During a recent appearance on “Busted Open Radio,” former WWE star Mandy Rose reflected on her seven-year tenure in WWE, particularly her time on “WWE Raw” and “WWE SmackDown.” Co-host Bully Ray prompted Rose to discuss the changes she experienced toward the end of her stint, and she revealed that a pivotal meeting with Vince McMahon played a significant role.
Rose recalled McMahon expressing his appreciation for her character but advised her to be more authentic and true to herself. The WWE chairman encouraged her to move away from the overly sexy persona she had been portraying, suggesting that she simply be “more me.” Rose acknowledged that she might have been trying too hard to fit into a certain mold and took McMahon’s feedback to heart.
Reflecting on the confusion she initially felt after the conversation with McMahon, Rose considered the possibility that creative having no plans for her could have contributed to the change in her position on the card. Nevertheless, she recognized McMahon’s authority and guidance in shaping characters and decided to make a conscious effort to be more genuine.
“There was a meeting with Vince, I remember, I will say,” Rose recalled. “There was a meeting and he had told me that he loves my character and what I’m doing and all, but just be more me. I remember that was like the one thing. I felt like there was a part of me where I was maybe trying too hard to be that sexy character in a way.”
“To me, I was actually really confused about it at first because when I had that conversation with Vince, obviously I needed to take that and listen to him. He’s –- you know this –- the guy to listen to.”
This shift in approach became evident when Rose returned to “NXT” in July 2021. She focused on portraying a character that aligned more closely with her true self, leading to her involvement in the faction Toxic Attraction alongside Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne. Rose’s time in “NXT” saw her capture the Women’s Championship after defeating Raquel Rodriguez, marking a significant evolution in her character before her eventual release from WWE in December 2022.
Rose’s candid insights into her journey within WWE shed light on the challenges and transformations wrestlers undergo as they navigate their careers and seek authenticity in their portrayals.
