Dutch Mantell blasts "stupid ideology" behind WWE rivalries with other companies (Exclusive)

Dutch Mantell was a TNA creative team member between 2003 and 2009 before returning to WWE in 2013 as the Zeb Colter character. The legendary wrestling booker and manager recently reflected on the rivalry between the two companies during that time.

In 2024, several TNA and WWE stars have appeared on the other promotion's show as part of a talent exchange agreement. In the 2000s and 2010s, however, the companies were viewed as competitors and hardly ever acknowledged each other's existence.

On Sportskeeda Wrestling's Smack Talk, Mantell told host Kevin Kellam that TNA and WWE should not have been so petty in those days:

"It was the most stupid ideology I remember seeing a wrestling company have, on both sides. WWE would never acknowledge TNA. They would never acknowledge Ring of Honor. They would never acknowledge any other independent group that was fairly big back then, and TNA, they wouldn't even mention WWE." [3:56 – 4:20]

Watch the video above to hear Mantell's thoughts on how WWE has booked former TNA tag team Motor City Machine Guns.

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Dutch Mantell mentioned WWE to TNA higher-ups

Several former WWE stars wrestled for TNA during Dutch Mantell's tenure with the company, including Booker T, Jeff Hardy, Kevin Nash, and Kurt Angle.

While working for TNA, Mantell questioned why the company's management pretended WWE did not exist:

"I said, 'Guys, everybody knows, why don't we just tell the truth for a change and see how it's received? If you don't like it, then we won't do it anymore.' And I felt sorry for the announcers, really. To sit there and act like WWE, nobody knew about it, it made everybody look less than stellar, let me say that." [4:21 – 4:48]

Mantell also worked on TNA's creative team in 2017 after his three-year WWE run as the Zeb Colter persona ended.

Do you think wrestling companies should acknowledge each other? Hit the discuss button and let us know.

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Dutch Mantell and his wife Cathy have battled life-threatening health issues in recent months. You can show your support by leaving a donation via GoFundMe.

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Please credit Sportskeeda Wrestling's Smack Talk and embed the video if you use quotes from this article.