WWE

Maybe the WWE realized ... if stealing a $21.14 iPad case is a fireable offense ... there wouldn't be enough wrestlers left for a tag team match -- so they REHIRED Diva Emma 2 hours after canning her.

The wrestling org gave Emma the boot 2 days after she copped a plea to stealing the iPad case from a Connecticut Walmart.

The WWE just said, "Upon further evaluation, WWE has reinstated [Diva Emma] but will take appropriate punitive action for her violation of the law."

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... WWE officials quickly realized they overreacted, because their action would open the floodgates to fire a gaggle of wrestlers for fighting outside the ring, DUI and all sorts of other misdeeds.

It's unclear how Emma will be punished.

iPad case closed.

WWE Diva Emma has got to be kicking herself ... she just lost her prized job over a stupid iPad case she wanted so badly ... she stole it.

Emma was busted Monday by Hartford, CT cops after Walmart security claimed she had just left the store without paying $21.14 for the case.

The WWE acted fast, but didn't prejudge her. Emma already copped a plea and was sentenced to 1 day of community service.

Sometimes when you save money, you don't always live better.

WWE Diva Emma is a real life heel ... arrested for stealing an iPad case from a Walmart.

Emma was busted in Hartford Monday night after Walmart security spotted her swiping a red iHome 'Slim Swivel' iPad Mini case ... on sale for $21.14.

Cops tell TMZ ... Emma was charged with misdemeanor larceny in the 6th degree ... who knew there were that many degrees?

The legal system in Hartford is lightning quick -- she's already been to court and was sentenced to one day of community service.

WWE RAW was at the XL Center in Hartford as the crime went down.

Emma's lawyer chalks it up to an innocent mistake, saying she just forgot to pay while trying to navigate the self-checkout machine.

WWE legend Pat Patterson just revealed that he's been living in the closet for the past 50 years -- and has finally decided to go public about that fact he's a gay man.

The 73-year-old dropped the news on the finale of WWE Network's "Legends' House" ... saying, "For once in my life I'm going to be me now."

Patterson -- who's a WWE exec -- explained that he's been keeping the secret out of the public eye for 5 decades ... and had a partner for roughly 40 years, but he passed away after suffering a heart attack.

Patterson has been Vince McMahon's right hand man for decades ... he also was the company's first Intercontinental champion and helped create the "Royal Rumble."

Dolphin hunters beware ... ex-WWE superstar Brodus Clay has big plans following his release from the company today -- he's headed for Japan to protect dolphins from being captured and killed.

Brodus says he booked a trip to Japan for this summer and plans to protest dolphin hunting. He's been passionate about the cause ever since seeing the Oscar winning documentary, "The Cove".

The Funkasaurus tells us he's bummed about losing his job -- WWE cut a total of 9 wrestlers today -- but he's excited to do some other things -- like acting and writing a book.

Brodus says he's open to any wrestling opportunities he might get in Japan -- but his main focus is "bringing awareness to the cause" of the dolphins.

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross was hospitalized Thursday for mysterious '"stroke-like symptoms" ... but after a few days of extensive testing, doctors were able to pinpoint the source of the legendary announcer's problem.

Ross says he got home from a trip to Vegas Thursday night and wasn't feeling well ... so his wife forced him to go to a nearby hospital in Oklahoma to get checked out.

Doctors ran a battery of tests on the 62-year-old and ultimately determined the symptoms were being caused by meds he had been taking for an unrelated medical issue.

Doctors also informed Ross ... the tests showed he had suffered a minor undiagnosed stroke in the past.

Ross' doctors are confident they fixed the problem -- changed his medication -- and the podcast-host was released from the hospital Saturday evening.

It's the kinda thing that blew up in Dennis Rodman's face -- but WWE Hall of Famer Tony Atlas is throwing his name in the ring for a new wrestling gig ... in North Korea.

The event -- announced Monday -- will be held August in Pyongyang, and although the lineup hasn't been revealed ... Atlas says he'd proudly lace up his boots for a match ... even though he's 70 YEARS OLD!

Tony, aka Mr. USA, sees it as his patriotic duty, telling us ..."If Mr. USA wins his match, the people of North Korea will have freedom from oppression ... and Mr. USA always fights for freedom and righteousness."

We doubt Kim Jong-un sees it that way.

Tony says he's anxious to get a call from event organizer Antonio Inoki ... who fight fans remember for his famous hybrid wrestling/boxing match with Muhammad Ali back in 1976.

They're 5'6" and 125 lbs ... but the WWE's Bella Twins are a helluva lot stronger than they look -- and they've got the numbers to back it up.

TMZ Sports shot Brie (white top) and Nikki (looooow top) out in NYC yesterday when we asked what kind of weight they're pushing around in the gym.

When it comes to deadlifting, Nikki's a beast -- dropping a number that's close to TWICE her own body weight.

It makes sense, considering her BF is John Cena -- who's known for being a beast himself in the gym.

The guy behind the ABC sitcom "The Goldbergs" is a hardcore Ultimate Warrior fan -- which is why he's dedicating an upcoming episode of the show to his childhood hero ... TMZ has learned.

