WWE Riot 1997: Never-Before-Seen Photos Revealed

On December 15, 1997, what began as a routine WWE house show in Little Rock, Arkansas, became one of the rowdiest crowd incidents in the history of post-territory wrestling. For the first time ever, we present never-before-seen photos and an exclusive eyewitness account from that chaotic night at Barton Coliseum, when 6,000 angry fans turned a wrestling show into pandemonium after thinking they were showing up to a taping of Monday Night Raw, forcing the police to deploy tear gas in a scene few could ever imagine.

Never-before-seen photo showing aftermath of 1997 WWE riot at Little Rock Barton Coliseum with chairs and debris scattered — A fan captures the aftermath of the chaos at a WWF house show in Little Rock, Arkansas, on December 15th, 1997. Previously, this was the only known fan photo from that night.

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Why WWE Fans Started Historic Little Rock Riot at 1997 House Show

Tensions were already high in the Attitude Era, with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Rock battling over the Intercontinental Championship. Yet on December 15, 1997, while Monday Night Raw viewers witnessed Austin tossing the belt into a river (video below), the crowd at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock slowly realized they weren’t at Monday Night Raw at all.

Instead, they got a regular house show, and their disappointment would soon ignite into bedlam.

Disappointment quickly escalated: garbage was thrown, wrestlers were spat on, and warnings echoed through the arena.

The breaking point came when Shawn Michaels told the crowd they’d "lost their main event." The riot that followed became wrestling legend.

Now, through the lens of one fan who attended as a child, we reveal firsthand what truly happened, complete with exclusive photos that capture the mayhem of that night more vividly than ever before.

Bedlam at Barton: First-Hand Account of the 1997 WWE Little Rock Riot

Ryan Henslee poses ringside after 1997 WWE Little Rock riot at Barton Coliseum holding Vader fears Jamie and Ashley sign — Ryan Henslee poses ringside with his family after the 1997 WWE Little Rock riot on December 15, 1997. Photo courtesy of and copyrighted by Ryan Henslee. Not to be shared or reproduced without explicit approval.

The following recollection comes from Ryan Henslee, who attended the WWE house show on December 15, 1997, in Little Rock, Arkansas, as a ten-year-old fan. His images, presented here for the first time, are among the only known visual documentation from inside Barton Coliseum that night.

Wrestling events, whether in a grand stadium or your local high school gym, all share one thing: the fan experience. Grandparents talking about "the good ole days," parents reliving witnessing the sight of their favorites in their prime, or kids beaming with excitement after snagging merchandise or a picture with one of their heroes.

But for me, a ten-year-old in 1997 experiencing my first WWE (then WWF) live event, the memories of seeing favorites or swiping up souvenirs were replaced with steel chairs flying through the air, smoke bellowing from the floor, and all-out unruly chaos inside Barton Coliseum.

The former WWF (World Wrestling Federation) was running white hot in 1997. Becoming more mainstream by the day, it was everywhere you looked. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, D-Generation X, and many others kicked the "Attitude Era" into high gear, providing the crash television I witnessed every Monday.

As a young fan, I couldn’t tell you exactly when I started watching wrestling, but I can definitely say I was raised in the whirlwind that was the ’90s; Monday nights quickly became appointment television. When it was showtime, I’d be there ten minutes early. I would not and could not miss an episode of Raw.

So you can imagine how upset I was when my mom and her boyfriend at the time told my brothers and me that we were packing up the car to go to their friends’ house in Little Rock for a party – on a Monday night. I was so bummed. Little did I know that the "friends’ party" was merely a cover-up.

She had purchased tickets to what we thought was Monday Night Raw as a surprise. Everything was going according to plan until our van broke down on the side of the road.

Mom saved the day when she broke out the crate of wrestling figures she discreetly packed to kill some time. Looking back, we nearly missed this entire event due to car trouble. But we eventually got back on the road and pulled up in a dark area to park, shielding our view of Barton Coliseum. She handed each of us a ticket because we "needed them to get into the party." Focusing in, the ticket revealed where we were really going.

I was speechless. My first live event. I gazed at the ticket like it was a rare diamond I had just found. My excitement built as we heard the rumbling of the crowd and announcements over the speaker system outside the venue.

Photo taken outside Barton Coliseum before the 1997 WWE house show that became a historic riot. Photo courtesy of and copyrighted by Ryan Henslee. Not to be shared or reproduced without explicit approval. — Ryan Henslee with his family holding tickets outside Barton Coliseum before the December 15, 1997 WWE house show that would become wrestling history. His mother surprised him and his brothers with the tickets that day. Photo courtesy of and copyrighted by Ryan Henslee. Not to be shared or reproduced without explicit approval.

We walked through the gate with security who looked not too happy to be working that night, seemingly on edge and a bit pushy. Feeling behind because of our car troubles, we didn’t mind the hurriedness.

