Tensions between Canada and the United States spilled into the world of professional wrestling over the weekend when Canadian fans loudly booed the U.S national anthem at WWE’s Elimination Chamber event in response to Donald Trump’s threats to conquer the nation.
The President of the USA has, at great lengths, spoken of his desire to force the nation to become the 51st state in response to a $66bn trade deficit and Showing a lack of respect for his fellow world leader, the 78-year-old Republican billionaire continues to call Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “governor”, derogatorily acting as though Canada is already a state.
So the citizens of the land known for Maple Syrup have made their feelings clear by booing The Star Spangled Banner in NHL and NBA games, and now that has spilled over into the WWE at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
But the controversial moment drew a fiery response from WWE commentator and former NFL player Pat McAfee, who harshly criticized the crowd’s actions despite the disrespectful behavior of the White House.
As American singer Elizabeth Irving took center stage to perform the national anthem ahead of the event, the audience erupted with jeers, and the boos only grew louder as the performance continued, peaking during the line, “And the rocket’s red glare
“This is the most stacked Elimination Chamber that the WWE has ever had,” McAfee said on air via Peacock. “Kinda sucks that it’s in the terrible country of Canada that booed our national anthem to start this entire thing.”
These are the MOST STACKED Elimination Chambers that the WWE has EVER had..
THEY BOOED OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM TO START THIS ENTIRE THING..
BUT IT’S GONNA BE A HISTORIC NIGHT #WWEChamber pic.twitter.com/jy8cAYHftd
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 2, 2025
And Trump’s masterful gambit appears to show a misunderstanding of the political game as he has rescued Trudeau’s ratings and his Liberal Party’s chances of clinging onto power when the 2025 Canadian Federal Election takes place on October 20, 2025.
The Canadian PM held a 16% approval rating as of January 2, but Trump’s aggressive anti-Canadian policies through tariffs and the threats of conquest have seen the 53-year-old leap up to 38%. He’s now ahead of Conservative Party, who are at 36%.
