The wrestling duo that parodied street culture for a living
In short: Cryme Tyme was more than just a tag team; they were an over-the-top parody of stereotypical street thugs. From stealing laptops during interviews to their signature "Money money, yeah, yeah" catchphrase, the duo navigated a complex path between comedy, controversy, and high-stakes professional wrestling.
The team consisted of JTG (formerly known as Just Too Good) and Shad Gaspard. Before finding fame in WWE, they honed their craft in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). In 2006, they first competed as "The Gang Stars," winning the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship on May 24, 2006. They eventually rebranded to Cryme Tyme and regained those titles on July 21, 2007.
Their transition to WWE in late 2006 was marked by a deliberate editorial choice. The company issued a statement acknowledging that the team would parody racial stereotypes as a form of "Saturday Night Live like humor" intended for all audiences. Their debut on Raw featured vignettes where they were depicted "training" by robbing people, and they eventually became fan favorites known for stealing items from announcers and other wrestlers.
The duo's career was not without friction. In 2007, a feud with The World's Greatest Tag Team saw Shelton Benjamin publicly criticize their antics as offensive to the Black community. Despite this, Cryme Tyme remained a staple of the brand until they were released in September 2007 for undisclosed reasons. They eventually returned in 2008, forming "Cryme Tyme Cenation" with John Cena before Gaspard turned heel in 2010, leading to their first major split.
After years on the independent circuit—where they often wrestled as "Crime Time"—the duo reunited in 2014. They continued to perform together until Shad Gaspard's death from drowning on May 17, 2020. The WWE Hall of Fame presented Gaspard with the Warrior Award during 2022, after he had died.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Cryme Tyme
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