WWE

9:08 AM PT -- Chris just issued a statement to TMZ Sports saying, "David Z was a good friend of mine and I was mentally and emotionally shattered after paying tribute to him and essentially saying goodbye to him Friday night."

"I was not in a good state of mind at that time and instead of ignoring a pushy (aka rude) fan which is what I would usually do, I snapped. My apologies to all involved and God bless David Z."

Chris Jericho just added another name to his list.

The WWE superstar got into a heated shouting match with another man after an event in NYC on Friday night -- with the two cussing each other out right on the street ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

It all went down outside Irving Plaza, where Jericho had just appeared at a tribute show for musician David Z, who was killed in a recent bus accident.

Witnesses tell us multiple people approached Jericho outside the venue asking for pics and autographs -- and while he obliged at first, Y2J started to get frustrated and began to turn people down.

That's when our video begins -- you can see Jericho and a guy who said he was a fan yelling at each other.

The fan said he was just trying to congratulate Jericho on a recent WWE match -- but Chris wasn't having it and told the guy, "F*ck your ass."

More cussing ensued -- and as the fan walks away, you can hear Jericho tell his friend, "These guys are f*cking pussies."

With The Rock revealing that he considered a UFC career roughly 10 years ago, we wanted to know which WWE superstars have the chops to compete in a REAL mixed martial arts fight.

For the answer ... we went right to the Nature Boy Ric Flair -- who didn't even hesitate when he fired out one name, Kurt Angle.

He's probably right ... Angle famously won an Olympic gold medal for freestyle wrestling at the '96 Games after he took 1st place at the world wrestling championships in '95.

Accomplished wrestlers tend to do pretty damn well in the UFC ... Cormier, Lesnar, Jones and Velasquez to name a few.

Still, we were talking this out in the office and could all agree on one pro wrestler we woulda loved to see in the Octagon -- Andre the Giant.

A helicopter carrying Shane McMahon -- son of Vince -- crashed off the coast of Long Island Wednesday after the engine failed, but the WWE exec escaped unscathed.

FAA sources tell TMZ Sports the Robinson R-44 chopper -- with McMahon and a pilot onboard -- conducted an emergency landing after an the malfunction.

Shortly before ending up in the Atlantic, the chopper departed Westchester airport in NY.

We're told the pilot issued a mayday call prior to the crash landing. Once in the water, emergency crews responded and rescued the men.

McMahon, 47, is the Commissioner of "SmackDown LIVE."

The FAA is investigating the crash.

What's more badass than an Andre the Giant statue?

This silicone sculpture of the pro wrestling icon ... which looks so much like Andre we can't believe it ... ain't really him.

It took special effects artist Trent Taft months to put this thing together ... but we gotta say, dude NAILED it.

Down to every last hair (which Taft put in strand by strand, BTW), this epic tribute to the WWE Hall of Famer puts Madame Tussauds' wax celebs to shame.

Here's a couple more shots of Andre the Sculpture -- including one of the original head cast that will haunt your dreams.

If Ronda Rousey is serious about pro wrestling -- she's already got 2 big names willing to team up for a tag team match ... the daughters of Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper!

Brooke Hogan and Ariel Teal Toombs (real-life friends, btw) were out at Skybar in L.A. over the weekend when they made their pitch to the UFC icon.

FYI, Ronda was spotted at WWE's Mae Young Classic event last week and there are rumors she could join Vince McMahon's family business.

Brooke and Ariel are all about it. Your move, Ms. Rousey.

1:07 PM PT -- Alberto's fiancee, Paige, is denying Alberto got physical with her and says the whole situation involved a 3rd party ... a female bystander who tried to take a picture.

"WE got the cops involved," Paige tweeted ... explaining, "I'm crying cuz I found out bad fam news & a lady tries take a pic. She gets angry throws a drink on [Alberto Del Rio]"

Paige continued, "Please leave us alone. That's it."

Wrestling superstar Alberto Del Rio -- aka Alberto El Patron -- is being investigated for an alleged domestic violence incident at a Florida airport ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We're told the Orlando PD was contacted around 3 PM on Sunday after Alberto -- real name Jose Rodriguez -- allegedly roughed up a female companion.

We spoke with witnesses who tell us Alberto and the woman were arguing in the terminal and when things escalated, cops were called.

As one witness put it, "There was an altercation."

Our law enforcement sources tell us Alberto has NOT been arrested and no charges have been filed -- investigators are still gathering information.

Cops would not confirm the name of the alleged victim. However, Alberto has been in a real-life relationship with WWE superstar Paige for a while and witnesses say she was at the airport with Alberto that day.

We reached out to Alberto's camp for comment -- so far, no word back.

Word to the wise ... if you see Jessie "Mr. PEC-Tacular" Godderz on the streets, DON'T challenge him to a thumb wrestling match, or your butthole might just pay the price.

Our TMZ camera guy learned that the hard way in Manhattan, when he faced off against the jacked "Big Brother" legend in a battle of opposables ... and LOST.

What was on the line? Loser gets a wedgie.

Well, our guy lost ... and the punishment was so bad, Jessie literally ripped the photog's undies as he pulled 'em over his head.

Smith Hart -- the oldest sibling of the Hart wrestling family, and brother to Bret Hart -- has died after a battle with cancer.

Former WWE wrestler David Hart Smith -- Smith's nephew -- posted a message Sunday saying his uncle had died. Smith's own Facebook page posted a message as well confirming his death.

