On a typical night, Brody King’s quick victory over AEW World Champion MJF in less than two minutes would have been the main highlight of AEW Dynamite. However, the attention was drawn away by an intense “F**K ICE” chant from the Las Vegas crowd aimed at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement just before the match began. This chant triggered a significant reaction from MJF, which continued until referee Bryce Remsburg finally rang the bell.
It was later revealed that Remsburg deliberately delayed ringing the bell to allow the chant more time to be heard. Early Thursday, Remsburg commented on a clip of the chant shared on social media, humorously admitting, “Maybe the referee waited for the bell to ring so it would ring longer. Oh no, oops.”
Remsburg was the first to admit his role in emphasizing the chant, but he wasn’t alone. AEW commentator Tony Schiavone stopped talking once the chant started and remained silent alongside fellow commentator Excalibur until the chant ended. Notably, there was no apparent attempt to bleep or censor the profanity, despite such language typically being common but sometimes moderated during wrestling shows.
The “F**k ICE” chant reflects growing public criticism of the agency, particularly after the deaths of two civilians by ICE agents in Minnesota last month. Recently, WWE star Becky Lynch subtly condemned the agency in an Instagram video, while ex-WWE NXT GM Eva openly criticized both ICE and the Trump administration. Brody King himself has been a vocal opponent of ICE, having worn an “Abolish ICE” shirt at last year’s AEW Grand Slam in Mexico City and raising funds for Minnesota families impacted by ICE actions.
Fan Take: This incident shows AEW’s willingness to engage with real-world issues, setting it apart in the wrestling world. For fans, it signals a promotion unafraid to address controversial topics, potentially shaping the future of how wrestling intersects with social and political commentary.
