It sounds like Titus O’Neil was the real loser of Daniel Bryan’s retirement ceremony.
O’Neil has been suspended for unprofessional conduct, according to PW Insider. The superstar reportedly was sent home Tuesday from WWE’s “Smackdown” tapings in Portland, Oregon, and the suspension apparently stems from an incident involving WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon at the conclusion of Monday night’s episode of “RAW.”
Bryan, whose real name is Bryan Danielson, announced his retirement from professional wrestling Monday, prompting a ceremony in which WWE superstars and staff members gathered at the top of the ramp leading down to the ring. As the assembled WWE personnel returned backstage following the ceremony, O’Neil appeared to playfully grab McMahon’s arm. The move — seen in the video below — seemed harmless, but McMahon reportedly was angry and that led to the suspension.
The word, according to PW Insider, is that O’Neil could be suspended for “upwards of 90 days,” meaning his status for WrestleMania 32 is in jeopardy.
Of course, there was no guarantee that O’Neal would be on the WrestleMania card, anyway, seeing as how he’s a mid-card wrestler. But O’Neil has been lauded in the past for his charity work, so he undoubtedly would have played a major role in the festivities leading up to The Show of Shows.
O’Neil, 39, signed with WWE in 2009.
Thumbnail photo via YouTube screengrab
