‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Defends Pat Sajak After Viral Tackle

Get out of here, trolls! The wrestler who Pat Sajak tackled earlier this week on Wheel of Fortune opened up about the viral interaction, saying it’s “unfair” that the longtime host is facing such harsh criticism. 

During Tuesday’s (March 21) episode, Sajak put his wrestling skills to use against big winner Fred Jackson, who works as a professional wrestler, as well as a drama teacher and bar trivia host.

Sajak asked the other two contestants, “Do you want me to body slam him for you? I can do that,” before pinning Jackson down. This shocking move prompted many viewers to take to social media and share their thoughts on the silly interaction.

While chatting with TMZ, Jackson opened up about the internet’s response to the lighthearted stunt. “I loved that moment,” he said.

“Seeing the criticizing that [Sajak] gets online is a little unfair. I was the one who was put in the hold and I was perfectly okay with it,” Jackson continued. 

The wrestler added that he understands if “it’s not your sense of humor” but believes that name-calling and wanting Sajak to retire is “taking it a little too seriously.”

Jackson also confirmed that the encounter was “as organic” as viewers saw it. He described feeling “elated” about his big win before Sajak came from behind to pin him down. The contestant shared that the game show host is “stronger than he looks” and had a “tight” hold on him, but clarified that the interaction didn’t hurt. 

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“He has a much bigger knack for pro wrestling than I think anyone would give him credit for,” Jackson joked. 

In the following Wheel of Fortune episode, Sajak grew impatient with another contestant and snapped at her to “solve the darn puzzle.” However, the situation remained friendly as she went on to guess correctly. The two joked about the interaction later in the segment when the host accused her of pretending to not know the answer to draw the drama out. 

Wheel of Fortune airs on weeknights at 7/6c. Find local listings on the Wheel of Fortune website.