"It was really dirty" - Veteran on WWE letting female star go after backstage fight with Stephanie McMahon
Over 20 years ago, Stephanie McMahon had a legit backstage fight with a massive former WWE Superstar. Meanwhile, according to a wrestling veteran, it led to the company releasing the former star.
The legend in question is none other than Chyna. The Ninth Wonder of the World was in a relationship with Triple H before The Game began dating Stephanie McMahon while they worked together on-screen. After the 14-time WWE World Champion ended his romance with Chyna to be with The Billion Dollar Princess, his ex-girlfriend left the company.
In an interview with Cafe de René, wrestling veteran Jonathan Coachman talked about Triple H and Chyna's breakup, disclosing that the company initially offered the former WWE Women's Champion a contract renewal despite the relationship drama.
"It [the breakup] was really dirty because, and I don't know if it would have changed anything for her [Chyna], but, at the time, her contract was up. And I remember they told her, basically, 'You've worked with [everybody]!' Remember she used to work with all the guys? That was her gimmick. And she had basically kind of done programs with everybody. So, reportedly, the number she was making $1.6 million, and they offered her $800,000, which back then was a lot of money. It was a lot of money," he said.
The Coach disclosed that Chyna asked the company to let her work in Hollywood, in addition to being a WWE Superstar, as compensation for cutting her salary in half.
However, The Ninth Wonder of The World had a backstage fight with Stephanie McMahon before signing the new deal, which led to the promotion releasing her, as the Sports Entertainment juggernaut could not keep her and The Billion Dollar Princess around each other.
According to the veteran, the decision cost Chyna over a million dollars.
"Then she got in a fight with Stephanie backstage, and because she hadn't signed the deal, they could just let her go. And because they couldn't keep her and Stephanie around. And so, she cost herself, you know, upwards of over a million dollars because she never signed the contract. And so she could have gotten paid and gotten to leave. So, then she went to Hollywood, never really made it, and tragically, her life ended," he added. [39:35-40:45]
Chyna detailed her backstage fight with the former WWE Chairwoman
In an interview with Wrestling Inc. in 2011, Chyna talked about her reaction after she discovered Triple H and Stephanie McMahon's relationship. The former Intercontinental Champion claimed she immediately called Vince McMahon, who promised her a face-to-face conversation.
The Ninth Wonder of the World then recalled having a backstage confrontation with The Billion Dollar Princess, during which she threatened to choke Stephanie McMahon.
"Then Stephanie stepped up. She took me into the room, we talked, and she goes, 'Well, I love him. He's my man. I'm sorry if you feel that way?' and I shut her up. I said, 'Shut up. Call your dad in here because I'm going to choke you out.' 'If you really feel that way, take control of yourself,' then Vince came in and said, 'Let's do a new contract. I know this is tough for you, but it's going to be okay.' Then I went home, and I got a fax saying they didn't need me anymore," Chyna said.
After Chyna left WWE, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon continued to date for a few years before tying the knot in 2003. Meanwhile, the former Women's Champion tragically passed away in April 2016.
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