Former WWE writer Freddie Prinze Jr. spoke candidly about the role of celebrities in WWE, highlighting both the successes and failures of their involvement.
Prinze Jr. is known for his celebrity status and his true passion for the sport has earned him a high reputation in the wrestling world. His tenure as a writer for WWE was marked by his contributions that resonated with fans. However, he noted that not all celebrities appearing on the company had the same positive impact.
From June 2009 to June 2010, WWE's flagship show Raw frequently featured outside celebrity guests. Looking back on this era, Prinze Jr. recalled an example of an episode of Wrestling with Freddy in which such an appearance didn't hit the mark. In particular, he pointed to Meat Loaf's infamous struggle to get an RKO.
Meatloaf gets an RKO. Meatloaf could not bend his knees. He was unable to bend his knees when receiving, making it the worst reception in RKO history.
Despite these failures, Prinze Jr. emphasized that the Kevin Federline and John Cena storyline was a rare success. He attributed the effect to the intense dislike fans had for Federline, then the boyfriend of pop star Britney Spears.
The Kevin Federline and John Cena storyline because everyone hated Britney Spears' boyfriend so much they wanted to see John Cena whip his a** worked because everyone hated him so much.
However, Prinze Jr. has not been shy about criticizing certain celebrity involvements, such as Jon Stewart's appearance at SummerSlam 2015. He criticized this decision, arguing that it went against Stewart's established persona and lacked consistency within the storyline. According to Prinze Jr., Stewart's interference, motivated by his newfound admiration for wrestling legend Ric Flair, seemed out of character for him and failed to resonate with the audience. It is said that
That was one of the worst uses of celebrity ever. [Stewart] He really likes Ric Flair, so he goes there and likes F more than John Cena? It was so out of character for Jon Stewart.
What did Freddie Prinze Jr. say about WWE NXT?
Freddie Prinze Jr. has slammed WWE's NXT brand, calling it “utter trash.” Prinze Jr. said he enjoyed watching the show before it was rebranded in 2021, but since then he likens it to a local theater production.
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