WWE RAW Superstar Mandy Rose has had an interesting road to the spot that she is currently in on the main roster of the sports entertainment company.
She appeared on Lilian Garcia’s Chasing Glory podcast to talk about various topics including the path that she had to take to get to the position that she is in now. Prior to signing with the WWE, she was a bodybuilder and model.
Moving along, Rose was a contestant in the sixth season of the WWE competition WWE Tough Enough, which began airing in June 2015. She placed second overall behind winners Sara Lee and Josh Bredl. After the series had concluded, it was revealed that Rose had signed a five-year contract with the sports entertainment company.
During her appearance on the podcast, she reflected on butting heads with Paige on Tough Enough
“It was more of the fact that she would judge me that I didn’t know how to wrestle, which I didn’t know how to wrestle at that time because I came from a fitness background; I didn’t have any pro-wrestling experience.”
Rose added, “That was the biggest thing, and I think that I am very different than Paige. Paige brought a lot to the women’s division, as the ‘anti-Diva’ which is great, but I kind of come off as the Diva, which I want to change that, I’m not just a Diva of course, we’re called superstars, and maybe that was what it had to do with. We are very different, but Paige didn’t get to know me personally; she just knew me from the show, and I wasn’t the nicest on the show, which I get. I was playing a character, especially towards the end when I played the b***h.”
Rose previously had no in-ring experience when she was a competitor on Tough Enough. Thus, there were some fans that believed she was someone who is simply seeking fame instead of someone who loves wrestling. However, that is not the case as Rose went on record by stating that she is working hard to prove those misconceptions about her are wrong.
On the November 20, 2017, episode of Raw, Rose joined Sonya Deville and Paige as they attacked Sasha Banks, Bayley, Mickie James and Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss. This officially marked her main roster debut.
“It’s been great. So far, I can’t complain. Being brought in with Absolution and our mentor, Paige, I think it’s really cool, and really full circle since she was our judge on Tough Enough, and she hated me. She was rough with me, but I get it.”
H/T to Wrestling Inc for the transcript.
