Debunked: WWE wrestler says he got bloodied shoes from dark web, but did it really happen?

TikTok is full of the weirdest corners of the internet, but this dark web saga has myself, along with the rest of the app, absolutely hooked.

A WWE fighter is (for whatever reason) hosting live unboxings of parcels he ordered from the dark web, but the series has mainly revolved around disturbing items: Pairs of “blood-stained” shoes.

Shiloh Hill first posted about his dark web footwear purchases in May, but has since turned his shopping habits into a whole thing on TikTok over the last few months. 

The weirdest bit? The 26-year-old alludes the shoes have dark, bloody origins, claiming he bought them off a dodgy site called “The Shoeman” – but the internet isn’t convinced.

So, could it be a WWE stunt or ploy to go viral?

Shiloh bought the first pair of shoes in May, but viewers immediately caught him out

@thunder_keck

not even done loading it and im already getting a bad feeling #intothedarkweb

♬ 99999999999 – Rory in early 20s

The TikTok Shoeman drama all kicked off at the end of May when Hill posted a TikTok of him seemingly scrolling through a dodgy website with the caption “something feels off about this dark web shoes site”, which gained 15.6M views.

TikTok commenters quickly criticised the wrestler, pointing out the obvious that the dark web is likely to sell dodgy items, and writing: “‘Something feels off’ and ‘dark web’ in the same sentence”. The next viral video contained him allegedly “buying” a pair of his size. However, one viewer made a sneaky discovery after thinking the boots looked familiar, commenting “he’s worn the boots prior in a photoshoot.”

The ‘unboxing’ was … dramatic

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In the next viral video, Shiloh seemingly unboxes the shoes, which appear to be covered in blood, whilst a creepy audio plays. He also displays a VHS tape, to which one TikTok commenter saw right through, writing: “The fking tape, be so FOR REAL.”

Another also called out the tape for being too on the nose as an obvious tell that this was fake, writing: “Well I won’t lie, you really had me until the tape just so happened to fall out”. So it appears most of the internet thinks it’s staged for different reasons. 

@thunder_keck

it smells so gross #intothedarkweb

♬ 99999999999 – Rory in early 20s

Since the cowboy boots, Shiloh says he purchased other pairs off the website, one which he claimed was not only covered in dirt and blood, but were also infested with maggots.

Some viewers think its a WWE storyline

TikTokkers weren’t fooled by the blood, with some thinking it could easily be “animal blood” or “paint”. Others think its all part of a set up for a wrestling backstory, with one person writing: “This is the best storyline WWE has ever come up with.”

But in an attempt to prove his authenticity, in the same video, Shiloh tries to reassure viewers that the blood is real, saying: “Yeah we’re going to have to test this. The luminol gets here tomorrow.”

However, as a commenter on his video pointed out how Luminol can not only yield false positives, with substances such as bleach and plant peroxidases known to cause it to glow, but can also “react to any blood, not just human blood.”

On top of all that, he also found a tracker in the shoes. So there are a lot of caveats to this story. 

If it were real blood, police would seize the boots as evidence

The point we’re all thinking. A lot of viewers are reluctant to believe the whole TikTok Shoeman drama and that these shoes have a dark backstory, especially as they would likely be seized by police for an investigation if so. 

“Call the cops wtf. Why are you messing with evidence”, commented one dubious user under his video. Although Shiloh implicitly suggested they might be involved in a video posted on 15th July, many still aren’t buying it for multiple reasons. One person on Reddit pointed out that the police would be involved if so: “It’s obviously not real, if it was the feds would have taken the shoes from him.”

Yet despite his suggestions, Shiloh claimed he couldn’t give any more details about his blood stained boots in a very ominous comment online: “I’m really sorry but right now but I don’t think I can post anything about it. I don’t think I can even really explain why I can’t post anything about it – I’m still waiting to hear back about that. I promise you it’s a good reason”.

After that, one user believed Shiloh was actually earning money from monetisation, writing: “Ah I get the joke now. You created the site and materialised the content. Kudos.” 

People think Shiloh is running the shoe site on the dark web

Another theory people online have is that Shiloh is running the site himself and is in essence, The Shoeman.

People started suspecting as much after Shiloh posted a follow up video claiming that a pair of boots had been listed on the same site but under his name this time: “Okay I said I was done posting about this but why is my name on here now and why are mine so expensive?”

The video displays him seemingly scrolling on The Shoeman site, zooming in on a listing saying “Shiloh” and the photo “COMING SOON”.

Obviously this unravels the whole thing, and a top comment on the TikTok video read: “Now I’m convinced bro is running the site and trying to keep everyone glued to his page.”

Adding to the scepticism, someone who joined his Twitch stream to view the unboxing claimed that they saw nothing but ads, writing: “Bruh I joined, got 5mins of ads, and when the ads ended live was ended”, adding to the scepticism. 

The internet just isn’t convinced

Despite the shoes being absolutely horrible, there are multiple loopholes to this story which lead viewers to believe it’s not real.

Reddit users have struggled to find the site on the dark web, despite Shiloh claiming the site had gone down, all of which seems fishy. The fact that Shiloh keeps posting about it is also bait, with any viewers believing the police would be involved if this was a serious crime case.

Or, many of the believers could just have confirmation bias – because in what world would he actually be trying these shoes on, or know to cut into the heel of the boot to find a tracker?

And why is he sometimes not wearing gloves?

Most of the internet believes the TikTok Shoeman saga could be a new WWE storyline developing, or an ARG made by a strange internet nerd… or Shiloh himself. 

Featured image via TikTok @thunder_keck