This week’s episode of WWE Raw in Birmingham took a controversial turn when Becky Lynch, one of the company’s biggest stars, drew heavy backlash for comments aimed at both the city and the late rock icon Ozzy Osbourne.
During her segment, Lynch dismissed the idea of wrestling in Birmingham, making remarks that many fans felt crossed a line. “I am not wrestling in Birmingham. Yeah, the only good thing that came out of here died a month ago. But in fairness to Ozzy Osbourne, he had the good sense to move to L.A., a proper city. Because if I lived in Birmingham I’d die, too,” Lynch said.
The crowd instantly erupted in boos, with many expressing anger over the jab at Osbourne, who passed away just last month. For a city that proudly claims the “Prince of Darkness” as one of its greatest cultural icons, the comments struck a particularly raw nerve.
The fallout didn’t end in the arena. Kelly Osbourne, daughter of the legendary Black Sabbath frontman, quickly took to Instagram to defend her late father and her hometown. In a fiery response, she wrote:
“beckylynch.fan11 you are a disrespectful dirtbag! Birmingham would not piss on you if you were on fire. #BirminghamForever. Shame on the WWE for allowing such things to be said about my father and his home!!!”
Kelly’s post ignited a wave of support from fans worldwide, with many echoing her anger and calling on WWE to show greater sensitivity when involving recently deceased figures in storylines.
While WWE has long been known for blurring the line between entertainment and controversy, the decision to reference Osbourne so soon after his passing has sparked a wider debate. Critics argue that exploiting the memory of a beloved cultural figure—especially in his hometown—is tasteless and unnecessary, while others see it as typical of WWE’s shock-value storytelling.
As of now, WWE has not issued an official statement addressing the backlash, nor has Becky Lynch publicly responded to Kelly Osbourne’s remarks. However, the incident has clearly struck a chord with fans, many of whom are demanding an apology.
What was meant as a fiery heel promo instead ignited a cultural flashpoint, with Birmingham rallying behind its hometown hero and music legend. Whether WWE chooses to double down on the controversy or step back from it, one thing is clear: invoking Ozzy Osbourne’s name on Raw has left a lasting impact—one the company may struggle to walk back.
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