The Tragic Story Of Maxxine Dupri's Brother, Explained

Highlights

• WWE used real-life tragedy to heighten drama in Maxxine's storyline, with Candice LeRae delivering a controversial verbal attack.
• Maxxine Dupri's character has faced backlash from fans recently due to her in-ring abilities, leading to a change in direction.
• The tragic death of Maxxine's brother in a 2017 car accident was brought into the storyline, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.

On the March 11 episode Monday Night Raw, WWE took a seemingly innocent match and turned it into a heartbreaking and controversial verbal attack. During the women's tag team match between the team of Maxxine Dupri and Ivy Nile versus Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell, LeRae stopped the match to lay into Dupri not with her fists but her words, bringing in the real life news of fans booing the green babyface, with LeRae's attacks going so far as her being glad that Maxxine's brother was dead because he would be embarrassed of her. It was a jaw-dropping attack because of the tragic truth behind it. Maxxine Dupri, whose real name is Sydney Zmrzel, really does have a brother who died. In 2017, at just the age of 22, Wyatt Zmrzel passed away following a car accident. This is just the latest occurrence of professional wrestling using real life tragedies in its storylines.

Candice LeRae Brought Up Maxxine Dupri's Brother On Raw

Maxxine Dupri Has Been Booed Lately Due To Her In Ring Ability

• Was named Sofia Cromwell in NXT
• Led Maximum Male Models
• Joined Alpha Academy on Raw

Maxxine Dupri, a former NFL cheerleader and NBA dancer, began her WWE career in 2021. She first appeared on TV in 2022 as Sofia Cromwell, the valet for Von Wagner. By July she was on SmackDown, repackaged as Maxxine Dupri, the sister of Max Durpri (LA Knight's first awful main roster gimmick), and became head of the Maximum Male Models. When that failed, Maxxine went to Raw and became a babyface alongside Chad Gable and Otis of Alpha Academy. Her character of the happy-to-be-there rookie learning to be a wrestler was a hit with fans.

She was green in the ring, sure, but she was supposed to be. Sadly, however, some fans have started to turn on her, as seen in a viral video on social media where she was being jeered at a live event. It led to WWE's women's locker room coming together to stick up for her. WWE knows they're losing the fan support for Dupri, so in a turn of events on the March 11 Raw, just as Maxxine was doing her silly reverse worm maneuver, Candice LeRae stopped her. Johnny Gargano's significant other then got in Maxxine's face to tell her how stupid she looked. LeRae added:

"You know why people are booing you, right? Because you don't belong here... You think the internet hates you, you should hear what the girls in the locker room say about you... It's a good thing your dead brother isn't here to see what an embarrassment you've become."

An emotionally overcome Dupri then left the ring, leading to Ivy Nile taking the pin for her team.

Maxxine Dupri Talks "Making Singlets Sexy," Joining Alpha Academy

Maxxine Dupri's Brother, Wyatt Zmrzel, Died In A 2017 Car Accident

Wyatt Zmrzel's Family Received $6 Million In A Lawsuit

While it may have been a drastic new direction for Maxxine Dupri's character and storyline, the drama finds its roots in real life. Maxxine Dupri's brother, Wyatt Zmrzel really did pass away, dying in a car accident in 2017 at just the age of 22.

In late 2021, PR Newswire detailed what happened to Wyatt. Zrmzel had a physical condition which caused him to have seizures, and unable to drive, he often used ride sharing services. Late at night on December 27, 2017, Wyatt contacted Lyft for a ride home after getting a tattoo in Sacramento, California. The Lyft driver who picked Wyatt up, Rafiullah Amiri, had only had a California drivers license for seven months and Wyatt was actually his first Lyft passenger ever. He'd also be his last. The driver took the wrong way home to Wyatt's house and then proceeded to merge onto a highway at a very slowly rate of speed where he was hit by another vehicle. Wyatt died on scene, and his friend who was with him died two months later.

Wyatt's parents filed suit against Lyft due to their driver not being trained and having no experience as a professional driver. Though they were seeking $1.5 million in damages, the Sacramento County Superior Court jury ruled that the Zmrzel family was due $6 million.

Maxxine Dupri Is Slowly Becoming One Of WWE's Best Female Stars

Maxxine Dupri Speaks About Her Brother

Is Using A Real Life Tragedy A Good Move For WWE?

Last year, on the anniversary of Wyatt's passing, Maxxine Dupri took to Instagram to remember her brother. She wrote:

"Today marks 6 years since we said a sudden goodbye to the VERY best big brother I could ever ask for. This life will never be the same without you by my side, but I am grateful for every single moment I got with you. Until we meet again my beautiful brother. Grief sucks, and if you're experiencing it, just know I am sending you all my love." (h/t Sportskeeda )

WWE is trying to garner sympathy for Maxxine Dupri by bringing in real life to her character to show how much she's had to overcome. It's a road WWE has gone down before, such as the time Paige verbally attacked Charlotte Flair over her deceased brother, Reid, or back in 2006 when a newly heel Batista told Rey Mysterio that Eddie Guerrero was in hell. Over on AEW, Christian Cage has crafted an entertaining character by bringing up the dead fathers of his opponents. He even went on Twitter after Raw to say: "They ALL want to be me."

Whether bringing up Maxxine Dupri's personal loss was a wise decision or not remains to be seen, but what we can all hopefully agree on is that we need to stop heckling someone who is trying their best at turning their passion into a career.