Hayes suspended by WWE for racist language

By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine

One of World Wrestling Entertainment's top creative minds, Michael "Hayes" Seitz, was recently suspended for 60 days.

Hayes, who was a part of the legendary Fabulous Freebirds tag team and is the head writer for WWE Smackdown, allegedly used racist language towards WWE wrestler Mark Henry, an African-American.

According to Pro Wrestling Insider, the incident took place at a party before Wrestlemania XIV in Orlando, Florida. Hayes, who had been drinking when he approached Henry, told the 6-foot-1, 400-pound grappler "I'm more of a n----- than you are."

Henry, who is a former U.S. Olympic weightlifter and billed as "The World's Strongest Man," took offense to the comment and reported the incident to WWE management.

A WWE spokesman later confirmed the suspension to TMZ.com. "Due to inappropriate behavior, Michael Hayes was suspended for 60 days with no pay," the mouthpiece said. "In order to return to work, Michael Hayes will be required to undergo further evaluation."

This is not Hayes' first brush with politically correctness. Bobby Lashley, one of the company's top stars, quit the promotion over Hayes' treatment of his girlfriend, former WWE diva Kristal Marshall.

Both Lashely and Marshall are African-American.