
Wayne Rooney theatrically slapped a brash 6ft 7in WWE superstar in front of thousands of fans during a ringside stand-off last night.

The Manchester United and England captain hit Briton Wade Barrett at the Manchester Arena after the wrestler trash-talked him.

Rooney, 30, was sat in the front row with his son Kai, six, last night when Lancashire-born Barrett grabbed the microphone and said: 'In this ring are two men who can be easily be described as championship material.

'Which is, of course, is more than can be said of Wayne Rooney and Manchester United.'

Footage shows the professional wrestler and former bare-knuckle boxer climbing down to confront Rooney before the footballer knocked him down in a theatrical climax to the mock battle, resulting in huge cheers from the crowd.

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Wayne Rooney lands a theatrical slap on Wade Barrett after being called out by the wrestler at WWE RAW in Manchester

Shouting match: Rooney points his finger at Barrett and fellow WWE star Sheamus, right, who was part of the skit

Excitement: Wayne Rooney was part of WWE's RAW live show from Manchester. His son Kai can be seen bottom right

WWE SHOWDOWN: WADE V WAYNE Wade Barrett Nickname: King Barrett Born: Penwortham, Lancashire Age: 35 Height: 6ft 7in Weight: 17.5 st Signature move: Bull Hammer Elbow Career highlights: NXT Season One winner; Intercontinental Champion; 2015 King of the Ring Wayne Rooney Nickname: Wazza Born: Croxteth, Liverpool Age: 30 Height: 5ft 9in Weight: 13.1 st Signature move: Long-range thunderbolts Career highlights: Five times Premier League winner, 2007-08 Champions League winner Advertisement

Last night's fight was a culmination of a previous row between the pair on Twitter, dating back to last February when Barrett, whose real name is Stu Bennett, accused Rooney for diving during a FA Cup clash against his beloved Preston North End.

The Manchester United and England captain attended the Raw show along with Old Trafford assistant manager Ryan Giggs and former team-mate, now at West Bromwich Albion, Darren Fletcher.

The trio were pictured backstage before the event, smiling alongside former World Wrestling Entertainment champion John Bradfield Layfield.

But things soon turned 'heated' for Rooney as he arrived at his ringside seats with his six-year-old son, Kai.

After spotting the record England goalscorer in the front row, Manchester-wrestler Wade Barrett attempted to humiliate the 30-year-old striker on the microphone.

Behemoth Barrett, 35, goaded the England international, saying: 'In this ring are two men who can be easily be described as championship material. Which is, of course, more than can be said of Wayne Rooney and Manchester United.'

Barrett then made his insult personal as he made reference to Rooney's eldest son.

He sneered: 'I'd hate for your little boy to sit there and watch his own father fail. Because let's face it, he gets to experience that every single time you step on a football pitch.'

The rant prompted Rooney to rise from his chair and challenge the one-time bare knuckle boxer Barrett to a fight. And moments later the pair came to blows with Rooney landing a thumping slap across the wrestler's face.

The frenzied Manchester crowd chanted Rooney's name as the striker's blow left Barrett sprawling on the floor. The incident - true to professional wrestling - was of course scripted and England skipper Rooney 'revelled' his role.

Afterwards, Barrett tweeted: 'I'm heading to Old Trafford early tomorrow morning. I hope @WayneRooney has the guts to meet me there.' He then added: 'Does anyone have Phil Bardsley's phone number?'

Trash talk: Barrett goaded the England star, saying 'I'd hate for your little boy to sit there and watch his own father fail'

Gesture: But Rooney refuses to accept the wrestler's words, beckoning him to come and meet him by the side of the ring

Confrontation: Rooney may have initially regretted his stance, as 6ft 7in Barrett jumped down from the ring to speak with him

Slap attack: Rooney responds to being goaded by slapping Barrett, as son Kai watches on (centre) and fans cheer

A WWE source, speaking to Sportsmail, said: 'It was brilliant. Wayne was in great spirits before the event and he happily agreed to take part in the stunt with Wade Barrett. The fans absolutely loved it and I'm sure his son Kai would have enjoyed it too.'

Rooney, of course, is no stranger to 'pretend' fighting after a video of him apparently being knocked out by Phil Bardsley went viral in March.

'How about that @WayneRooney dive vs @PNEFC?' Wade tweeted at the time to his legion of over one million followers.

Friends: Rooney poses with former team-mates Ryan Giggs (2nd left) and Darren Fletcher (right) and ex-WWE star John Bradshaw Layfield

Rooney tweeted this image of the United contingent with wrestling legend Ric Flair

The United striker, with Fletcher and Giggs, also met Triple H - Hunter Hearst Helmsley to his nearest and dearest

Barrett has previous with Rooney after accusing the striker of diving to win a penalty against his team Preston in last year's FA Cup

England striker Rooney smiles as he poses with his young son Kai on his Instagram account earlier on Monday

'He won't need to dive when I catch up with him. #BullHammer #BNB.'

Rooney attempted to diffuse the situation by claiming he would bring in WWE Heavyweight Champion 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin to help him out, saying: '@WadeBarrett ill get stone cold Steve Austin out of retirement for you. Haha'.

How about that @WayneRooney dive vs @PNEFC? He won't need to dive when I catch up with him.. #BullHammer #BNB — Stu Bennett (@StuBennett) February 17, 2015

@WadeBarrett ill get stone cold Steve Austin out of retirement for you. Haha — Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) February 17, 2015

.@WayneRooney you and @steveaustinBSR Vs me and @Kevin__Davies at Wrestlemania in 6 weeks. Get it booked @VinceMcMahon. — Stu Bennett (@StuBennett) February 17, 2015

@steveaustinBSR that's the bottom line. Cause stone cold said so — Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) February 18, 2015

I'm heading to Old Trafford early tomorrow morning. I hope @WayneRooney has the guts to meet me there. @ManUtd @WWE https://t.co/AkYs7LedXK — Stu Bennett (@StuBennett) November 10, 2015

Does anyone have Phil Bardsley's phone number? — Stu Bennett (@StuBennett) November 10, 2015

In true WWE fashion, CEO Vince McMahon then offered to stage a tag team bout with Rooney and Austin taking on Barrett and, now retired Preston striker, Kevin Davies.

'.@WayneRooney you and @steveaustinBSR Vs me and @Kevin__Davies at Wrestlemania in 6 weeks. Get it booked @VinceMcMahon,' he said.

Austin, a retired former WWE champion with over three million followers on Twitter, made a late entrance to the conversation by telling Rooney: 'Embrace the baldness. And that's the bottom line...'

Rooney is no stranger to 'pretend' fighting after a video of him supposedly being knocked out by Phil Bardsley went viral in March

The Manchester United striker responded to the uproar by staging a 'knockout' goal celebration against Tottenham Hotspur

England manager Roy Hodgson will be hoping Rooney can take aim in Friday's international against Spain in Alicante.

Rooney has managed just two Premier League goals this season but club boss Van Gaal has backed him get through his drought.

'I still have confidence in Rooney,' said the Dutchman recently.

'He is a fantastic player but the expectation (on him) is much higher than any other player at another club. You have to also give players time to come back in a certain shape and that is what we are doing.'

The WWE, meanwhile, conclude their 10-day tour of the UK in Minehead this weekend.

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal shakes hands after substituting Rooney in the weekend clash with West Brom