Punchy Rourke Turns Jericho's Lights Off

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posted: 119 DAYS 23 HOURS AGO

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(April 6) - Mickey Rourke made good on his promise to not wrestle at Wrestlemania 25 on Sunday night, but that doesn't mean he didn't get in the ring to mix it up with his "rival" Chris Jericho.

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Before the event, held in Houston this year, the 'Wrestler' star told WWE reporters that contractual obligations were going to be keeping him from sitting on any faces at the much-hyped event. "I'm doing 'Iron Man 2' now, and the insurance company said under no circumstances could I get into the ring," he said.

Well, like any good wrestler does, he was lying. Sorta.

As Jericho was finishing up a match, he saw Rourke in the crowd and began taunting him. The actor took the bait, entered the ring and proceeded to box, not wrestle Jericho into submission. Rourke is, of course, a former boxer so it wasn't hard for him to play the part.

Wrestling icon Ric Flair quickly appeared and raised Rourke's arm in victory.

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Wrestlemania 25 Pics

Actor Mickey Rourke star of the movie "The Wrestler", speaks at a press conference prior to "WrestleMania 25" at the Reliant Stadium on April 5, 2009 in Houston, Texas. "WrestleMania 25" - Inside Houston, TX United States April 5, 2009 Photo by Bob Levey/WireImage.com To license this image (57141602), contact WireImage.com

Bob Levey/WireImage.com

Randy Orton makes his way to the ring for his match with Triple H for the WWE Championship belt at "WrestleMania 25" at the Reliant Stadium on April 5, 2009 in Houston, Texas. "WrestleMania 25" - Inside Houston, TX United States April 5, 2009 Photo by Bob Levey/WireImage.com To license this image (57141817), contact WireImage.com

Bob Levey/WireImage.com

Nicole Scherzinger, lead singer for The Pussycat Dolls performs "America The Beautiful" to begin "WrestleMania 25" at the Reliant Stadium on April 5, 2009 in Houston, Texas. "WrestleMania 25" - Inside Houston, TX United States April 5, 2009 Photo by Bob Levey/WireImage.com To license this image (57141727), contact WireImage.com

Bob Levey/WireImage.com

Nicole Scherzinger, lead singer for the Pussycat Dolls, speaks at a press conference prior to her singing "America The Beautiful" at "WrestleMania 25" at the Reliant Stadium on April 5, 2009 in Houston, Texas. "WrestleMania 25" - Inside Houston, TX United States April 5, 2009 Photo by Bob Levey/WireImage.com To license this image (57141695), contact WireImage.com

Bob Levey/WireImage.com

Nature Boy Ric Flair and actor Mickey Rourke wave to the crowd at "WrestleMania 25" at the Reliant Stadium on April 5, 2009 in Houston, Texas. "WrestleMania 25" - Inside Houston, TX United States April 5, 2009 Photo by Bob Levey/WireImage.com To license this image (57141526), contact WireImage.com

Bob Levey/WireImage.com

EXCLUSIVE *** EXCLUSIVE*** Mickey Rourke, and WWE Chairman Vince McMahon backstage before "WrestleMania 25" at the Reliant Stadium on April 5, 2009 in Houston, Texas. "WrestleMania 25" - Inside Houston, TX United States April 5, 2009 Photo by Bob Levey/WireImage.com To license this image (57141448), contact WireImage.com

Bob Levey/WireImage.com

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair raises the arm of actor Mickey Rourke after he knocked out Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 25 at the Reliant Stadium on April 5, 2009 in Houston, Texas. "WrestleMania 25" - 25th Anniversary Of WrestleMania - Inside Reliant Center Houston, TX United States April 4, 2009 Photo by George Napolitano/FilmMagic.com To license this image (57138770), contact FilmMagic.com

George Napolitano/FilmMagic.com

His appearance actually came as a surprise. PopEater asked Hulk Hogan last week what chances he thought Rourke would be making a cameo at the event. "None if he values his acting career," Hogan said.

Before the event, Rourke explained the feud and did a little bit of trash talking to set up the confrontation ... another time honored tradition in pro wresting.

"Jericho had made a comment that, that wrestler movie he made, that's not my story," Rourke said before the event, according to Access Hollywood. "And he can say all the s*** he wants about my friends Ric Flair, Roddy Piper and Ricky Steamboat -- these guys that he's talking about, I've got a lot of respect for and I've got a lot of love for. They're my friends and I think any one of them on any given night could kick Jericho's a**."

Rourke was nominated for an Oscar for his role in 'The Wrestler,' in which he played a "broken down piece of meat" wrestler named Randy 'The Ram' Robinson.

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2009-04-06 09:09:22

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