Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak got physical with a contestant during Tuesday’s episode of the show.
The player, named Fred, revealed at the start of the Hawaiian-themed episode that in addition to being a drama teacher and bar trivia host, he’s a professional wrestler.
Though he said he gets paid ‘very little’ from wrestling and mainly does it ‘for the fun’ – which appears to have lead to the bizarre incident at the end of Fred’s successful run.
The TV legend, 76, rushed over and placed an armlock and headlock on Fred who went along with the stunt and appeared to grimace in pain for the cameras.
Sajak gets aggressive: the longtime show host placed contestant Fred into an armlock during Tuesday night’s episode of the beloved gameshow
Sajak made several prior comments about the man’s professional wrestling career
Sajak’s commentary about Fred during the night appeared to be leading to that moment as he poked fun at the contestant for being a wrestler.
As Fred’s wins continued rolling in, Sajak called Fred a ‘brute’ and asked the other contestants if they’d like him to ‘body slam’ him.
‘Just because he’s a professional wrestler … you want me to body slam him for you?’ Sajak asked the contestants, who replied with a ‘yes.’
Fred made it to the bonus round and guessed the puzzle in three attempts during the ‘Phrase’ category.
Wheel of Fortune co-host Vanna White revealed he had correctly guessed the answer was: ‘His mind is wandering.’
Sajak announced the drama teacher would be taking home $75,800, leaving him emotional before he flexed his muscles in celebration and hugged his father.
Sajak, 76, has hosted the show for more than forty years, since 1981
Following Fred’s win, Sajak is seen rushing over to him as his father watches on
Fred embraces his father after his $75,000 win
It was then that Sajak ran over to wrestle Fred, bending his arm behind his back and grabbing his face with the other arm while placing him in a halfway headlock.
Fans online were quick to react to the strange moment between the winner and the host.
‘What was with Pat at the end?’ wrote one fan.
‘Not only another Perfect Game, but another showdown with Pat vs. another contestant!’ wrote another.
A third warned the host: ‘Don’t fall Pat.’
Wheel of Fortune has been airing since 1975 and has been hosted by Sajak since 1981.
In September, Sajak told Entertainment Tonight Online that ‘I may go before the show,’ of his eventual exit from the long-running game show.
The TV icon, who turned 76 recently said: ‘In most television shows by this time, you would have said, “That’s probably enough,” but this show will not die.’
