World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is actively working to remove all traces of “The Roast of WrestleMania” from the internet following widespread criticism of the event’s content.
The two-hour non-televised special, hosted by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe this past weekend, featured a lineup of WWE personalities delivering what many have described as highly controversial material. The star-studded event included appearances by Paul Heyman, R-Truth, The Miz, Sami Zayn, Pat McAfee, Braun Strowman, and Nia Jax, with Triple H making a surprise appearance to close the show.
According to insider reports from WrestleVotes on social media, the unfiltered nature of the content likely means fans shouldn’t expect an official release: “They let me in this thing… 2 hours of jokes that included some s*xual puns and F bombs.
Paul Heyman stole the show. Triple H ended the night with a surprise appearance. Linda McMahon was in attendance… Don’t hold your breath for this to ever make air.”
The controversy highlights an interesting distinction between WWE and UFC fan bases. While both organizations have significant crossover appeal, the reaction to the roast suggests WWE’s audience may lean less politically conservative than their UFC counterparts, who have typically been more receptive to edgier, politically incorrect humor.
Social media erupted with complaints about the roast’s content. One user wrote: “the roast of WrestleMania” and its a bunch of racism, sexism, misogny and r*pe jokes involving the wrestlers.”
The leaked footage reveals Hinchcliffe making numerous controversial jokes, including references to H*tler’s birthday coinciding with the event date, comments about Charlotte Flair’s appearance, and politically charged material mentioning Trump and Kamala Harris.
Paul Heyman reportedly delivered a “legitimate hateful rant” about actor Freddie Prinze Jr. and comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, while other performers like Nia Jax used the platform to address personal critics.
Not all performances were controversial, however. According to those who witnessed the event, Sami Zayn delivered “by far the best performance of the night,” while R-Truth’s set was described as “relatively inoffensive” and the “second best performance.”
WWE’s aggressive approach to removing the content suggests the company recognizes it may have crossed a line with its core fanbase, which appears less aligned with the type of provocative humor that might find a more receptive audience in UFC circles.
WWE continues its evolution under Triple H’s creative direction and transitions from cable to streaming platforms, this incident raises questions about how the company will balance edgier content with the expectations of its diverse audience. Unlike the UFC, which has embraced its association with certain political viewpoints, WWE seems to be discovering that its fanbase may have different boundaries and sensibilities.
For now, the company’s swift action to scrub the roast from public view speaks volumes about the disconnect between the content presented and what WWE believes its audience will accept in 2025.
with Paul Heyman cracking jokes like this, no wonder WWE didn’t want the roast recorded…whoops, some of it leaked anyway
pic.twitter.com/y8QAsF2K5w— AIR (@AIRGold_) April 22, 2025
