The world of wrestling and hip-hop has just collided in the loudest, most dramatic way possible. Famous rapper Westside Gunn, one of WWE’s most passionate celebrity supporters, has ignited a firestorm across social media after publicly accusing WWE of removing his music from Monday Night RAW broadcasts — and even threatening legal action if the company continues to use his name, lyrics, or image without permission.
The unexpected outburst, shared in a late-night post on X (formerly Twitter) and followed by an Instagram Story that has since gone viral, has sent the entire wrestling and music world into chaos. Fans are divided, wrestlers are reacting, and insiders are scrambling to uncover the truth behind one of the most shocking fan-artist clashes WWE has faced in years.
“THEY USED MY CULTURE, THEN TRIED TO ERASE ME”
In a fiery post that instantly went viral, Westside Gunn — known not only for his intricate lyricism but also for his deep love for pro wrestling — unleashed a scathing message directed straight at WWE executives.
“Don’t play with me. I gave y’all free love, free promo, free culture — and you think you can just erase me? Nah. You took my music off RAW, and you’re still using my name, my likeness, my voice in clips. That’s my art. That’s my culture. You don’t get to exploit it for views.”
Within minutes, the post racked up over 3 million views, and his words exploded across fan pages, hip-hop forums, and wrestling discussion boards. For a man who has proudly worn WWE merchandise in music videos and shouted out wrestlers in nearly every project, this was a jaw-dropping turn.
In follow-up posts, Westside Gunn doubled down:
“I’ve always been a real fan — day one. I put y’all in my songs, I wore y’all logos on stage, and I never asked for a dime. But if you think you can just cut my music without even calling me? Nah, that’s not love. That’s disrespect.”
A LONGTIME FAN TURNED FRUSTRATED SUPPORTER
For years, Westside Gunn has been one of WWE’s biggest celebrity cheerleaders. The Buffalo-born rapper, founder of the critically acclaimed label Griselda Records, is a self-proclaimed wrestling fanatic who often incorporates wrestling references, sound bites, and imagery into his songs and performances.
His albums feature track titles inspired by wrestling icons, from “Undertaker vs Goldberg” to “Allah Sent Me (feat. The Steiner Brothers).” He’s frequently spotted ringside at major WWE events and has shouted out legends like Randy Savage, Ric Flair, and Bret Hart in his music.
But insiders say his frustration with WWE has been “boiling for months.”
A source close to Gunn told XXL Magazine:
“He’s been feeling disrespected for a while now. He’s been asking for collaboration opportunities, licensing discussions, even just a conversation. WWE kept giving him silence — until they suddenly removed his music from their broadcasts. That’s when he snapped.”
WHAT TRIGGERED THE CONTROVERSY
The breaking point reportedly came after fans noticed that WWE had muted or replaced Gunn’s music during segments of RAW where his tracks had previously been used in highlight packages featuring wrestlers he supported, including Montez Ford and Carmelo Hayes.
A fan posted a side-by-side comparison showing that a recent RAW replay had removed Gunn’s “Super Kick Party” track — a song that had become a cult anthem among WWE fans.
Gunn himself confirmed this in his outburst:
“Y’all took Super Kick Party out like it didn’t mean something to the fans. Like it didn’t belong in the culture. You’re not just muting music — you’re muting the streets.”
FANS DIVIDED: “HE’S RIGHT” VS. “HE’S OVERREACTING”
As soon as the news broke, social media erupted in debate. WWE loyalists defended the company’s right to control its content, while hip-hop fans sided with Gunn, accusing WWE of cultural appropriation and ignoring the artist’s contributions.
One fan wrote on X:
“Westside Gunn is literally one of the reasons hip-hop heads started watching wrestling again. WWE should be thanking him, not cutting him out.”
Another fired back:
“He’s a fan, not a partner. WWE doesn’t owe him anything. They license what they need, and that’s business.”
But perhaps the most viral comment came from fellow rapper Conway the Machine, Gunn’s cousin and collaborator, who tweeted:
“They always wanna take from us till we fight back. West brought wrestling back to the culture. Give that man his flowers while he’s here.”
