For years, fans have debated the origins of the New World Order’s (NWO) iconic swagger—but now, WWE legend X-Pac has finally set the record straight. In a recent interview on No-Contest Wrestling with O’Shea Jackson Jr. and TJ Jefferson, the two-time Hall of Famer revealed that the NWO took heavy inspiration from Ice Cube and Westside Connection during their rise in the Monday Night Wars.
“We stole that sh*t from Westside Connection,” X-Pac admitted. “Bow down when we come to your town—all that sh*t. The attitude, everything, we jacked it.”
During the late ‘90s, both the NWO and Westside Connection embodied an unapologetic, rebellious energy that resonated with fans.
Whether it was Kevin Nash rocking FUBU, Scott Hall throwing up the “Too Sweet,” or the group’s overall streetwise bravado, their presentation mirrored the defiant confidence that Westside Connection brought to hip-hop.
Jackson Jr., whose father Ice Cube founded Westside Connection, immediately recognized the parallels. The moment led to a deeper discussion about how wrestling and hip-hop have been connected for decades—well before the days of WWE collaborating with Bad Bunny or Snoop Dogg.
“You could tell there was a heavy hip-hop influence,” TJ Jefferson added. “The bandanas, the Jordans, the ‘thug life’ attitude—y’all were basically rap stars in wrestling gear.”
X-Pac even recalled a house show at The Forum in Inglewood, CA, where he took that influence to the next level.
“I came out to ‘Gangsta, the Killa, and the Dope Dealer’ at a show in Inglewood,” he said. “When I got backstage, they chewed me out because of the lyrics, but I didn’t care. We were in L.A. It was perfect.”
The NWO’s impact on wrestling is undeniable, but this revelation cements their place in hip-hop history as well.
Without Ice Cube, WCW’s biggest faction might not have had the same edge—a surprising connection that makes both the rap and wrestling worlds even more intertwined.