Former UFC champion turned WWE superstar Ronda Rousey has made waves with shocking accusations against John Laurinaitis, a former wrestler turned WWE executive, regarding his alleged sexist practices during his tenure running NXT. Rousey’s forthcoming book, “Our Fight,” slated for release on April 4, promises candid insights into her WWE experiences, including scathing remarks directed towards Laurinaitis and other WWE executives.
Rousey’s accusations stem from the changes made to the WWE NXT brand in 2021, during which Laurinaitis assumed control in the absence of Triple H. Describing Laurinaitis as a “dirtbag” and criticizing his decisions as prioritizing looks over talent, Rousey paints a grim picture of the inner workings of WWE’s developmental territory.
According to Rousey’s forthcoming book, “Our Fight,” Laurinaitis’ leadership approach favored “f*ckability” over talent, leading to a purge of older talent and a shift away from recruiting from indie circuits. Rousey’s claims suggest that Laurinaitis’ decisions significantly impacted NXT’s direction and roster composition, resulting in discontent among performers and fans alike.
The former UFC champion highlights the excitement surrounding NXT’s potential for expansion and profit, contrasting it with the repetitive storylines of WWE’s main roster shows, Raw and SmackDown. However, with Vince McMahon’s attention shifting towards NXT’s competition with AEW, significant changes ensued, spearheaded by Laurinaitis.
Rousey’s accusations against Laurinaitis have sparked widespread debate and speculation among fans and wrestling enthusiasts, shedding light on the complexities of WWE’s inner workings. While Laurinaitis has yet to respond to Rousey’s claims, the allegations have reignited discussions surrounding gender equality and representation in professional wrestling.
”Laurinaitis had made a name for himself as an average but by no means outstanding wrestler before he moved into playing an in-ring authority figure type and then a producer. He looked and acted like an entitled sixty-year-old former frat boy. Tall, blondish, and with a cleft chin, he always appeared to be scowling, even when he smiled. His raspy voice earned him the nickname Johnny Laryngitis, which was one of the nicer things people called him.”
”Whereas Triple H looked for talent and potential in NXT prospects, it appeared John Laurinaitis looked for f*ckability. He further purged the NXT roster, firing it seemed like everyone over twenty-five and turning recruiting attention away from the indie circuits in favor of blonde sorority-types from places like the Universities of Florida and Tennessee. Putting the blame for the decline on Laurinaitis—which Vince would basically try to do a few months later—would be easy but Laurinaitis was only a symptom of what was wrong within WWE. Honestly, the actual drama was so much better than anything WWE could ever script.”
Furthermore, Rousey’s revelations extend to her true feelings about WWE chairman Vince McMahon, indicating her disinterest in returning to the company. With her candid remarks shedding light on the challenges faced by female performers in the male-dominated world of professional wrestling, Rousey’s accusations against Laurinaitis have sparked renewed calls for accountability and transparency within WWE’s corporate structure.
As Rousey’s forthcoming book prepares to hit shelves on April 4, fans and wrestling enthusiasts eagerly await further revelations and insights into her WWE experiences. With her candid remarks shaking the foundations of WWE’s developmental territory, Rousey’s accusations against Laurinaitis have brought to light the complexities and challenges faced by performers in the ever-evolving world of professional wrestling.