Smith was the oldest of 12 in the Hart wrestling family, and appeared in WrestleMania 26 alongside his younger brother, Bret ... who wrestled Vince McMahon in 2010. Smith wrestled professionally through the '70s, '80s and '90s, and made appearances on WWF and WWE.

Smith was apparently foreshadowing his death for a while now. He posted a pic of himself at his younger brother Owen's grave site ... with the caption "Thought I'd visit with Owen today. I'll see you soon brother." Owen died tragically in 1999 during a WWF pay-per-view event due to an equipment malfunction.

Smith has been in the hospital fighting terminal cancer since at least June of this year.

He was 68.

10:41 AM PT -- CNN released a statement saying ... "It is a sad day when the President of the United States encourages violence against reporters. Clearly, Sarah Huckabee Sanders lied when she said the President had never done so." They go on to say he should stick to doing his job ... instead of attacking their network.

Donald Trump went ham on Twitter Sunday, posting a video of himself at Wrestlemania 23 where he beat up Vince McMahon, but this time he superimposed CNN as the recipient of his fake violence.

What can we say ... he is a President obsessed with cable news beyond reason.

What's especially troublesome ... everyone knows wrestling is fake, but the images look real, and the message is clear ... he's determined to pound the life out of CNN.

Does Big Show think Dave Bautista has what it takes to rival The Rock as the biggest actor in Hollywood??

"WWE Tough Enough 3" winner Matt Cappotelli says he's undergoing emergency brain surgery on Thursday after doctors found a "very large tumor" in his brain.

Cappotelli was diagnosed with a tumor in 2005 -- just a couple years after winning a WWE contract in the reality TV competition. His big break was coming ... but surgery forced him into retirement at age 27.

Everything seemed to be going well ... until the tumor returned.

"Waiting to be taken for my MRI and get prepared for my second brain surgery tomorrow," Cappotelli said in a statement Wednesday on his wife's Facebook page.

"Just found out the tumor that I had removed 10 years ago has come back much more aggressively and needs to be dealt with."

"It's a very large tumor and there is a portion that is inoperable."

"The portion that they're hoping to remove will be sent for pathology, which will determine what exactly we are dealing with and provide insight on future treatment plans and the next steps for the inoperable portion in my brain stem #John9:1-3."

Cappotelli was a tough S.O.B. on the reality show -- taking a beating from wrestling legend Bob "Hardcore" Holly ... and still coming back to win the show.

We rooted for him then. Rooting harder now.

LaVar Ball is already making the right impression on his son's new boss -- with Jeanie Buss telling TMZ Sports the Big Baller did a "terrific job" on WWE's 'Monday Night Raw.'

The Lakers owner was leaving Craig's in West Hollywood when she dished out praise for Lonzo Ball and his dad ... and credited Magic Johnson for bringing the family on board.

"I have complete confidence that Magic Johnson has put together the pieces that we need."

She added, "Him and Rob Pelinka, our general manager, have really REALLY re-energized the roster."

The praise continued ... "Our coach, Luke Walton, is a coach that understands the modern NBA and I'm just looking forward to summer league which starts next Monday in Las Vegas!"

We also asked about her ex-boyfriend, Phil Jackson, and his situation in NY -- but Jeanie wasn't havin' it.

WWE star David Otunga says he was so blown away by LaVar Ball's shirtless antics on Monday Night Raw ... he wants to wrestle him ... and he's asking Vince McMahon to make it happen!

We spoke with the Raw commentator about LaVar's wrestling debut ... and Otunga says it was the most entertaining part of the night, even if he went "off the rails."

Otunga hopes Ball gets invited back ... saying he'd dust off his spandex for a shot at LaVar ... if Vince gave him the green light.

Otunga -- who's engaged to Jennifer Hudson -- also talked to us about a movie he made with his son for Father's Day ... and it's safe to say David Jr. takes after his star parents.

LaVar Ball got a major stamp of approval from one of the biggest celebrity WWE super fans on the planet, Wale -- who tells TMZ Sports the Big Baller "f**king killed it" on 'Raw.'

Here's the deal ... Wale is such a huge wrestling fan, he once socked a dude in the FACE at a live event back in 2014. He takes this stuff seriously.

So, with some people tearing LaVar apart for his crazy topless cameo -- the rapper went to bat for the leader of the BBB ... saying he straight-up LOVED IT.

That said ... Wale says LaVar has limits when it comes to his career in the squared circle.

LaVar Ball got really into his appearance at WWE Raw ... seeing how he took off his shirt and flexed for all of America Monday night.

LaVar was facing off against The Miz in the ring, and as soon as the wrestler mentioned he was the Michael Jordan of WWE ... LaVar was up and shouting. Nothing like a little MJ talk to get the Mr. Ball rolling.

At first, he tries to get his son, LaMelo, to handle the situation -- but Miz gets right in his face for some classic trash talk. Then Miz loses his shirt ... and LaVar does the same.

It's official: The WWE is about to get body slammed by the Big Baller family.

LaVar Ball -- rockin' a fresh Triple-B tee -- was photographed backstage with WWE superstar Titus O'Neil at Staples Center ... confirming a ProWrestlingSheet report that Vince McMahon and co. had been recruiting the Ball fam for Monday Night Raw in L.A.

WWE announced that both Lavar and Lonzo would be guests on "Miz TV" ... a bit hosted by WWE intercontinental champ The Miz.

The Balls might not be the only stars in attendance ... there have also been rumors that Stone Cold Steve Austin could make a cameo.

Watch out for the stunner, LaVar!