Fox News Reporter 'Pulverized' in Wrestling Segment

Abby Hornacek interviewed Olympic wrestler Kennedy Blades and got more than she bargained for.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:35pm

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An extreme macro photograph of a crumpled, shiny wrestling mat surface, with dramatic high-contrast lighting creating a gritty, high-energy glamour aesthetic that evokes the physicality of professional wrestling.A dramatic close-up of the wrestling mat captures the raw power and physical intensity of the sport, as a Fox News reporter learned firsthand.Hollywood Today

Fox News reporter Abby Hornacek was interviewing Olympic wrestler Kennedy Blades during a live report when Blades offered to demonstrate her signature suplex move. Despite Hornacek's height matching Blades, the professional wrestler easily flipped and slammed the reporter to the mat, leaving Hornacek 'pulverized' but uninjured.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the risks reporters sometimes take to get compelling footage, as well as the skill and professionalism of top-level athletes like Blades, who ensured Hornacek's safety despite the intense move.

The details

During the live report, Hornacek told viewers that Blades had agreed to show off her signature suplex move. Despite Hornacek and Blades being evenly matched at 5'11', Blades easily flipped and slammed the reporter to the mat. Hornacek popped back up quickly, joking that she didn't think she could be a wrestler. Thankfully, the only damage was to Hornacek's mic pack.

  • Hornacek was covering the Real American Freestyle wrestling event in Tampa.
  • The incident occurred during a live report on Fox News.

The players

Abby Hornacek

A Fox News reporter who was interviewing Olympic wrestler Kennedy Blades when she was slammed to the mat during a live segment.

Kennedy Blades

An Olympic wrestler who demonstrated her signature suplex move on Hornacek during the live interview.

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What they’re saying

“Kennedy here has been nice enough to offer — we might have forced her into this — but she's going to show me her signature move. It's called a suplex.”

— Abby Hornacek, Fox News Reporter

“I was pulverized.”

— Abby Hornacek, Fox News Reporter

“Kennedy Blades is a true professional and this was my idea. I want to set the record straight, because I got a lot of comments like, 'Oh, Kennedy put you in danger.' She really didn't.”

— Abby Hornacek, Fox News Reporter

“I said, 'Please, Kennedy, can I please do this?' And she was so sweet. Just the kindest soul I've ever met.”

— Abby Hornacek, Fox News Reporter

“I felt like I was being hoisted off a skyscraper. I was disoriented in the air. I didn't know I was gonna flip all the way. I asked her to flip me all the way, so I should've known it was coming, but I don't know if I expected it to feel like that.”

— Abby Hornacek, Fox News Reporter

What’s next

Hornacek is expected to continue her reporting duties for Fox News, though it's unclear if she will attempt any more wrestling moves in the near future.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder of the risks reporters sometimes take to capture compelling footage, as well as the skill and professionalism of top-level athletes who can execute intense moves safely, even on untrained participants.