Randy "The Ram" Robinson to face Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania 25

[Broseph]

http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-090122-oscars/ss-090122-oscars-rourke.hmedium.jpg

LOS ANGELES - Mickey Rourke has received critical acclaim for his comeback role in “The Wrestler,” where he plays a former pro wrestling legend who falls on hard times.

And on the red carpet at the 15th Annual SAG Awards on Sunday night in Hollywood, the actor revealed he’s about to get in the ring in real life.

Rourke will be participating in WWE’s “Wrestlemania 25” in Houston on April 5.

“The boys from the WWE called me and asked me to do it,” Rourke told Access Hollywood. “I said, ‘I want to.’ I’m talking with [WWE legend] Rowdy Roddy Piper about it.”

In fact, Rourke, whose role in “The Wrestler” earned him a SAG nomination for Best Actor (as well as an Academy Award nomination and a win at the Golden Globes earlier this month), said the professional wrestling industry has been extremely supportive of his portrayal of the sport.

“The nicest thing has been the whole wrestling community embracing us,” Rourke said on the red carpet. “The movie was about their world.”

And when he does jump into the ring with WWE, it appears the actor may already have his sights set on an opponent.

“Chris Jericho, you better get in shape,” Rourke added. “Because I’m coming after your a**.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28848680/?loc=interstitialskip

Y2J is going to put Mickey Rourke on his highlight reel!

[dell]

I've been reading in the news that stuff like this will certainly diminish his Oscar chances and what happened at the SAGs is a good indication of this. He is on such a high right now so its a shame he would sink low enough go to wrestlemania instead of continuing to ride his acting comeback wave.

[Paranoidandroid]

I'm surprised Rourke is even acknowledged by the WWE, seeing that Vince has seen The Wrestler and apparently "hates it with a passion" (probably because the movie is portraying the industry so accurately). But I guess money talks.

[thechampion116]

I'm surprised Rourke is even acknowledged by the WWE, seeing that Vince has seen The Wrestler and apparently "hates it with a passion" (probably because the movie is portraying the industry so accurately). But I guess money talks.

I agree. It depicts pro-wrestling as real as it gets, right down to the knitty gritty.

I've been reading in the news that stuff like this will certainly diminish his Oscar chances and what happened at the SAGs is a good indication of this. He is on such a high right now so its a shame he would sink low enough go to wrestlemania instead of continuing to ride his acting comeback wave.

Thats why the Oscar ratings have dropped because they refuse to appeal to anything truly mainstream. His chances shouldn't be hurt just because he has decided to do a one-shot prowrestling appearance at the biggest show of the year that makes millions of dollars. Wrestling is a form of acting thus it would be a shame if it does hurt his chances because I truly thought he was the best actor nominated in the category.

If they had even acknowledged The Dark Knight with a nomination, which I truly believe it should have, they would gain millions of more viewers.

Doing wrestling is not a 'low'. Pro-Wrestling is a great form of entertainment just like any drama show except things are solved with fights. Its also a form of acting.

[skeletor]

that's terrible.. anything the WWE touches these days gets ruined..

[Broseph]

I'm surprised Rourke is even acknowledged by the WWE, seeing that Vince has seen The Wrestler and apparently "hates it with a passion" (probably because the movie is portraying the industry so accurately). But I guess money talks.It could not have been that much money. Floyd Mayweather was only paid $2 million last year (not the reported $20 million as portrayed on Raw).

Great so we have another wrestler jobbing to a non-wrestler again at Wrestlemania.

[dragon_drift]

Rourke is 56 though. It's going to be a suckass match. This will probably be a publicity stunt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXS8wrBaiac

[thechampion116]

It could not have been that much money. Floyd Mayweather was only paid $2 million last year (not the reported $20 million as portrayed on Raw).

Great so we have another wrestler jobbing to a non-wrestler again at Wrestlemania.


Rourke will at least get paid 1/2 a mil. Celebs generally make a lot more than most of the wrestlers will in the whole year. Also, 2 million from Mayweather is a lot of money. For Mayweather its not, but for everyone on this site, its a boat load.


Rourke is 56 though. It's going to be a suckass match. This will probably be a publicity stunt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXS8wrBaiac


It can't be that bad especially when Chris Jericho is on the other side. He is one of the best in the industry.

[mdc]

It's not going to happen:

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090128/entertainment/20090128_film_wwe_rourke

HOUSTON - A spokeswoman for actor Mickey Rourke says he won't be taking his role as a professional wrestler into a real-life ring after all.


Paula Woods says Rourke will not wrestle WWE superstar Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania 25 in April at Houston's Reliant Stadium.


Woods wrote in an e-mail that the Oscar-nominated actor will not be participating in Wrestlemania. He is, she said, focusing on his acting career.


Rourke portrays professional wrestler Randy the Ram in the acclaimed movie "The Wrestler."


He made a surprise announcement about the wrestling event Sunday night on the red carpet before the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles.


Rourke had said he was going to toss Jericho around the ring like tossed salad.

[mlc2000]

It was his foray into the ring the first time that completely tanked his career.

[Broseph]

I doubt the fight is off.

Unless it's his agent anything coming from a "spokeswoman" is meaningless.

[TheFuteballer]

It's not going to happen.. they were on Rourke was on Larry King and Larry brought on Chris Jericho and Rourke said he wouldn't find him in wrestling (but maybe in boxing or bare knuckles match).