Some fans are taking exception to a comedian’s comment on Raw.
During New Day’s match against The War Raiders last night controversial comedian Tony Hinchcliffe joined Pat McAfee and Michael Cole on commentary.
“Ever since they got rid of Big E, the ‘weakest link’, as I call him, it is incredible. The Big E is now silent. That is what we say around here,” said Hinchcliffe defending the new direction of the team.
“Big E doesn’t deserve any of that from The New Day or from you. The new New Day does have fans I am realizing through Tony Hinchcliffe,” responded McAfee defending Big E.
“The only thing stiffer than Michael Cole is Big E’s neck,” replied Hinchcliffe referring to Big E’s neck injury which as sidelined him as an active wrestler.
Some fans didn’t find the joke very funny.
What Tony Hinchcliffe said about Big E was tasteless. There’s nothing funny about a career-ending injury that could’ve easily been much worse. Plenty of other low-hanging fruit to joke about, yet he targets one of the nicest dudes ever who’s not even there.
— emiliosparks (@emiliosparks) April 8, 2025
I can respect Big E but still didn’t like the joke, Hinchcliffe’s not funny even when he tries and his gimmick is offensive takes. https://t.co/rJ1inn0TQw
— JJ “No Lov3” Malone ☝🏼🩸 (@Jay_Wayne13) April 8, 2025
Big E has always been a class act, unlike that waste of space Hinchcliffe.
— Pauly Wannacoffee (@SpurrellPaul) April 8, 2025
On the Raw Recap podcast, Big E responded to the situation.
Sam Roberts asked: “You know you are loved in this house. You know we love you. First, you took some strays on Raw tonight. Tony Hinchcliffe turned it into a roast on commentary. How did you feel listen to that?”.
“Here on the Raw Recap the E is never silent,” said Megan Morant.
“The E is never silent,” said Roberts.
“I guess at my big age of 39-years-old, people will say what they want about you. Their opinion has nothing to do with me. It’s not my business. Look, say what you want. He was given a microphone. He was given an opportunity. People will feel how they want to. There’s a lot of discourse. Oftentimes as a public figure people will say things about you. Whether they’re jokes, whether they’re not, and that is their right….It was said on the show. I’m supposed to talk especially when things are mentioned about me. I should have an opinion on them. It is tiring to have to weigh in on everyone’s opinion or whatever they say. Look, I’m not hurt. I’m good. I want the discourse to be had without me, honestly. I really have no desire to weigh in on this. I didn’t sign up for this. I wasn’t aware of this. He did what he wanted to. People signed off on it. It has nothing to do with me, truly,” he said.
This isn’t the first time Hinchcliffe has been in hot water. During a rally for Donald Trump last October, Hinchcliffe said: “There’s a lot going on. I don’t know if you know this but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”
Congresswoman and Republican Maria Elvira Salazar was “disgusted” by the “racist comment” and that it didn’t “reflect the GOP values”.
Republican Senator Rick Scott said: “The joke bombed for a reason. It’s not funny and it’s not true. Puerto Ricans are amazing people and amazing Americans”.
In his defence at the time Hinchcliffe said his critics have no sense of humour and that he mocks, ridicules everyone.
Hinchcliffe will host The Roast of WrestleMania at the BleauLive Theater on Sunday, April 20th as part of WWE’s WrestleMania celebrations.
