S. Fla. HS grads in hot water after WWE-style stunt

School refuses to award to diplomas to students

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Graduating seniors are supposed to leave school with knowledge, confidence and a clear outlook of the world.

And a sweet wrestling move won't hurt, either.

A pair of students at Miami Southwest High School pulled off a graduation stunt to remember Monday -- going old-school WWE to rile up the crowd at the University of Miami's Bank United Center.

It all began with one of the students, Nicholas Dean, strutting across the stage holding a WWE title belt high above his head.

"It was in talks for maybe two, three months," Dean said. "We just kind of talked about it and graduation time came. I had the belt and it happened."

But wait! Oh my God! Is that his friends' music playing?!?!

Out of the blue, the other student, Joseph Castro, kicks his pal in the stomach and pulls off a perfect "Stone Cold Stunner" to the amazement of parents and friends.

"My brother, he's been sending me links since it went out," Dean said.

Local 10 News caught up with the mastermind at home and his accomplice by phone.

"I didn't really expect it to become this big, but I guess people like it," Castro said.

But the glory of the moment was quickly squashed after administrators whisked them off stage.

"They told us we should be embarrassed and ashamed," said Dean.

"The administration was 'very disappointed' that we had done that," Castro said.

"It doesn't look good on them, and I'm sorry about that, but there's nothing I can do about it now," Dean said.

Besides the title belt, the students left graduation empty-handed as the school declined to award them their diplomas.

The school district said Dean and Castro's diplomas are being withheld until a meeting with their parents next week. But despite the consequences, it seems the notoriety is making up for it.

Diplomas or not, these students deserve high honors for a graduation classic.

"Oh, it was worth it," Dean said.

"Totally worth it," said Castro.

And that's the bottom line, 'cuz Stone Cold says so!

Follow Liane Morejon on Twitter @LianeMorejonTV

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10


About the Author

Liane Morejon is an Emmy-winning reporter who joined the Local 10 News family in January 2010. Born and raised in Coral Gables, Liane has a unique perspective on covering news in her own backyard.

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