Why do Travis Scott and Bad Bunny like WWE so much?

“I want to risk my life in the ring”; “I want to scare my mom”. These words weren’t spoken by just any former wrestler, but by Bad Bunny, the artist who only a few days ago released the album DtMF, which continues to rack up streams on music platforms and has literally taken over TikTok. It’s hard to recall a musical success as significant as the Puerto Rican’s latest project, especially for the cultural meaning it carries with it. In fact, among the melancholic thoughts expressed in the album about his homeland, which is a victim of gentrification that risks erasing the cultural roots that make Puerto Rico unique on the map, Bad Bunny didn’t miss the chance to talk about how important the WWE is to him today, a federation he began attending in 2021; he spoke about it in an interview with Rolling Stone. "I want to go back and fight again. I want to risk my life in the ring. I felt like I didn’t risk enough in the ring, and I want to do it. I want to scare my mom. When? I don’t know. We’re in touch with the people at WWE, always paying attention to what’s happening. But when, I don’t know. I hope there’s a moment when I can truly prepare, like I did last time. And I’d like more time to physically prepare."

In wrestling – with no distinction, before, during, and after the Attitude Era – celebrity culture has always played a central role, an aspect that has faded in recent years but is clearly being reintegrated. This has been the case since day one, since the way we know it: celebrity cameos have always helped bridge the gap between this sport and pop culture, or rather, further define this connection. At WrestleMania I in 1985, the action kicked off with Muhammad Ali, while in 2007, it was the turn of the current President of the United States, Donald Trump; and then there were Kim Kardashian, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Shaquille O'Neal, the list is practically endless. And while the reason why these celebrities chose to participate – some even multiple times – is not a mystery, it's clear that the wrestling audience (especially since the transition from WWF to WWE) is massive and provides excellent image return; it’s one of the most popular and American things in the world; connecting with the wrestling audience means tapping into every raw and authentic facet of America. Let’s not hide it: also because the federation surely doesn’t limit itself to satisfying demanding appearance fees.

But returning to the celebrities who choose to appear in WWE, behind their unrelenting desires lies clearly an escape from reality, another aspect that wrestling has fed on since its very beginnings. Long before Vince McMahon unified the scattered federations across the U.S., when wrestling was still a minor affair and seemed more like a war between fiefdoms than a sublimation of American patriotism. Practicing wrestling, or dreaming of doing so, whether as a wrestler, stuntman, actor, extra, celebrity, or simply as a TV viewer, means somehow appreciating the concept of fiction, whether it's a brief illusion – especially if, for a viewer, it also becomes a social moment to share with loved ones. Travis Scott had already attended an episode of Raw in March 2024, but his role in WWE, which has since landed on Netflix, will be much more substantial. The rapper, whose name is inspired by one of wrestler Mick Foley's alter egos (Cactus Jack), returned to Raw on January 6 to the sounds of FE!N and the new Raw theme song, 4x4.

If there’s something that unites Travis Scott and Bad Bunny, it’s hard to say with absolute certainty. However, the not particularly bright period in Travis Scott’s life, due to events tied to his personal life – first, the accusations following the deaths at the Astroworld Festival, which kept him off the stage until his return in July 2021 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida, then his arrest this summer in Paris (famous for his outfit with the Antonio Chimenti jersey) – does indeed seem like a period of disorientation. Similarly, Bad Bunny also went through a particular phase, releasing a highly politicized and protest album, accompanied by TikTok videos where he appears deeply moved by the public’s reaction, which received a message of extraordinary significance and importance, at least for him. A message that helped raise awareness and appreciation for Puerto Rican culture, rooted in traditional sounds like salsa, plena, and bolero. Thus, in moments of confusion and difficulty, wrestling can indeed function as a safe harbor, a place to seek an alternative reality, where an artist can express a very different kind of art, yet always remain an artist, always in front of an audience.