Kylie Rae lit a match on Twitter—and the whole timeline caught fire. On April 9, the WWE ID Talent shared her frustration with wrestling criticism in a tweet that quickly exploded across social media.

“MFs way too comfortable criticizing wrestlers, when they’ve never even stepped foot in a ring,” she wrote.

It didn’t take long for former WWE and TNA star Gail Kim to amplify the message, quote-tweeting Rae with a simple but firm “THIS” to show support. That’s when fans snapped.

Tons of wrestling viewers, content creators, and long-time fans piled on with strong reactions, accusing Rae and Kim of trying to silence the same audience that supports them. Many pointed out that criticism is part of every public-facing profession—and wrestling is no different.

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One user posted, “Respectfully, wrestlers are the most egotistical sensitive people on the planet. A reason why they can’t do anything else.” They followed up by saying, “I get why they don’t like criticism, but everyone in a professional sport gets criticized. That’s the nature of the job.”

Another user drew comparisons to film: “I criticize movies too. But I’ve never directed one. Doesn’t mean I can’t spot a bad one.” The implication? You don’t need to be behind the scenes to recognize poor performance.

One fan went straight for the logic behind Rae’s argument: “Ever been unhappy with a meal at a restaurant even though you didn’t cook it?” They were one of many who used real-world comparisons to show how absurd it is to expect silence from paying audiences.

A similar tweet echoed the same vibe: “Softest entertainers in the world lmao. People are allowed to criticize you the same way y’all criticize every damn airline and burger joint you visit.”

Another added: “Some MFs think their work is above criticism. Ever go to Starbucks and your drink isn’t ‘just right’? You gonna keep quiet or speak up?”

The takes weren’t just about general criticism. Some fans dragged Gail’s WWE history into it. One tweet read: “It’s nice to see when people who were fired and thrown out by WWE years ago continue to kiss the ass of that company, where perhaps they don’t even remember those people. Dignity doesn’t exist in people today.”

Another user hit back at the “gatekeeping” tone of Gal’s tweet by writing, “I hope you’ve never EVER sent back a plate of food at a restaurant. Because by your logic, if you’re not a chef, you’re not allowed to say anything.”

One fan even addressed the idea that this level of fan criticism is somehow new: “Lmaooo here y’all go, it’s been happening since the beginning of wrestling and it will never change.”

Others referenced Gail’s past in-ring behavior. One viral reply said: “People that walk out of a wrestling match live on TV should never be allowed in a wrestling ring again… but we all have our opinion on what’s proper or not.”

What started as a defense of the wrestling profession quickly spiraled into a conversation about performer ego, entitlement, and the public’s right to voice their opinions—especially when their money and time are involved.

Do you think Kylie Rae and Gail Kim were out of line, or do wrestlers deserve more respect from fans who have never been in the ring themselves? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

Steve Carrier is the founder of Ringside News and has been reporting on pro wrestling since 1997. His stories have been featured on TMZ, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and more.

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