The Associated Press

‘Over-Exuberant' Fan Crashes WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony for Bret Hart, Hauled Off by Police

Bret "The Hitman" Hart was being inducted to the WWE's hall of fame at Barclays Center

What to Know

  • Wrestler Bret "The Hitman" Hart was tackled by a fan during a Hall of Fame induction ceremony Saturday night
  • The WWE described the fan as "over-exuberant" and said authorities had him in custody
  • The man faces criminal charges for the attack, authorities said

Wrestler Bret "The Hitman" Hart was tackled by a spectator Saturday while he was giving a speech during the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The attacker was promptly subdued by several people, including other wrestlers, who came to Hart's defense. Hart, 61, is OK.

The person ran toward the ring from the crowd, spectator Alan Fisher told The Associated Press.

"I couldn't believe that the security had missed him in the first place and the next thing you know there was Shane McMahon and Travis Brown on top of him the crowd was going crazy booing," Fisher said. "Everyone was cheering when one of the wrestlers punched him."

"An over-exuberant fan surpassed our security at ringside and made his way briefly into the ring. The individual has been turned over to the proper authorities," the organization said in a statement.

Police arrested 26-year-old Zachary Madsen, of Lincoln, Nebraska. He faces assault and criminal trespass charges. An email to the district attorney seeking someone who could comment on Madsen's behalf wasn't immediately answered.

Several shocked onlookers posted footage of the tackle online.

The induction event resumed, with Hart continuing his speech after the fan was taken into custody.

"He should have never attacked Bret Hart especially at such a special moment in his life," Fisher said.

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