We spoke with creator Adam Goldberg who tells us he was heartbroken when he heard about Warrior's death earlier this month and desperately wanted to pay homage to his idol.

Goldberg says it just so happened his staff was working on an '80s wrestling themed episode -- so it seemed like a perfect fit.

"With the help of fans on Twitter, I was able to get in touch with [Warrior's] family and I'm thrilled to dedicate the May 6th episode to him."

"It's my way of saying thank you for being the coolest hero a kid could ever have."

A WWE referee's thumb was nearly SEVERED from his hand during a bloody incident in Saudi Arabia yesterday ... but it wasn't for stealing a falafel from the market -- he's just a klutz.

Charles Robinson was preparing the ring for a WWE event with other crew members before Friday's show in the Middle East ... when something went terribly wrong and his finger got caught in the turnbuckle.

The result ... a DEEP DEEP GASH that nearly sliced his thumb in half.

Fortunately for the ref, a WWE doc was on standby and managed to quickly stitch him back together again.

But seriously, don't steal falafel in Saudi Arabia ... that hand-cutting thing ain't a myth (proof's on YouTube).

The Ultimate Warrior's wife is finally opening up about the shocking death of her husband -- saying she's heartbroken by his passing ... but says the touching WWE tribute is helping her cope.

Dana A. Warrior just released an emotional letter to her husband's fans ... saying, "It is with an absolutely broken heart I reach out to you."

Dana says she tried to keep her daughters insulated from the news coverage -- but allowed them to watch the WWE tribute on Sunday night.

"As the scene unfolded with that amazing roster of talent gathered donning Ultimate Warrior shirts and even his face paint, we cheered and sobbed simultaneously," Dana wrote.

"To everyone who stood there, thank you. My girls will remember your bowed heads for the rest of their lives."

Dana also touched on the moment Warrior collapsed outside their hotel in Arizona -- saying, "I fought and screamed and cried for him not to leave me, but I wasn't to win this round. Heaven won and I lost."

"But I had the ULTIMATE love for 20 years and my children learned to be Warriors from THE ULTIMATE DAD. I wouldn't trade a moment of the life we shared, good or bad, for anything on God's green earth."

Click here to read the statement in its entirety.

Feel the power of the Ultimate Warrior's trademark rights ... from BEYOND THE GRAVE -- the late wrestler is trying to crush all attempts to make a quick buck off his death.

T-shirts donning Warrior's name and logo popped up all over the Internet last week after he passed ... and now attorneys for Ultimate Creations (Warrior's marketing company) want the imitations scrapped from the net -- citing the wrestler's trademark.

We're told the cease and desist letter -- obtained by TMZ -- has been fired off to more than 100 merchandisers already ... threatening legal action if they don't shut down all sales immediately.

Warrior will also gorilla press slam dead relatives of any knockoff salesmen ... in Heaven.

That's what we imagine, anyway.

The Ultimate Warrior was the most mulleted, most face-painted wrestler to ever step in the squared circle -- so, we're honoring him with a TMZ tribute.

Warning: If you're Arsenio Hall ... don't watch this. Might trigger flashbacks.

The death of the Ultimate Warrior wasn't shocking or unexpected ... it's par for the course with wrestler who abuse their bodies ... so says ESPN host Colin Cowherd.

Cowherd went on his radio show this morning and said pro wrestlers are dying at an alarming rate -- and at a very young age ... and blames it on a culture of drugs and painkillers.

"The story behind the story is ... drugs, painkiller, HGH ... it's the roll of the dice that pro wrestling dudes with limited options not good enough to play pro sports [take]."

Cowherd didn't specifically accuse Warrior of drug abuse -- but said it's something that nearly all wrestlers acknowledge.

Colin went on to compare wrestling to pro baseball -- saying, "You think baseball season is long? There's is double and they don't get 4 at-bats. They're getting batted on all night."

Ultimate Warrior looked like he was on the verge of a medical catastrophe all weekend -- sweaty and stressed, like he was about to "burst at the seams" ... eyewitnesses tell TMZ.

According to sources who were with Warrior this past weekend, the WWE legend looked like he was in constant pain ... sweaty and looked very uncomfortable, like he was choking on his tie. It was apparent to everyone ... something was seriously off.

Another warning sign -- when Warrior did his signature rope shake after his big speech on Monday Night Raw, he looked weak ... and people around him noticed.

One eyewitness put it this way ... "We all felt like he looked like he was going to blow a gasket. It was pretty easy to see."

It makes Warrior's speech on Monday Night Raw even more ominous ... "Every man's heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe a final breath." 24 hours later he was dead.

The Ultimate Warrior "clutched his chest" moments before he collapsed at an Arizona hotel Tuesday afternoon ... this according to law enforcement sources who spoke with witnesses.

TMZ has learned ... Warrior was walking down a hallway at the Gainey Suites Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ and headed toward his car with his wife -- when he stopped, clutched his chest and went down.

We're told Warrior never recovered.

Sources connected to the situation tell us officials believe Warrior suffered a "catastrophic medical event" and so far, we're told there is no evidence to show drugs or alcohol were a factor in his death. All signs point to massive heart attack.

We're told an investigation is underway. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner tells us the autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.