Westside Gunn is stepping away from WWE after claiming the company failed to appreciate his years of support, allegedlt even tried to stifle his wrestling references in his raps.
In a passionate post shared to X on Friday (Nov. 7), the Griselda rapper reflected on his deep ties to wrestling culture and how his love for WWE evolved into disappointment. Gunn said that despite spending years attending major shows on his own dime, sitting front row, and incorporating the sport into his art, the company threatened his catalog and treated him as if he didn’t exist.
“Before I even say this, just know GOD IS THE GREATEST,” Gunn wrote. “For YEAAAAAARS I mean NOBODY w/ 2 feet has spent the amount of $ I have supporting and pushing a brand I’ve loved since I could remember. I sat front row at EVERY BIG SHOW literally.”
He continued, “I made people who hated the product watch it again. I made it look cool when at the time people thought it was nerdy…I was threatened to take everything out of my music which I only did to pay homage or my whole catalog would be demolished.”
The Buffalo native said he tried to privately address the issue with one person inside the company who, in his words, “hates seeing a young Black successful entrepreneur that could afford those seats.”
According to Gunn, he was even kicked out of Monday Night Raw in his hometown of Buffalo, New York despite paying thousands for tickets, travel and lodging.
“Monday Night Raw starts at 8 p.m. I was kicked out by 8:03 after spending $5K for a seat plus travel, hotel, etc. — in my own city for absolutely NOTHING,” he wrote. “No lie, the kid in me heart broke that day.”
The situation worsened when Gunn received a legal letter after putting up a Million Dollar Man billboard to honor wrestling icons Ted DiBiase and the late Virgil.
“That’s when I said, you know what, I’m only showing love to those who show love to me,” he added. “You don’t have to worry about me pushing that product over there again.”
Instead, Westside Gunn is channeling his wrestling passion into his own creative universe. His company, 4THROPE, recently held a full-scale wrestling event at Six Flags to celebrate the release of Heels Have Eyes 3, blending his music and wrestling fandom into one spectacle.
“It’s not about money, we’re gonna keep pushing culture,” Gunn said, crediting independent wrestler Josh Bishop, who appears on the album cover, for believing in him from day one.