KEY POINTS

  • The Miz joins the pro wrestling world in calling for a lifetime ban on "Hannibal" Devon Nicholson
  • Nicholson viciously attacked referee Lando Deltoro with a spike that ruptured an artery in his head
  • Deltoro has recovered from his injuries as onlookers continue to call out Nicholson for his actions

The Miz is among many pro wrestlers, observers and fans who are calling for a ban of “Hannibal” Devon Nicholson from the industry after a violent in-ring incident involving the veteran.

TMZ Sports caught up with the decorated WWE superstar at Los Angeles International Airport, showed him the video, and asked for his thoughts on the matter.

Miz, who was alongside his wife Maryse, looked away in disgust when the reporter played the video of the incident.

The TMZ reporter also asked “The A-Lister” whether they had safe words in wrestling that signal to the other competitor that they were doing way too much, which Miz said they had none.

“That didn’t look like a mistake. Accidents happen, but I don’t get stabbed with like a knife or whatever the hell the guy had,” Miz outright said, while also saying that he wanted a ban on Nicholson from the sport.

The 39-year-old pro wrestling veteran was having a match with former WWE superstar Carlito under the promotion World Class Pro Wrestling when he went off-script and attacked referee Lando Deltoro with an iron spike and repeatedly stabbed him with it, causing a torn artery in his head that left Deltoro hospitalized for a few days before being released.

YouTube user Infinite Pro Wrestling uploaded a video of the incident to their channel, but viewer discretion is advised due to the violent nature of the attack.

English pro wrestling standout Will Ospreay also shared his thoughts on the incident via Twitter.

“I hate cancel culture more than anyone. But when another person’s life is in danger there should be no question. The business is about trust and at times can be the Wild West, but once that trust is abused, it cannot be repaired. Unacceptable,” Ospreay wrote.

Nicholson, then working the match with Carlito under the ring name “Blood Hunter," came out with a statement in his defense.

“He gave no indication to me–and you people can watch the footage–zero indication to me in the ring that he wasn’t just selling and was legitimately hurt,” Nicholson said on his now-deleted YouTube video as quoted by Metro.

According to Reddit user DalbyFM, who used to be Nicholson’s in-ring manager for a match in Alberta, Canada, the Deltoro incident was not the first time that the wrestler went completely off-script.

The violent nature of the Deltoro incident and the repeated instances of Nicholson’s apparent willingness to go off-script may have just secured him a spot on the list of wrestlers to never be featured in a wrestling event ever again.

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