WWE viewers were almost speechless after the death of Ozzy Osbourne was used as a joke during Monday Night Raw.
The weekly sports entertainment show was airing from the late Black Sabbath legend’s hometown of Birmingham this evening, and Becky Lynch used his death to take a cheap shot at the audience.
Osbourne’s family announced his death aged 76 last month, following a long battle with Parkinson’s and other health issues.
During the Netflix live stream, the Women’s Intercontinental Champion was embroiled in a war of words with Nikki Bella, who had the support of the Brummie crowd.
‘You can have your match, but in Paris, at Clash. Because I am not wrestling in Birmingham,’ she teased. ‘The only good that came out of here died a month ago!’
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As the crowd booed, she added: ‘But in fairness to Ozzy Osbourne, he had the good sense to move to LA, a proper city. Because if I lived in Birmingham, I’d die too!’
Osbourne kept a close bond with the city of Birmingham and its people, which was on full display during his funeral last month.
Fans couldn’t believe what they were hearing, with some describing the line as ‘unhinged’.
‘Naaaah Becky is unhinged #WWERAW,’ wrote @PublicEnemies on X, while @WrestlePurists simply said: ‘BECKY WTF 💀 #WWERAW’
‘Idk what to say but Becky just mentioned Ozzy and used his death for a promo 😐,’ complained @TylerDevin7494, as @lynchskota added: ‘ngl i AUDIBLY gassped when Becky brough up Ozzy.. like damn girl, the wound is still fresh 😭 (sic)’
Not everyone was offended though, as others noted it was ‘savage’ without going too far.
‘Becky Lynch with the savage Ozzy burn- she never holds back,’ wrote @OvindSingh_01.
And @PrinceOfRasslin said: ‘Becky kinda threw shade on Ozzy Osbourne (not in a bad way) but You don’t throw shade on the prince of Darkness tho 😒 #WWERaw #RawOnNetflix’
Osbourne has history with wrestling over the years, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021, appearing via a video to accept the honour.
‘Thank you so much WWE Universe for this Award. I don’t deserve it, but thank you anyway,’ he said in the brief speech. ‘It’s all about the fans really. Our fans are what keep us alive really. It’s all about them.’
The year after his induction, Osbourne featured in the opening video for the WWE Survivor Series WarGames event, which used Sabbath’s song War Pigs as its main theme.
Osbourne first appeared at WrestleMania 2 back in 1986 in the corner of the British Bulldogs – Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid – alongside Captain Lou Albano as they battled the Dream Team of Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake.
In 2007, the Prince of Darkness performed live on SmackDown, and two years later he and wife Sharon Osbourne were guest hosts for an episode of Monday Night Raw.
WWE Clash In Paris airs Sunday, August 31 at 7pm on Netflix.
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