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In 2020, the WWE Universe knows more about the real people behind the Superstars of RAW, SmackDown and NXT than ever before.
Nowadays, Superstars will openly share details about their personal lives on social platforms and in media interviews, while WWE produces various online shows on a weekly basis to give fans an out-of-character insight into the people that appear on television.
This week, for example, we learned that a SmackDown Superstar recently approached Vince McMahon and asked him for some promo time on the show. As you will soon find out, it proved to be a good decision and the promo was widely praised by fans online.
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Let’s take a look at the full details behind that story, plus nine others, as we count down 10 of the most interesting behind-the-scenes tales that have been revealed this week about WWE Superstars.
A WWE Hall of Famer isn't a John Cena fan. More details HERE
#10 Vince McMahon’s instructions for The Nexus
This week marked the 10-year anniversary of The Nexus’ incredible debut in WWE.
The villainous group consisted of eight ‘rookies’ from the first season of the NXT game show – Wade Barrett, Daniel Bryan, Darren Young, David Otunga, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel, Michael Tarver, and Skip Sheffield – and they made a huge impact on a June 2010 episode of RAW by attacking John Cena, Jerry Lawler and Justin Roberts, as well as the ringside area.
Inside The Ropes released footage of Barrett – Nexus’ leader – talking about Vince McMahon’s instructions to all eight Superstars before the segment.
The WWE Chairman warned the newcomers not to punch anybody in the crowd, while he also told them not to damage any of WWE’s $100,000 cameras at ringside.
#9 Arn Anderson clashed with Sami Zayn in WWE
Arn Anderson usually speaks very positively about Superstars he worked with in WWE, but he had a surprising take on his podcast this week when he was asked about Sami Zayn possibly working as a producer/agent in the future.
The Hall of Famer revealed that he “clashed quite a few times” with Zayn in WWE and he does not believe that the former Intercontinental Champion has enough patience or creativity to help put other Superstars’ matches together.
#8 Sonya Deville asked Vince McMahon for promo time
WWE Backstage has become one of the company’s most popular weekly shows for fans who like to hear what the people behind the characters think about their current role on television.
On this week’s show, Sonya Deville revealed that she asked Vince McMahon and members of WWE’s creative team for an opportunity on the microphone. She added that they “can take it away from me forever” if she messed up.
WWE viewers will know that Deville did not mess up, as she delivered a memorable promo segment that turned out to be one of the biggest highlights of her rivalry with Mandy Rose.
#7 WWE accidentally tried to hire Adam Cole instead of Xavier Woods
One of the most bizarre stories of 2020 so far was revealed this week by WWE NXT Superstar Adam Cole in an interview with The Wrap.
The 30-year-old made his first on-screen WWE appearance as a 19-year-old when he took part in a bar scene with Serena Deeb and The Straight Edge Society. However, Cole (real name Austin Jenkins) recalled that the segment only happened as an act of generosity after someone within WWE accidentally said they wanted to sign him.
Cole noticed when he received a follow-up email from WWE that they wanted Xavier Woods (real name Austin Watson) and they had been trying to sign the wrong Austin!
#6 Charlotte Flair found it tough to work with heel Bayley
Bayley’s WWE character has gone from strength to strength since she turned heel in October 2019, but have you ever wondered what impact the storyline development had on the person she became a bad guy against?
Charlotte Flair, who was also a heel when Bayley turned to the dark side, explained in an interview with The Daily Star this week that she found herself in a “tricky situation” when she suddenly had to adjust her character and work as more of a babyface against her long-term rival.
#5 How Erick Rowan felt about his WWE 'cage' storyline
When WWE fans look back in years to come at Paul Heyman’s time as the Executive Director of RAW, there is a good chance that Erick Rowan’s ‘cage’ gimmick will receive a mention.
After several months of carrying a cage with him to ringside for his matches, Rowan suddenly revealed in a brief backstage segment with No Way Jose that the cage contained a mechanical spider.
Rowan, who was released by WWE in April, admitted this week on The Lewis Nicholls Show that he “didn’t know what happened” in the storyline, but he was just glad to be on television every week.
#4 Triple H’s ‘worst WWE moment ever’
WWE’s latest WWE Network offering focused on the final few days of Ric Flair’s career before his retirement match against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24.
Following the episode, WWE released an amusing bonus clip which showed Triple H recalling that he had the unfortunate task of ushering Flair off the stage after he took too long to get to the end of his Hall of Fame speech.
“It was the worst moment ever,” said Triple H, who admitted that Flair probably doesn’t even know that he felt so bad about it at the time.
#3 The Undertaker expected a different WrestleMania 30 outcome
The man behind The Undertaker persona, Mark Calaway, has repeatedly mentioned in recent media interviews that he has said more out-of-character words in the last month than he has in his entire career.
The WWE icon’s most newsworthy comment this week came when he recalled on CBS Sports' State of Combat podcast that WWE’s decision-makers planned for him to defeat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 30, but the finish was changed on the day of the show.
#2 How Vince McMahon told Ric Flair to retire
The Undertaker’s WWE Network series has revolved around his in-ring future and the mental struggle of deciding when it will be the right time to bring an end to his legendary career.
Twelve years ago, Ric Flair found himself in a similar situation when, at the age of 59, he could not bring himself to walk away from a job he had done for over three decades.
Flair said during his ‘WWE 24’ documentary that Vince McMahon got in touch and essentially ended his career for him by saying the veteran should “bow out gracefully and end this”.
#1 Erick Rowan pitched a WWE character like “The Fiend”
Viewers of all things WWE might remember that Erick Rowan was once involved in a creepy segment on Talking Smack which saw him pop balloons and display multiple personalities in the same interview.
Well, in another interesting story from his interview with Lewis Nicholls, the former WWE Superstar revealed that he pitched the idea of portraying a split-personality character who wore different masks. However, he then joined forces with Luke Harper again as The Bludgeon Brothers and his character idea did not receive a prolonged run on television.
