WWE stars teach SJ kids about bullying prevention
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- The biggest professional wrestling event of the year will descend upon Levi's Stadium this Sunday. But ahead of the big event, some of the stars of Wrestlemania 31 spent the day in San Jose focusing on some serious business. They met with students who are committed to stopping bullying on campus.
It's a huge issue. According to a 2013 government survey, 20 percent of high school students reported being bullied on school property. That's 1 in 5.
At Joseph George Middle School, young fans were treated to a different kind of show.
"They talked about their personal lives, about how they got bullied and everything," said student Mariah Estrada.
As part of the WWE's Be a Star Alliance, the sixth-graders spent some time learning about bullying prevention. WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon was among those were there to educate.
"I portray a villain on television," she said. "And I can utilize some of my actions by my television character, and reinforce the messages to them that what I'm doing, what my character is doing on the show, is wrong and it's bullying."
For Mike "The Miz" Mizanin, it's a personal connection to a message that he hopes will resonate.
"When I was in school, I would get bullied," said the WWE superstar. "And I wouldn't know what to do and I would keep it to myself and be scared to go to school."
Representatives from Facebook, GLAAD and the San Francisco 49ers also stopped by to lend their support.
"It doesn't hurt to be nice," said Niners safety Eric Reid. "You know, it doesn't cost any money to be nice it doesn't cost any money to put a smile on somebody's face. Anybody can do that."
And for McMahon, turning fiction into a real life lesson.
"Ultimately, those good guys that my character is bullying, they're going to win because they believe in themselves," she said.
Empowering kids to play the starring role, in their everyday lives.
"People have been trying to turn these people down, but they just ignored it," said student Eric Ruiz. "Like, they did what they wanted to do and look at them now, they're doing their dream, they're doing what they want."
It's a face-to-face experience that is sure to inspire.
