By James Caldwell, Torch columnist

The AP and local Florida news outlets are reporting that at least 40 fans at the Citrus Bowl last night in Orlando were injured during the final fireworks display following The Undertaker's World Hvt. Title victory.

Firefighters on the scene said there was a "fireworks malfunction" that sent hot cables flying into the crowd. At least three people were taken to area hospitals for minor injuries.

WWE has not commented on the incident, and the AP is reporting that phone calls to WWE's public relations department were unsuccessful.

Orlando's Ch. 9 interviewed several of the injured fans. "It felt like a whip. I have a welt on my neck," said victim Barbara Vetere. "Like a baseball bat hit me. It was horrible. Horrible."

Firefighters said they acted as quickly as possible to help injured fans, but Vetere said that wasn't the case. "We had to sit up in the bleachers and wait for a paramedic to come. They didn't really examine us," she said. "And we had to walk all the way down to first aid and had to ask for a bag of ice just to put on our head."

- Ch. 9 story with photos of the fireworks explosion.

***

Caldwell Analysis: First off, I hope the victims of the incident don't suffer serious health complications as a result of the incident. That's a scary situation to have a hot wire touching skin, especially in the excitement of fans screaming and hollering after Undertaker's victory.

As far as WWE is concerned, it's a tough situation when they were just wrapping up a good-to-great PPV when the final fireworks display of the evening went wrong. Now, the AP coverage is on the incident, rather than what WWE would have liked with Mayweather vs. Show or Ric Flair's final match.

Reports were that WWE spent $300,000 on the pyro display for the show. WWE could be looking at more expenses if the victims file a claim against WWE and the pyrotechnics contractor for injuries and emotional distress.

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