Maybe some savvy Hollywood adviser got to Mickey Rourke, but somebody talked the star of The Wrestler out of appearing at WrestleMania 25 in Houston.
Rourke told multiple media outlets that he agreed to face World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Chris Jericho at the April event. The bout seemed a natural publicity stunt for Vince McMahon.
But Wednesday's news brought confirmation that the bout is off. Rourke supposedly wants to devote himself entirely to the spark the recent attention gave his acting career – including a possible spot in Iron Man 2 – and the wrestling match might have made that comeback seem like a fluke.
Rourke and Jericho squared off this week in a TV interview with Larry King (embedded). In the segment, the actor took back his challenge to Jericho. "Perhaps I did put my foot in my mouth," Rourke said.
The actual wrestler said he was offended by Rourke's comments on the red carpet outside the Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony, and said perhaps he would face the actor in a bare-knuckle match.
"You may have respect for me and respect for my world," Jericho said. "I don't have respect for you. I don't."
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