WWE has pulled a new t-shirt for Bronson Reed from its online shop just days after its release due to potential copyright complications. According to a report from WrestleVotes, the shirt, which was released last week, featured a graphic of sneakers that closely resembled Jordan Spizikes, prompting the removal.
A revised version of the shirt is now available for purchase on WWE Shop without the sneaker design.
The sneaker graphic was a direct reference to Reed’s current “The Tribal Thief” persona. The character and nickname were built around Reed attacking “The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns on two separate occasions and stealing his sneakers. Reed subsequently began wearing the stolen footwear around his neck as a trophy, referring to them as “Shoe-la-fala.” WWE officially recognized the moniker on the August 25th episode of Monday Night Raw, releasing the merchandise just hours before a show-closing brawl between the two rivals.
This merchandise issue arises as the feud between Reed and Reigns is set to culminate this Sunday, August 31, at Clash in Paris. The rivalry escalated significantly on this past Monday’s Raw when a war of words between the two men turned into a physical altercation that required officials to break up. During the confrontation, Reed also claimed to have Samoan heritage, a statement that appeared to surprise Reigns.
Bronson Reed’s singles push is part of his role as the powerhouse for the dominant Raw faction known as “The Vision.” The group, led by Seth Rollins, also includes Bron Breakker and Paul Heyman.