Highlights

• Fans divided over Candice LeRae's decision to reference Maxxine Dupri's late brother Wyatt Zmrzel during a recent match on Raw.
• Some believe it will make for a compelling storyline as Dupri seeks revenge, while others feel it crosses a line to use real-life tragedies.
• WWE has a history of blurring the lines between reality and staged storylines, often sparking controversy among fans.

Many fans would argue that pro wrestling is at its best when it blurs the line between what's staged and what's real. Where that line should be, however, and how far promotions should go to blur it is a controversial topic. A controversial topic that has reared its head again this week following a match on Raw this past Monday. In the match, Candice LeRae turned heel by referencing the real-life passing of Maxxine Dupri's brother.

Blurring The Line

Dupri was interrupted by LeRae as she was about to hit the Reverse Caterpillar on Indi Hartwell, at which point the wrestler said this to Dupri.

You think the internet hates you? You should hear what the girls in the locker room have to say about you. Oh, you're gonna cry? It's a good thing your dead brother isn't here to see what an embarrassment you've become.

An upset Dupri said she can't do this, running away and right into a big boot from the recovered Hartwell. For those who don't know, Dupri's brother Wyatt Zmrzel passed away at the age of just 22 in 2017. According to WrestleOps, Zmrzel suffered from a rare genetic condition that made it hard for him to use the right side of his body. He passed away after he was involved in an accident caused by his Lyft driver pulling onto the highway and into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

Mixed Fan Reactions

The fan reactions to LeRae's dead brother line have been mixed. Some fans think it was the perfect way to get LeRae instant heel heat. That the line was so heinous, fans now can't wait to see Dupri retaliate and get revenge on LeRae for what she said which is kind of the whole point. Other fans weren't so enamored with the choice to include a real-life tragedy in a storyline out of nowhere.

This whole thing stems from Dupri getting booed by fans for a recent performance in a match at a live event. WWE is clearly leaning into that rather than ignoring it by having LeRae put down Dupri even further. It's hardly the first time WWE has done something like this either. Paige did almost the exact same thing to Charlotte Flair, antagonizing her opponent by questioning how much fight her late brother Reid had in him.