David Arquette fires back after wrestling fans slam his involvement in upcoming event: 'I'm not some stuck up punk'
One month after his bloody “death match,” David Arquette revealed that he’s entering the ring again — and not everyone is happy about it.
On Monday, the National Wrestling Alliance, or NWA, announced that the actor-turned-wrestler will be taking part in the “New Year’s Clash” event on Jan. 5 in Tennessee. Fans took to Twitter to declare “the NWA resurgence” dead after hearing of Arquette’s involvement.
And with that…The NWA resurgence dies as suddenly as it started.
— Buford Wilson (@BTBufordK) December 18, 2018
I just lost all interest in this.
— GMatt (@GMatt1024) December 18, 2018
Plenty of more deserving talent that could use the exposure….
— Boston Tony (@TonyMcgill14) December 18, 2018
@nwa legitimacy just died. Thought we’d finally get a legit old school wrestling promotion to follow. Yes I traveled 5 hrs to #nwa70 and had high hopes
— SmittytheMan (@teamsmitty5) December 18, 2018
This is yuck to me but I’ll give you the benefit of doubt and hope it plays out well
— Beadie (@beatle82) December 18, 2018
Well, the Scream star caught wind of many of the negative reactions and fired back Tuesday, tweeting, “I love all the hate I’m getting here.”
Stiffed by promoters, helping shine a light on talent I believe in that aren’t getting recognized, doing little things I won’t mention to give back to both wrestling and individual wrestlers and I’m the asshole? Wrestling is for the people and by the people…
— David Arquette (@DavidArquette) December 18, 2018
Arquette added, “I may have grown up in Hollywood but I’m not some stuck up punk,” and said that he’s “done” apologizing.
Problem with me I’ll see you in Tennessee or wherever I’m wrestling and we can settle it like men.
— David Arquette (@DavidArquette) December 18, 2018
In November, Arquette — who became the WCW World Heavyweight Champion in 2000 to promote his wrestling movie Ready to Rumble — made headlines after fighting Combat Zone Wrestling World heavyweight champion Nick Gage. He was hospitalized for an infection stemming from a deep cut in his neck after Gage smacked him with a light-bulb tube.
“I knew it was violent and potentially bloody, but I truly did not know the extent of what I was participating in,” Arquette later said on Twitter. “However, I take responsibility for putting myself in that situation.”
The main reason I got injured was because of my lack of experience – don’t try this at home pic.twitter.com/icQK2wnQNc
— David Arquette (@DavidArquette) November 19, 2018
“I’m lucky to be alive,” Arquette later told People. “If I had been cut in the jugular, I probably wouldn’t be here right now.”
The father of three said he took up wrestling again because he was sick of people “criticizing” him.
“Eighteen years ago, I won a WCW World Heavyweight Belt,” Arquette reflected to the magazine. “But that win was a big disgrace to the belt and the wrestling community and ever since people have been criticizing me. I really wanted to prove myself and stand up for myself. I was sick of being bullied and for people thinking I’m just some punk from Hollywood. …
“I didn’t know the extent of how hardcore those things are. I was in over my head for sure,” he added, vowing to never do a “death match” again. “I’m really lucky. … But I love wrestling and I will do it again.”
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