Ex-WWE Star Accuses Company of Forcing Him Into Stereotypical Gimmick

Eddy Thorpe is speaking out about his time in WWEand hes raising serious concerns about how his character was portrayed. The former WWE Superstar, who was released in 2025, claimed during an interview with Dale Clifford that he felt creatively boxed into a stereotypical Native American role instead of being allowed to fully express himself. Thorpe explained that from early on, he felt WWE leaned heavily into a narrow identity for his character, rather than giving him creative freedom to develop something more authentic: WWE kind of stereotyped me into that type of character, as opposed to letting me be more free. He then broke down how limiting that approach felt, saying his character was reduced to a single label without any depth or broader identity. Thorpe even recalled bringing the issue up in a Q&A with John Cena, explaining how he felt certain decision-makers only recognized his identity through outdated visual stereotypes. He went on to describe how those expectations carried into storytelling and promos, often pushing his character into clichd situations that didnt reflect reality. According to Thorpe, those creative choices didnt just limit storytellingthey made it harder for audiences to connect with the character in a meaningful way. Despite those frustrations, Thorpe said he tried to work within the system, adjusting promos and pushing for changes where he could. Even then, he described ongoing pressure to present himself in a certain way that didnt align with how he saw his character. Looking back, Thorpe said the deeper issue was who was creating the character in the first placeand their lack of understanding. He closed by explaining how that disconnect made it difficult to stay true to himself, especially when the portrayal drifted too far from reality: And I said thatbecause if I stay out in that forest too long, Im not a person. My people dont know that guy. Thorpes comments arent just a critiquetheyre a direct shot at how WWE handled his identity on screen. And with more former talent speaking openly after leaving, this kind of criticism isnt going away anytime soon. If WWE wants to avoid more situations like this, it may have to take a closer look at whos shaping these charactersand how theyre being presented. So what do you thinkwas WWE out of line with how Eddy Thorpes character was handled, or is this just part of how wrestling characters are built? Drop your thoughts below. Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication. G Add as a preferred source on Google