Even though he had been announced to be preparing to take on WWE star Chris Jericho this April at „Wrestlemania,” Mickey Rourke has apparently bowed out of the match.

In a statement made to Access Hollywood, the actor’s representative said that Rourke, although much honored by the invitation to participate, needed to decline the offer since he wanted to focus only on his acting career.

For his portrayal of Randy “The Ram” Robinson in the “The Wrestler,” Mickey Rourke has earned a number of prestigious awards so far, including a Golden Globe and several trophies from critics’ associations, while he has also received an Academy Award nomination in the Best Performance by a Leading Actor category.

On Sunday, the actor voiced his excitement at having been asked to take part in „Wrestlemania,” saying he really wanted to do it and that he was speaking with Rowdy Roddy Piper about the invitation.

Moreover, at that time, he challenged Chris Jericho to join him in the ring, advising the WWE star to begin preparing for the match.

Wrestlemania, which is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), is considered the most successful and longest-running professional wrestling event in the world.

Furthermore, it has helped rise to fame wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Steve Austin, The Rock, and Triple H.

The movie „The Wrestler,” directed by Darren Aronofsky, has made for a comeback for actor Mickey Rourke, who gives an exquisite performance as the washed up wrestler breathing steroids through his every pore until his heart cannot take it any longer and the man needs to undergo bypass surgery.