We trudged through the crowd, hearing comments like, "What’s taking so long?" and spotting kids just like me, excited to watch the show. We trekked up into the stands and reached our seats. Not a bad view at all: dead center in the upper concourse of Barton Coliseum. Through a child’s eyes, it seemed massive.

We thought the show was already in progress, but it was running behind schedule, and you could sense a hint of tension and irritability in the crowd.

Chainz of D.O.A. seemed to magically appear in the ring for the first match. Perhaps I missed his entrance in my excitement. Then Kane made his entrance, looking every bit as menacing as on television, flanked by Paul Bearer.

Kane and Paul Bearer enter the ring at 1997 WWE Little Rock house show before historic riot — Kane and Paul Bearer enter Barton Coliseum before the WWE riot erupted at the December 15, 1997 Little Rock house show. Photo courtesy of and copyrighted by Ryan Henslee. Not to be shared or reproduced without explicit approval.

Coming down from my shock and awe, I realized there was no titantron set up and no commentary at ringside. It began to dawn on me: this wasn’t Raw but rather a regular house show! But that didn’t bother me; I was witnessing something that consumed my childhood.

As the night progressed, a large number of the reported 6,000 in attendance expressed a different feeling.

While most of the card fell flat, crowd tension continued rising. The Kane and Chainz opener was fairly quick, the Marc Mero and Flash Funk match that followed was mostly a blur marred with boos, and The Godwinns faced The Headbangers in a strap match.

Bits of trash kept finding their way to the ring and onto the wrestlers. At one point, a voice on the speakers asked fans to stop. There was a small hush, but the angst simmered.

The Undertaker Casket Match That Fueled Fan Anger

The Undertaker prepares for casket match against The Rock before 1997 WWE Little Rock riot at Barton Coliseum — The Undertaker prepares for a casket match against The Rock before the December 15, 1997 WWE Little Rock riot was ignited. Photo courtesy of and copyrighted by Ryan Henslee. Not to be shared or reproduced without explicit approval.

The Undertaker and The Rock soon later went at it in a Casket Match, and while many say it was too short, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Two of my favorites, in person.

When the casket closed, the crowd’s emotions cracked wide open. Upset at the match length, it grew louder.

At this point, it became apparent that fans smuggled in alcohol, as beer cans and liquor bottles now flew alongside trash.

As Undertaker headed to the back, fans leaned over and spat on him. Even at my young age, I could tell fans were restless.

Shawn Michaels’ Danny Hodge Ceremony Triggers WWE Crowd

Shawn Michaels holds award before presenting to Danny Hodge at 1997 WWE Little Rock show that became historic riot — Shawn Michaels holds an award before presenting to Danny Hodge at the December 15, 1997 WWE Little Rock show that became a historic riot. Photo courtesy of and copyrighted by Ryan Henslee. Not to be shared or reproduced without explicit approval.

Figuring Undertaker vs. The Rock was the main event, I was confused when Danny Hodge, a legendary amateur wrestling champion and pro wrestling pioneer, was set to receive an in-ring award presented by Shawn Michaels. At the time, as a ten-year-old fan, I didn’t even know who he was.

Shawn Michaels, who every week on television got under fans’ skin, couldn’t calm the crowd.

The ceremony was booed mercilessly, and trash sporadically skipped across the canvas, prompting another warning over the speakers.

Shawn Michaels presents award to Danny Hodge at 1997 WWE Little Rock show that became historic riot — Shawn Michaels presenting an award to Danny Hodge at the December 15, 1997 WWE Little Rock show that became a historic riot. Photo courtesy of and copyrighted by Ryan Henslee. Not to be shared or reproduced without explicit approval.

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DX Cancels Main Event: The Moment WWE Riot Exploded

We have now reached what we thought was the main event. Triple H entered with “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels and Chyna.

In no time, crumpled paper, cans, and random objects began pelting D-X. In the ring, HBK grabbed the mic:

"FOR ALL OF YOU FANS THROWING S*** INSIDE THE RING….YOU JUST LOST YOUR MAIN EVENT!!"

If the alcohol and upset fans were gunpowder and fuse, then Shawn became the blasting cap.

It started with impassioned boos as D-X quickly exited. Beer cans and objects rained down. After minutes of confusion, the announcer declared the show over, and Little Rock, Arkansas’s Barton Coliseum was shrouded with guttural boos and swearing. I even heard my mom yell a few choice words about not getting our full ticket’s worth.

Barton Coliseum Erupts: Chairs Fly as WWE Fans Cause a Riot

Wrestling ring at Barton Coliseum littered with chairs, debris, and trash after the 1997 WWE Little Rock riot. — Post-riot scene in the wrestling ring at Barton Coliseum, with chairs, debris, and trash scattered across the canvas following the 1997 WWE Little Rock riot. Photo courtesy of and copyrighted by Ryan Henslee. Not to be shared without explicit approval.

