WWE Merchandise Controversy
WWE pulls Trick Williams merchandise from its online store following significant fan backlash.
Anonymous
Key Points
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The shirt went on sale on September 21 as a new arrival and was listed at $34.99 before being removed from WWE’s U.S. store.
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Williams has said the “Lemon Pepper Steppers” phrase dates to his first night on SmackDown, when he interrupted Sami Zayn and introduced himself as “Mr. Lemon Pepper Stepper.”
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In an interview earlier this year, Williams explained that the phrase was intended as a sauce comparison rather than a reference to the shoes’ color or texture, citing Wingstop and KFC in describing its meaning.
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Williams is the reigning WWE United States champion after regaining the title from Baron Corbin and had already qualified for the 2026 men’s Money in the Bank ladder match, alongside Bron Breakker and Je’Von Evans.
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The article notes that Jordan Myles, the wrestler formerly known as ACH, publicly confronted WWE over a 2019 shirt with racist connotations and left the company shortly afterward.
WWE pulled a Trick Williams merchandise shirt from its U.S. online store within a day of release after fans criticized the design as invoking a racist stereotype. The ewrestlingnews shirt, listed at $34.99 starting September 21, depicted fried chicken wings surrounding a shoe—a literal take on Williams' "Lemon Pepper Steppers" catchphrase about his fashionable footwear. WWE did not publicly explain the removal, and the item reportedly remained available through WWE's European store.
Williams' Catchphrase Started on SmackDown Debut
Trick Williams introduced the "Lemon Pepper Steppers" phrase during his first night on SmackDown when he interrupted Sami Zayn. He meant it as a sauce comparison rather than a reference to shoe color. athlonsports noted Williams cited Wingstop and KFC when describing the phrase's meaning in an earlier interview this year.
Controversy Mirrors Past WWE Merchandise Failures
WWE has faced merchandise backlash before. In 2019, wrestler Jordan Myles (formerly ACH) publicly confronted the company over a shirt with racist imagery and left shortly after. sescoops reported WWE took swift action on the Williams shirt following immediate online backlash, signaling the company's attempt to avoid repeating past missteps.
Shirt Remained for Sale in International Markets
Despite removal from the U.S. store, wrestlezone confirmed the controversial design stayed available in at least one international WWE shop. whatculture also reported the shirt persisted in overseas locations even after the U.S. pullback, raising questions about WWE's global merchandise review process.
Williams Remains Focused on In-Ring Success
Williams' merchandise controversy did not affect his standing with WWE. He is the reigning U.S. Champion after defeating Baron Corbin and has already qualified for the 2026 Men's Money in the Bank ladder match alongside Bron Breakker and Je'Von Evans. Neither Williams nor WWE has publicly commented on the shirt removal.
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