Update on Big Show’s Russian Flag Incident

The latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has provided an update on Big Show’s Russian flag incident. According to the report, Big Show apologizing for ripping down a Russian flag on “Monday Night Raw” and letting it hit the ground, which is considered a no-no for just about every country in the world, is all merely part of an angle, and that Russian WWE television didn’t even show the events take place.

As previously reported, WWE issued an apology on behalf of the company following the “incident.” They also forced Big Show to apologize on television, banned him from working the Oct. 6 edition of “Monday Night Raw,” and attend “sensitivity training” sessions. All of these “requirements” were simply storyline based and were kayfabe punishments.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter lays out the kayfabe incident and response by saying,

It was very clear from the portrayal on television. It was a deal where, because they do have television in Russia, they may have wanted to soften the blow, but it seemed just as much a storyline excuse to show the segment over-and-over.

However, the incident did make the news in Russia in a small way. It was the first time in many years that something pro wrestling related broke into the news in that country. Also every major news agency covered it, but nobody covered it extensively. Most didn’t even explain that Raw was a scripted television show, and in Russia, very few people have any idea what pro wrestling really is.

A lot of TV news broadcasts covered it but it was more late news on the newscast and not considered a major story. From the public, it wasn’t anything they really understood or cared about, and the news in Russia only broke after the WWE issued the apology. Raw airs in Russia on a five-day delay, so even if it would had been news, it wouldn’t have broken until days after the apology was already issued.

On the Russian version of Raw, they edited the angle off the show. They showed the angle, cut away before he tore down the flag, and jump cut to Show celebrating. You could see the flag on the ground in the background but unless you were looking for it, you wouldn’t notice. In Russia, the commentators put Rusev & Lana over as national stars and babyfaces. So in the country, they did get some publicity out of it, but the fan base is still very small there.”

Anyone worried about WWE’s standing with Russia shouldn’t actually be anxious. The battle between the U.S.-of-A. and the nation ran by Vladimir Putin only exists in fictional wrestling storylines.

Editor’s Note:
Were there some people who ACTUALLY thought Russia was going to bomb the Big Show for pulling that flag down?