Trash rained from all directions. Chairs launched into the air, clattering as they stacked in the ring and throughout the crowd.

Smoke rose from the floor. My kid-like imagination envisioned a fire below, but I later read that a security guard’s shirt was ripped off and set ablaze. Some fans fled, others stayed to fight.

From my vantage point on the lower left side, I saw a small group of fans roughing each other up and falling over chairs. Police were called, and some fans left in cuffs.

We sat and watched everything unfold, frozen. We didn’t move.

Although my mom was upset by the scene unfolding in front of us, she realized the danger and kept us in our section for now.

After the 1997 WWE Riot: Rare Photos From Wrestling’s Dark Night

After things calmed and the smoke cleared (literally), we descended steps littered with discarded signs, spilled beverages, and trash that didn’t make the launch.

We asked an officer to snap a ringside photo before leaving. Cautious at first, he agreed. I grabbed a "Vader fears Jamie and Ashley" sign for the picture.

By the time we got out of the venue, the riot subsided, so we snapped a few more photos and headed home.

Ryan Henslee with his mother and brothers standing outside Barton Coliseum following the 1997 WWE Little Rock riot — Ryan Henslee stands with his mother and brothers outside Barton Coliseum after the 1997 WWE Little Rock riot, a night they’ll never forget. Photo courtesy of and copyrighted by Ryan Henslee. Not to be shared without explicit approval.

At ten, I didn’t grasp the significance of that night until years later. Nearly thirty years on (at time of writing), diving into accounts and reliving memories, it’s incredible how this event has become such a big part of wrestling history and lore.

From a personal standpoint, being able to share my experience, as well as my photos, is a very special privilege as a wrestling fan. Thank you, Pro Wrestling Stories, for the opportunity, and thank you to my mom for unknowingly taking me to one of the most unforgettable experiences I’ll cherish forever!

Fans in Attendance Recount Their Experiences of the WWE Riot:

Alongside Ryan Henslee’s vivid childhood account of the December 15, 1997 riot at Barton Coliseum, several other fans have reached out to Pro Wrestling Stories to share their firsthand perspectives, adding further depth and context to that night’s events.

One Reddit user (/u/mgtl) recalled the moment everything tipped over the edge. "We realized we’d stayed too long when a roll of flaming toilet paper came from the second level!"

Legendary wrestling manager Jim Cornette was more blunt about the atmosphere, describing it as "normal night in Little Rock for Mid-South Wrestling, another case of Shawn Michaels causing s***."

Another fan (/u/Lnorsworthy on Reddit) explained how his own family escaped early: "My brother went to this show and remembered it being nuts. He went with one of his friends and his dad. The dad made them leave before it escalated too much."

Shane Dixon, who wrote about his experience on the night of the show, criticized the underwhelming card and recalled the tipping point. "Today, I went to a WWF house show in my hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas. The line-up was not anything near what was advertised, and the matches lasted about three minutes each.”

He continued, “At the end of the night, Hunter Helmsley was supposed to fight Dude Love. However, HBK was hit by a piece of paper and told the crowd we had lost the main event. Everyone waited a couple of minutes to see if DX would return, but the announcer said the card was over.

“At this time, the chaos began: chairs were hurled at the ring, and police were pelted with whiskey bottles. The cops used tear gas to stop the riot. I had never heard so much complaining from fans in my life. I’m not excusing the crowd’s actions, but HBK was not hit with a bottle or even a cup of Coke—just a piece of paper. I heard the same thing happened the night before in Memphis."

Reader Nick Neddles offered a critique of the ceremony itself, saying, "I was there that night. Before the main event, Shawn Michaels made a presentation to Danny Hodge, but fans booed and threw things. I think they should have used a babyface for the ceremony. When DX came out, they started throwing things again. Shawn got on the mic and asked them to stop. They didn’t, so he said, ‘You just lost your [bleeping] main event!’ After that, I left! I don’t blame Shawn—I blame security!"

Reader Landon Wallace remembered the bleachers becoming a battlefield. "I was there that night with four friends. People made signs expecting Raw, so the crowd was angry from the start.”

He went on, “It was a weak show, and as the night progressed, people got angrier and threw things in the ring. When HBK said the show was over, people went nuts.

“We were in the bleachers and saw everything happening. Many folding chairs were thrown, fights broke out, then people started lighting things on fire. We just watched until it was over. When we finally left, we couldn’t get out of the parking lot because one guy cut off another, and they fought. It’s a night I’ll never forget, and I’m glad someone wrote about it."

Together, these accounts transform a routine house show into a living memory, where a ten-year-old’s wide-eyed awe met adult disbelief and an ordinary evening erupted into legend.

Over the years, wrestling has seen its share of memorable nights spiral into riots, and until now, the 1997 Little Rock incident lived on with only a handful of firsthand accounts and that single, grainy photo at the top of this article. Now, with these newly uncovered images and voices, the raw energy of that night pulses more vividly than ever.

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