A Perpetually Updated List of Pro Wrestling References I Encounter While Listening to Music.

The purpose of this list is to document whenever I encounter wrestling-related (naming of specific professional wrestlers, moves, terms, or events) items in the music I consume and to highlight wrestling’s influence, specifically in hip-hop culture.

Note, not all references fit the container you’ve built in your mind about what hip-hop is or isn’t, but the predominant number of lyrics will be directly from rap songs. I am also using the terms “rap” and “hip-hop” fluidly and don’t want to disturb any “all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares” ass hip-hop heads or 45-year-old rap enthusiasts. It’s all love.

I plan to encounter these references as organically and naturally as possible. Still, I must acknowledge that I may at times be in active inquiry mode or blast a ton of Westside Gunn for no reason.

Wresslin’ Bars (song titles in parentheses)

tobi lou (“endorphins”)- “I’m cold like Steve Austin. I’m out here defrostin’.”

Wale (“French Toast”)- “I'm never gon' switch up, they all Eric Bischoff, yeah”

Wale (“French Toast”)- “Mine workin' for Virgil like Dibiase but flipped”

Smino (“Matinee”)- “I’m a wrestler, Brocky Lesnar”

Kendrick Lamar (“Not Like Us”)— Sweet Chin Music, but I won’t pass the AUX.”

Tyler, the Creator (“I Hope You Find Your Way Home”)- “You niggas is jabronis.”

Chief Keef (“Cut the Check”)- “Now I wrestle with the racks, bitch, I’m Mick Foley. Shit made me go “Woo,” like Rick Florer. I mean, Rick Flair, bitch boy, I’ve been a player.”

Freddie Gibbs (“$500 Ounces”)- Call me Fred DiBiase, garbage is a million dollars, my nigga.

Lil Yachty (“Endless”)- “Big foot, stepper, Hogan.”