New Trick Williams Merch Draws Fan Backlash Over Design

WWE’s latest piece of Trick Williams merchandise is generating unwanted attention online, with fans pushing back on the design of a new t-shirt tied to his popular catchphrase.

The shirt is built around Williams’ “Lemon Pepper Steppers” tagline, a phrase that has become one of the most recognizable parts of his act since he broke out as a singles star. Rather than leaning purely into the boot-and-swagger imagery Williams has used to build his persona, the design features his signature white wrestling boot surrounded by several fried chicken wings, with the “Lemon Pepper Steppers” phrase printed prominently on the back.

It’s the chicken wing imagery specifically that has fans upset, with critics arguing the choice plays into tired and offensive stereotypes rather than simply celebrating a catchy piece of catchphrase branding. For a performer who has worked hard to define his own identity on WWE television, the backlash centers on the idea that the merchandise team missed the mark by leaning into imagery that feels lazy at best and insensitive at worst, rather than something that actually reflects Williams’ persona and in-ring work.

Williams has been one of the breakout stars to emerge from NXT over the past couple of years, parlaying his chemistry as Carmelo Hayes’ mouthpiece into a run as a featured singles competitor in his own right. “Lemon Pepper Steppers” has become a genuine catchphrase with staying power, the kind of thing that WWE’s merchandise arm typically loves to build products around because it already has built-in fan recognition and chant potential at live events. That’s presumably the thinking behind this shirt — take an established, fan-driven phrase and put it on a product. But merchandise design missteps like this one tend to overshadow the intent, turning what should be a fun collectible into a talking point for the wrong reasons.

This isn’t the first time WWE’s merchandise division has found itself under a microscope for a design choice involving a Black performer’s persona, and moments like this tend to draw swift and vocal reaction on social media regardless of intent. How WWE responds — whether that means pulling the shirt, tweaking the design, or simply letting the conversation move on — will say a lot about how seriously the company takes this kind of feedback going forward.

For now, Williams remains one of the more over acts on the roster, and “Lemon Pepper Steppers” isn’t going anywhere as a catchphrase. The hope among fans frustrated by this shirt is that future merchandise built around it reflects that popularity without the baggage this design has brought along with it.