D-Von Dudley Exposes Racism in WWE From Top WWE Official

D-Von Dudley may be a Hall of Famer, but according to him, his run in WWE wasn’t without ugly moments behind the scenes. The former tag team legend says he dealt with racism from certain top officials during his time in the company—and the memories still sting.

Speaking on his podcast alongside Bubba Ray Dudley and Maven, the 53-year-old revealed that while his ECW days came with no issues, things changed dramatically once he joined WWE. When asked directly if he had faced racism during his career, D-Von didn’t hesitate to share what happened.

“No, I didn’t experience it when we were together because when we got together, we were in ECW, and in ECW, I did not experience it. I experienced it in WWE. I experienced it with certain top officials, though I don’t really want to say any names.”

Pressed to give a hint, D-Von suggested it was someone “known for wearing a hat,” which many fans have taken as a reference to Jim Ross—though he never confirmed the name outright. What he did confirm was that someone with power in WWE admitted outright they didn’t like him because of his race.

“I didn’t wear a ten gallon hat or anything, but when a person comes up to you and tells you they don’t like you because of the color of your skin, you sit there thinking, ‘Wow, really? It’s 1999 or 2000, and you’re still saying stuff like this?’”

The veteran said there were also people in WWE who thought he should have kept quiet about it, and warned him they had enough influence to bury him if they wanted. For D-Von, it was a surreal experience to be told to stay silent when he felt disrespected.

“There were certain people in that organization at that time who felt I shouldn’t have said anything and who had the power to bury me if need be, just because I stood up for what I felt was right.”

For D-Von, who just officially wrapped up his in-ring career at TNA’s Bound For Glory earlier this month, these comments shed light on the struggles he faced outside the ring—even as one half of one of WWE’s most successful tag teams.

It’s a shocking reminder that the wrestling business has a darker side that fans rarely get to see, and one that continues to impact how legends like D-Von reflect on their careers today.

Do you think WWE should publicly address D-Von Dudley’s claims, or is this something that will stay buried in history? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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