• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
WWE star fired after 'disrespecting' US national anthem during live broadcast

Home> Wrestling> WWE

Published 12:07 25 Feb 2025 GMT

WWE star fired after 'disrespecting' US national anthem during live broadcast

A WWE star fired for cutting short the national anthem "understood fully" why there was so much anger at his decision

Ryan Baldi

Ryan Baldi

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images

Topics: WWE, Wrestling

Ryan Baldi
Ryan Baldi

Advert

Advert

Advert

Northern Irish wrestler Fit Finaly enjoyed a stellar career in the world's biggest wrestling promotions in the 1990s and 2000s. But when he was fired by the WWE in 2011, it wasn't because of anything that happened in the ring.

Born in County Antrim, Finaly – real name David John Finlay – found stardom in the United States in the mid-1990s, signing with WCW in 1996 at a time when the Georgia-based promotion was winning the "Monday Night Wars" for television ratings with the WWE.

He originally went by the ring name the Belfast Bruiser, before becoming Fit Finlay in 1997 after an injury layoff.

Advert

Finlay was a Hardcore and Television Championship winner with WCW before joining the WWE in 2001 when Vince McMahon's company acquired its greatest rival

Norther Irish wrestler Finlay in action during his time with the WWE (Getty)
Norther Irish wrestler Finlay in action during his time with the WWE (Getty)

In the WWE, Finlay became a one-time United States champion and was involved in several high-profile storylines. But he also became a trusted figure behind the scenes, working as a trainer and producer.

And it was during a house show – a non-broadcast event – that he was overseeing that he made a faux pas that led to him being fired.

Advert

“I was given a lot of leeway and a lot of power in WWE, and that comes with a lot of responsibility," Finlay told The Sun. "I made a call that caused a storm and I paid for it.

“They play the American national anthem over here before every event. We had Miz going out first and, because it was just before WrestleMania, we were trying to get as much heat on him as possible.

“So my spur-of-the-moment call, as I sat right by the technician, was to tell him to hit Miz’s music while they were half-way through the national anthem.

“Of course, people were up in arms about it, but it was a good reaction as a heel. But there were National Guard people in the building that took exception to it, and I understand that fully.

Advert

“It wasn’t intended to insult anybody in that way, it was just part of an entertaining show. That’s what we do, we entertain, it’s about cheers and boos.”

Despite being let go over the incident, Finlay returned to the WWE the following year and he still works for the company as a producer.

Choose your content:

a day ago
3 days ago
4 days ago
  • a day ago

    WWE writer pitched idea so offensive that Vince McMahon immediately left the room

    The former WWE writer thought he was onto a winner with the character creation but he was without a job months later.

    Wrestling
  • a day ago

    John Cena stepped in to pay WWE superstars' $100,000 fine after they went completely off-script during live broadcast

    The WWE icon performed a selfless act for some of his lesser-known peers.

    Wrestling
  • 3 days ago

    WWE superstar who was fired bought tickets as a fan to gatecrash event on live TV

    He was thrown out by security after gatecrashing a Survivor Series event.

    Wrestling
  • 4 days ago

    WWE were banned from location for filming disrespectful act that left general public furious

    WWE filmed a number of segments at the location but were never invited back after the controversy.

    Wrestling
  • John Cena stepped in to pay WWE superstars' $100,000 fine after they went completely off-script during live broadcast
  • WWE superstar who was fired bought tickets as a fan to gatecrash event on live TV
  • WWE forced to cut live broadcast after superstar suffers wardrobe malfunction in the ring
  • WWE were banned from location for filming disrespectful act that left general public furious