Major sporting and entertainment events continue to expose public opinion when it comes to Canada's deteriorating relationship with the USA.
WWE Elimination Chamber: Toronto was the latest event north of the border that began with the home crowd booing the US national anthem, after fans at the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off booed the 'Star-Spangled Banner' in Montreal last month.
The anthem was performed by Elizabeth Irving at Toronto's Rogers Centre to kick off the four-match Elimination Chamber card, and commentator Pat McAfee stoked the fire by having his say amid increasing political friction between Canada and the US administration.
"These are the most stacked Elimination Chambers that the WWE has ever had," said McAfee, never knowingly a shrinking violet.
"Kinda sucks that it's in the terrible country of Canada that booed our national anthem to start this entire thing, but it's gonna be a historic night for the WWE on the road to WrestleMania."
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The stars behind the WWE announce table are as much part of the theatre as those in the ring. McAfee's is hardly the first to get a rise out of a crowd but the language used on this occasion was extremely unwelcome in the circumstances.
The response among fans on social media was predictably mixed, with Canadians protective of their right to exist as a sovereign nation and Americans somewhat more divided on the issue of their anthem serving as a symbolic target for Canada's ire.
Replies to McAfee's post on X revealed the rift.
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"That is so disrespectful of the Anthem. Show some respect Canada!" posted one anonymous user with an NFT profile pic in 2025.
"Why do you act dumb? You know why they booed it. I hate how your 'character' is just being ignorant and continuing your absolute grift," posted another user, cutting right to the quick.
"You think you’d sit respectfully through the anthem of a country who continues to threaten USA’s sovereignty and shows us no respect?" questioned one X user, reminding McAfee that the US administration's relations with Canada isn't really a matter for a professional wrestling work.
"Nah, we have it coming. If the roles were reversed, the US would do the same to them," concluded one fan on X.
Chris Nee