Rapper Lil Yachty is one of many mainstream celebrities to dip his toes into the wrestling world in recent years.

Logan Paul, who recently suffered a tricep injury, has become a full-time WWE superstar and was even one-half of the Tag Team Champions alongside Austin Theory before being sidelined this month.

Meanwhile, though he’s yet to step into the squared circle for an actual match, Lil Yachty has cemented himself as an on-screen character, appearing alongside Trick Williams.

Now, Lil Yachty has shared what training for a WWE match is actually like, highlighting the tough challenge he is currently facing.

Lil Yachty says WWE training is testing his body

Yachty has already appeared at the WrestleMania 42 and Backlash Premium Live Events this year, while he’s also featured on SmackDown alongside Williams.

The plan appears to be for the rapper to eventually make his in-ring WWE debut, and he has been speaking about how hard the training actually is in a video posted to the company’s official YouTube channel this week.

He said: “I ain’t worked out in five years. But I’ve been doing music for 10 years. I’m a creator. I understand it like the back of my hand. It’s not really any challenge in that. This is new for me. I’m at ground zero, level zero, so it’s a challenge and testing my body and limit [in] ways I’ve never done before.

“So it’s fresh, it’s new, and I enjoy the pain. I enjoy the struggle because I feel like I’m working, and I’m always setting goals. It was a goal to get here, and now I’m here. So now the goal is to transform this body, start whooping some — in that ring.”

WWE have faced backlash for celebrity wrestling in the past

While some may be excited to see the artist step into the ring for the first time, others may not be as keen.

WrestleMania 42 saw Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll featured heavily in the build-up and during the show, with the former even having a key role in Night 1’s Main Event between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.

However, the celebrity involvement did not go down well with some fans, and the backlash was one reason why the pair stepped away from the company post-Mania.

Speaking on the Wrestling Observer Radio in April, Dave Meltzer explained: “With the Pat McAfee thing, he opted out, so that’s what actually led to everything changing.

“That’s why the tag match from Backlash was taken off. Orton and McAfee against Jelly Roll and Cody Rhodes, which Cody Rhodes may not be okay for Backlash anyway, you know with that eye.

“They were very cognizant of what has been said about celebrities in wrestling and both of them love wrestling and I think that they realised that there was a lot of negative sentiment about it. And they listened and they understood and I think they saw the fan side of it. And I think that that’s what led to this.”

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WWE’s Clash in Italy Premium Live Event is set to take place on May 31, and Jacob Fatu is scheduled to go head-to-head with Roman Reigns.

The pair are due to meet in a Tribal Combat match for the World Heavyweight Championship, facing off for the second time after Roman previously beat Jacob at Backlash.

Ahead of this weekend’s PLE, it has emerged that Fatu suffered an injury during the WWE’s recent house show in Liverpool.

That, of course, casts some doubt over whether he will be able to wrestle this week, but sources inside the company are currently expecting the Samoan Werewolf to be available for the show.

Jacob Fatu injury update before Clash in Italy

False Finish provided an update on Fatu via X/Twitter, in which they reported that he has a back injury.

Crucially, they went on to reveal that WWE sources say he is expected to be OK for the Clash in Italy PLE.

They stated: “Jacob Fatu was legitimately injured yesterday at #WWELiverpool during his street fight with Solo Sikoa.

“The injury is said to be a back injury but WWE sources say he is expected to be okay as of now.”

In a further post, False Finish were asked if Jacob is still on course to main event the PLE alongside Reigns.

They stressed the plan is for Fatu to wrestle, but other options are being explored in the event he cannot compete.

False Finish stated: “As of now. They are working under the assumption that he will be okay by Sunday. They are looking at other plans in case as well.”

If Fatu is unable to wrestle, it remains to be seen what alternative options WWE could come up with to satisfy fans.

They may decide to cancel Roman’s scheduled match altogether and not have him defend the World Heavyweight Championship.

Alternatively, a one-off title defence against someone like Solo Sikoa could potentially fit the Tribal Combat stipulation.

But as of now, it is not clear what would actually happen if the match had to be changed.

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