D-Von Dudley worked for Vince McMahon for many years and knew very well how McMahon functioned and what it was like to work with him. With that said Dudley has now claimed that McMahons inner circle sabotaged his solo run in WWE.
While speaking on the 1 of a Kind podcast, D-Von Dudley talked about how upset he was with the Reverend D-Von character because things were going really well. He was doing promos with Vince McMahon, standing right next to him, feeding off each others energy. He noted that McMahon was even telling him he was doing a great job.
One day D-Von arrived at work and asked Bruce Pritchard, who had been involved in the characters direction, what the plan was. Bruce told him to ask his boss and D-Von asked if he meant Vince McMahon, but Bruce told him to ask his former boss.
When D-Von asked if he meant Paul Heyman, Bruce confirmed it. At that time, Paul had taken over as the head writer for SmackDown. D-Von was shocked because he didnt understand why Paul was now in charge of his character.
D-Von was later told that Bruce Pritchard was no longer handling it and that Paul Heyman was now in charge. Suddenly, Vince McMahon no longer saw the character as successful. D-Von believes that someone convinced Vince McMahon that he wasnt ready.
D-Von remembered a moment with The Rock that confirmed this. After working out together, The Rock offered him a ride to the hotel. It was around a big pay-per-view, likely WrestleMania 20 in New York City, where Brock Lesnar faced Goldberg. In the car, The Rock revealed that he had asked Vince McMahon if he could work with D-Von because he liked the character and wanted to help make it more popular.
However, The Rock said that Vince told him, D-Vons not ready. D-Von was shocked because everything had been going well and he really didnt understand what had changed.
Eventually, some wrestlers warned him that people he thought were his friends might actually be working against him. D-Von later realized that someone in the office was sabotaging him. He believed that Vince could have big plans for a wrestler, but if someone close to him said they werent ready, Vince would quickly change his mind.
D-Von noted that even if Vince McMahon liked someone, all it took was a trusted person, like Bruce Pritchard or someone at his level, to say otherwise, and Vince would listen to them instead.
D-Von Dudley previously blasted Vince McMahon for making wrestlers feel small. D-Von Dudleys solo career ended too soon, and many think he never got a real chance to succeed. In the end, D-Vons experience shows how backstage politics and McMahons close team could decide a wrestlers future.
Do you think D-Von was unfairly held back in WWE? Should he have had a longer solo run? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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