Lil Yachty Addresses WWE Salary Rumors & In-Ring Debut Injury

Lil Yachty Addresses WWE Pay Misconceptions And Brutal Physical Toll Of In-Ring Debut

Hip-hop star Lil Yachty addresses WWE pay misconceptions and physical toll of in-ring debut following his appearance at Sunday Night’s Main Event.

Speaking with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, the recording artist opened up about his transition into professional wrestling, clearing up internet rumors about his contract while detailing the intense physical aftermath of sharing the ring with Baron Corbin.

Clearing The Air On Salary Myths And Roster Cuts

Yachty has been a fixture on WWE television for months, stepping into the spotlight alongside NXT star Trick Williams. Addressing online criticism that full-time talent were released to cover his appearance fees, Yachty set the record straight regarding his financial motivation:

Pure Passion Over Profit: “I never tried to make anyone believe how invested and how much I love this because it’s not for the money. I don’t want anyone to think I’m getting some crazy check. I’m losing money. I’m losing money doing this. I love it. I love everything about this shit.”
Debunking Roster Cut Theories: “They be like, ‘Man, this is who you’re wasting TV time on?’ They also assume that wrestlers are getting cut to pay me. That’s not happening. They’re not cutting wrestlers to pay my bills. I promise. I’m not getting paid that much. I don’t want anyone to think all these fantastic wrestlers are getting cut to pay my salary. That’s not the case.”

The Extreme Physical Aftermath Of Facing Baron Corbin

At Sunday Night’s Main Event, Yachty survived a five-minute challenge against Baron Corbin, ultimately securing a United States Championship opportunity for Trick Williams despite taking a post-match table bump.

The rapper candidly described the brutal soreness he felt the morning after:

Severe Body Soreness: “I feel like shit. I feel like someone hit me with a bag of bricks… My kneecaps. But when I woke up this morning, my shoulder felt dislocated. My kneecaps, my shins. I couldn’t even tighten my hand. As the day goes on, everything’s loosening up. When I first sat up in bed, it was the most pain I ever felt in my life. Shins, knees, whatever this is behind the kneecap, my back, my lower back. I feel like I’m wrestling for 20 years. Man, it’s bad.”
Taking A Stiff Clothesline: “The clothesline. I came in, I hit him with the kendo, and I charged up to give him another one, and he gave me that clothesline. It’s so funny because my entire life, I wondered what a clothesline felt like, because JBL used to make them look so disgusting. The clothesline from hell looked so excruciating. So I always wondered what they felt like, and I always wanted to take one. I don’t think that was anywhere near JBL’s, but it hurt so much. When he first did it, I thought I wasn’t gonna be able to finish. I could not breathe at all, that was not selling.”
Overwhelming Arena Energy: “It felt like this weird space where nothing in the world existed. Time didn’t even exist until like the last 10 seconds to me… Not once did I look at the clock because again, it’s overstimulating. I can’t even think about the time because I’m just trying to exist… I’ve done thousands of shows, and I’ve done hundreds of shows in that arena. It’s never felt like that ever.”

Creating The “Gingerbread Man” Storyline With Trick Williams

Beyond the physical action, Yachty played a core role in developing the comedy angle targeting Sami Zayn. He revealed that the “Gingerbread Man” moniker was never pitched by WWE creative, but rather came from private brainstorming sessions with Williams:

“So funny, it was not supposed to work. I remember when me and Trick got in, we were like, man, y’all sure? But then we just tried to make the most of it. Funny enough, they didn’t actually pitch Gingerbread Man. That was something we said, because he was ginger. Just me and Trick clowning and calling him Gingerbread Man.”

Responding to critical internet fans who rejected the comedic tone of the feud, Yachty defended wrestling’s theatrical nature:

“It was so silly. It was so silly. I mean, again, people forget it’s entertainment, and it’s supposed to be funny. It’s supposed to be fun, and yeah, it’s good wrestling, but it’s entertainment and fun and have fun, man. Don’t be so uptight. Sometimes I be thinking it’s like, damn, you just want a card full of five-star matches.”

He also noted that pulling off the Undertaker-style casket sit-up required assistance from the crew:

“I had to practice that, bro. They had to pad my feet up so I could push. I don’t have the abs for that. That’s ab work, man. Shout out to the Undertaker. That’s ab work, sitting up.”

For additional backstage news, interview highlights, and live results, keep following WrestlingAttitude.com.