WWE Raw TV taping report
April 15, 2013
Greenville, S.C.
Report by Michael, PWTorch reader

I'm from Australia and attended last night's Raw with my English friend, Dan. I had a "Raw is Generico" sign, which you may have noticed. A lot of people on Twitter loved it, but not WWE. Here's what happened:

Thank you, WWE, for ending my USA trip on such a low note. Last night was the final night of my trip and Dan and I were ending it with a bang. We had third row seats directly opposite the camera, ideal for a couple of guys who love a bit of TV time.

At one point in the night Dan had a couple of his signs confiscated. The explanation was vague, but I assumed it was because he was holding them up too regularly.

We moved on, until WWE decided to flex their muscles. I was watching the Dolph Ziggler vs. Jack Swagger match and before I knew it Dan was being escorted by security. I was dumbfounded, because from what I can recall the most serious crime he might’ve committed at the time was holding up a sign promoting his Twitter handle, which includes the acronym “ROH."

Fans around me were telling me, “Your buddy’s been taken over there near the National Guard people." All I could say was “Why?!” No one had an answer. I could see him begging security for answers.

A segment or two later and it’s time for C.M. Punk’s promo. This was when I was going to hold up the only sign I brought with me – the one which said “Raw is Generico." I held it up 2-3 times within the space of a couple of minutes, and all of a sudden I’ve got a security guard next to me saying “come with me.”

I said, “Why?”

All he said was, “Just do it.”

So, I picked up my stuff and did the walk of shame, being escorted past everyone from the TV-side to the non-TV side. While walking I pleaded for an explanation of what I had done wrong, but the security guard wasn’t saying a word.

I said, “Are you going to speak?”

He replied, “It’s the show. The show doesn’t want you there.”

They took me to an empty seat in a level 100 section of the non-TV side, even though I’d paid over face value for a floor seat directly opposite the camera. I said something like: "Before I sit down, is someone going to tell me what I did wrong?"

One of the security guards said, "It was your sign."

I asked why they couldn't just confiscate it and let me stay in my seat, but he wasn't able to give me an answer. When I got to my seat I had a different security guard tell me: "You're out. They want you out of the building," until he was corrected by one of his colleagues.

There was about half-an-hour remaining in the show and I barely remember a second of it. I basically just sat there staring blankly into the distance or at the big screen waiting for the show to end.

I spent thousands of dollars on this trip, with much of it going into WWE's coffers. I now have no motivation whatsoever to pour another cent into a company that would treat me that way. It was humiliating. It saddens me that I am highly unlikely to be in New Orleans next near - not because I'll miss WrestleMania, but because I'll miss everything else about that weekend, including the people I've been fortunate enough to meet.

New Orleans was meant to be the next opportunity to catch up with these people and others, but I can't see how I can possibly support WWE after last night. We're now planning to organize our own wrestling trip outside of WrestleMania week where we'll try to fit in ROH and TNA.

People mock me for my passion for TNA, but at least I know they won't treat me like I was treated at last night's Raw. My trip started with TNA Lockdown, and I felt like such a part of that whole weekend. It was the highest of highs, but, sadly, my trip has now ended with the lowest of lows. For that, I once again say thank you, WWE.

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