’

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/more-sports/sunrise-interview-with-aussie-wwe-star-descends-into-chaos-im-going-to-punch-you/news-story/c85edddb34ae1b39eb8919cfd87ee3cf