Skip to main content

Stephanie Speaks Out - Her Critics, Why She's Not On TV

In a rare interview, Stephanie McMahon responds to her critics, specifically noting they used to bother her and how she views them now. She also explains why she's not on television as much as before, if there is a sibling rivalry between her and her brother Shane, the company's main focus for the future, and much more.

THE SHORT INTERVIEW

Danny Flexen managed to grab a few words with WWE bigwig Stephanie McMahon-Levesque at the September 18 weigh-in for the Mayweather vs. Marquez fight in Las Vegas . . .

STEPHANIE, TO BEGIN, can you tell us what all of your WWE job titles are?

I head up Creative Writing, Talent Relations, Talent Brand Management, Live Event Marketing and Live Event Management.

That's some list. What's WWE's main focus in the near future?

We are poised to take off like never before: becoming a truly global brand is the focus right now. Our television programmes are already in over 150 countries and translated into, I think, 30 languages. We have over 15 million viewers and over 15 million page-views per month on wwe.com.

For WWE to grow into a "truly global brand", I assume the company will have to stage more live arena events and television tapings outside the United States and Canada. But how about pay-per-views: do you envisage WWE promoting any from overseas markets?

There will definitely be more live events. The problem with pay-per-view overseas is finding the right times and dates to accommodate the time difference. It also helps if we have big stars from those areas of the world: that helps us make inroads into their countries; a lower-level wrestler does not make much difference. Look at The Great Khali, for example: he's revered in India because he's been the (WWE World) champion.

Does WWE need more headline stars in general to facilitate this expansion?

We have to be cognisant of not spreading ourselves too thin. It can be borderline. We're constantly building new stars, and now we have a five-star training facility in Tampa that should help with that. Steve Keirn is heading that up, and we have Dusty Rhodes helping with character development and mike skills.

I understand that you work long hours in the office and have to go on the road each week for WWE television tapings. Is it difficult to balance this work and travel schedule with being a parent to two young children? That you work for the family business alongside your husband Triple H helps, I imagine.

I take my kids with me on the road, as they are the most important things in my life: I don't like to be away from my kids, and that's part of the reason why you don't see me on-screen as much as before . . . You know, I was always forbidden to marry someone in the business by my dad. But, yes, it's helpful, given we both understand the rigours of our lifestyle.

Do you find it hard to leave your work at work? After all, you are technically your husband's boss.

We actually don't (argue) much at all, except in the business. Sometimes, you can take your work home with you and sometimes you don't. But we always work things out.

What about the schedule for the talent: are they working too many, too few or just the right number of live events?

I think we worked it out . . . I don't have the figures in front of me, but the average days worked per year was actually a lot lower than you'd expect. We always try to keep the balance right, and I know that's something John Laurinaitis is always thinking about. The brand extension means it's worse than it was, but it also means there are more opportunities available for the guys who want to work.

You've taken a lot of flak over the years for the role you play on the WWE writing team. Does it bother you?

It used to . . . But I decided that people are going to think whatever they want to think. I try to do the best I can do. I don't read the dirt sheets at all anymore: they used to really bother me. But the numbers — live event attendances, TV ratings — they tell me what I'm doing right and wrong. We're lucky in that way: we have a focus group in every town we go to every night, so if something's not working, we find out quickly and we can change it. We could be heading in the wrong direction and then completely change it.

Would you care to predict who WWE's next big stars will be?

You know, my dad always says he won't answer that question because he doesn't want to get into trouble, so I think I should say the same. I know who I've got my eyes on, though . . . There's a lot.

Your older brother Shane is WWE's Executive Vice President, Global Media. As driven people in positions of authority in the same company, is there any sibling rivalry between you?

Our roles don't exactly cross over that much. But I can't deny that we are, and always have been, competitive. Even now, as grown adults, after meetings we still play 'touched you last' - you know, like tag. We'll come out all serious, and then he'll tag me and shout, 'touched you last!' and then run away. (Shane's) the head of the International operation, so our paths cross when we do international live events - but we tend to work well together. I think our type of competition is a good kind: it drives us both on and makes the business better. But I cannot foresee a day when my dad (Vince McMahon) hands over the reins to either of us. He's still very much in charge -- and, trust me, everyone knows it.

Advertisment: EXCLUSIVE TRAINING CENTER: Become A Wrestler Or MMA Fighter - LIVE YOU

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Kerala boat tragedy: Thirty five bodies have been fished out of the water

THEKKADY / KOCHI: A thick veil of grief descended on the famed tourist spot of Thekkady on Wednesday when Kerala witnessed its worst ever boat tragedy in the Mullaperiyar waters as the KTDC’s Jalakanyaka, carrying about 76 passengers, sank. Thirty five bodies have been fished out of the water. Any hope of finding more tourists alive faded with the daylight even as rescue personnel continued their desperate search. The two-deck boat, commissioned just a month back, was returning to the boat landing after an hour-long sight-seeing trip when tragedy struck. All the passengers on the upper deck apparently rushed to one side of the boat to take photos of a lone bison spotted on the shore. At the same time many from the lower deck flocked to the top leaving the lower almost empty. This movement and the uneven distribution of weight caused the boat to overbalance and turn turtle. Those remaining on the lower deck were trapped inside while about 20 on the upper deck were rescued by other boa

Special Status For Jammu & Kashmir Scraped: 5 Points About Article 370

Jammu & Kashmir will also be "reorganized," Home Minister Amit Shah said as talks about the state being trifurcated into three separate fields- Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh NEW DELHI: Article 370, which gives Jammu & Kashmir unique status, will be withdrawn this morning in parliament, Home Minister Amit Shah said . The announcement came after his cabinet meeting at his house this morning was held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi . Article 370 is a ' temporary provision ' granting special autonomous status to Jammu & Kashmir . It allows the state to draft its own Constitution and restricts the legislative powers of the parliament over the state. The government therefore requires state government approval for all legislation, except those related to defence, foreign affairs, finance, and communications. Parliament can not also improve or decrease the boundaries of the State under Article 370 As a consequence, citizens of Jammu & Kashmir

Enai Nokki Paayum Thotta Movie Review: Tiring and Unsatisfying

Movie Rating: 3/5 First of all things! The director's weakest film is the long delayed Enai Noki Paayum Thotta by Gautham Menon . The film's main weakness is the director's fascination with narrative style voice-over. It was good before Gautham used voice-over as a medium to tell his stories, but every scene in Enai Nokki Paayum Thotta begins and ends with Dhanush's voice-over, which irritates us after a point. The film is filled with tired stereotypes, and at a runtime of 157 minutes it is an unsatisfying watch. Like any other movie from Gautham Menon, here too hero Raghu (Dhanush) is a student of engineering, but this time his wife is not a student, but a film heroine Lekha ( Mega Akash ).She tells him she is not interested in movies and her boss Kuberan (Senthil Veeraswamy) coerced her into the profession for money (it looks like the girl is an orphan and Kuberan supported her studies and is her guardian). Raghu takes her to his Pollachi house and introduc