WWE’S SILENCE SPEAKS VOLUMES
So far, WWE has not issued an official statement, though multiple insiders have confirmed that the company is aware of the controversy and that executives are “monitoring the situation closely.”
However, sources within the company told Fightful Select that WWE’s legal team has grown increasingly cautious about unlicensed music and third-party content appearing in broadcasts — especially after a series of copyright disputes earlier this year.
“They’re cracking down on all music that isn’t fully cleared,” one source said. “Even if it’s just a short clip. It’s not about Westside specifically — it’s about protecting the company.”
Still, that explanation hasn’t calmed the firestorm. For many, the issue runs deeper than copyright. It’s about respect — and for Gunn, that’s personal.
“WWE BUILT ON CULTURE THEY DON’T ALWAYS CREDIT”
Westside Gunn’s message has sparked a broader conversation about the intersection of wrestling and hip-hop — two worlds that have long shared fans, aesthetics, and storytelling energy.
From Snoop Dogg’s Hall of Fame induction to Bad Bunny’s WrestleMania performances, hip-hop has become an undeniable part of WWE’s brand. Yet many artists have complained about a lack of proper recognition or compensation.
Music producer Hit-Boy, who has also worked on wrestling-themed collaborations, chimed in on Instagram:
“They use our sounds, our swagger, our language — and act like they invented it. West just said what a lot of us been feeling.”
INSIDE SOURCES: “HE’S OPEN TO TALK — BUT NOT TO BE SILENCED”
Despite his fiery tone online, close friends insist that Gunn’s endgame isn’t war — it’s respect and dialogue.
“West doesn’t want to sue WWE,” one associate clarified. “He wants acknowledgment. He wants them to understand that wrestling culture and hip-hop culture are intertwined — and that artists like him made it cool again.”
Still, Gunn’s next steps remain uncertain. He hinted at “lawyers being on standby” but also suggested he’d prefer to resolve things peacefully.
“I grew up loving this. I’m not here to destroy it. I’m here to protect it. But if you try to silence me, I’ll make more noise than ever.”
WRESTLERS REACT — “HE’S GOT A POINT”
Even some WWE superstars have subtly shown support for Gunn’s message. Carmelo Hayes, whose entrance themes have been inspired by Griselda’s gritty sound, posted a cryptic emoji — a pair of eyes and a flame — on his Instagram story shortly after the controversy erupted.
Montez Ford, another artist Gunn has supported, liked several tweets defending the rapper’s stance, further fueling speculation that the locker room quietly backs him.
“THIS IS BIGGER THAN MUSIC — IT’S ABOUT LEGACY”
By the following morning, Gunn’s initial posts had transformed from anger into reflection. He posted a photo of himself wearing a vintage WWF hoodie with the caption:
“No hate. Just truth. I’ll always love this game — but love gotta go both ways.”
The post, shared across social media, drew over half a million likes and thousands of comments from both wrestling and hip-hop communities.
Cultural critic Justin Davis summed up the situation best:
“Westside Gunn built a bridge between wrestling and rap culture — and now that bridge is shaking. This moment isn’t just drama; it’s history. Because this is what happens when passion meets business head-on.”
THE AFTERMATH — “THE BALL IS IN WWE’S COURT”
As of now, fans and media alike are waiting for WWE’s official response. Whether the company reaches out privately to smooth things over or doubles down on its licensing policy remains to be seen.
One thing is certain: Westside Gunn has made his mark — again. He’s not just an artist shouting into the void; he’s a fan-turned-icon standing up for cultural respect.
In his final post of the night, Gunn left followers with a statement that perfectly captured his mix of anger, love, and conviction:
“I’ll always be a wrestling fan. But I’m done watching people take from what we built in the streets and pretend it’s theirs. Wrestling was hip-hop before hip-hop even knew it — and I’ll never let anyone forget that.”
As the dust settles, one question lingers across both industries: Will this be the beginning of reconciliation — or the start of a new feud that changes how WWE handles artists forever?
Either way, Westside Gunn just turned the spotlight on an uncomfortable truth — and the world is watching.
