Chris Jericho Suspended For 30 Days

[RaveHound]

A WWE event in Brazil came to a screeching halt Thursday evening ... when local law enforcement stopped a live match and threatened to arrest Chris Jericho for desecrating the Brazilian flag.

It all went down during a match between Jericho and C.M. Punk -- who was proudly waving the flag in the ring. Jericho took the flag away, crumpled it up and kicked the flag out of the ring ... and that's when police stepped in and put a stop to the event.

We're told Jericho was informed that desecrating the national flag is a crime in Brazil ... punishable by incarceration.

Cops gave Jericho an option -- apologize to the arena ... or go to jail. Chris chose the former ... grabbing the mic and telling the crowd he immediately regretted his actions. Cops allowed the event to continue.

Sources connected to the WWE tell TMZ ... the flag stunt was NOT planned or approved by WWE officials.

The WWE has just released an official statement saying, "Chris Jericho has been suspended indefinitely due to an irresponsible act of denigrating the Brazilian flag at a WWE event in Sao Paulo on May 24. The WWE has apologized to the citizens and the government of Brazil for this incident."

What is it with WWE and attempts at cheap heat going horribly, horribly wrong?

Updated the title as WWE updated on it. He's going to be suspended for 30 days, so he'll very likely miss the PPV unless they make an exception.

[barrettrocks76]

I think that this is a part of the storyline, so that Jericho and his band, Fozzy, can go on tour and hopefully he will come back after the storyline suspension.

[phillygirlmich]

He is still advertised to face Randy Orton at No Way Out so I do not know how this is going to work.

[RaveHound]

May 25, 2012 2:22:58 GMT -5 barrettrocks76 said:

I think that this is a part of the storyline, so that Jericho and his band, Fozzy, can go on tour and hopefully he will come back after the storyline suspension.

That's what I thought when I first heard (as Jericho's got tour dates in the UK in early June), but apparently this is a legit thing. Desecrating the Brazilian flag, as what Jericho was doing was interpreted as, is a very serious crime there. I do expect him back in a couple weeks after everything blows over, though. WWE's been doing a fine job at damage control.

May 25, 2012 10:08:53 GMT -5 phillygirlmich said:

He is still advertised to face Randy Orton at No Way Out so I do not know how this is going to work.

They've got until June 17th to figure out a way around it. Either everything blows over before that and the match proceeds as planned, or they mention the suspension and slot Orton in somewhere else.

SPOILER: Click to show

Sheamus/Del Rio is being booked on tonight's show, so that's the most likely slot for Orton to be put in.

[Mrs.Barrett]

I guarantee you if John Cena or Randy did what Jericho did WWE would not punish them.

[roselyne777]

May 25, 2012 13:05:47 GMT -5 RaveHound said:

May 25, 2012 2:22:58 GMT -5 barrettrocks76 said:

I think that this is a part of the storyline, so that Jericho and his band, Fozzy, can go on tour and hopefully he will come back after the storyline suspension.

That's what I thought when I first heard (as Jericho's got tour dates in the UK in early June), but apparently this is a legit thing. Desecrating the Brazilian flag, as what Jericho was doing was interpreted as, is a very serious crime there. I do expect him back in a couple weeks after everything blows over, though. WWE's been doing a fine job at damage control.

May 25, 2012 10:08:53 GMT -5 phillygirlmich said:

He is still advertised to face Randy Orton at No Way Out so I do not know how this is going to work.

They've got until June 17th to figure out a way around it. Either everything blows over before that and the match proceeds as planned, or they mention the suspension and slot Orton in somewhere else.

Facing Orton, I was thinking: .... Wade?
But after what happened tonight on RAW, I'd rather think: THE MIZ.