Former WWE Superstar Maven Huffman was delighted to be moved to RAW, believing the red brand’s live atmosphere allowed him to thrive under pressure.
After winning the first season of Tough Enough, Maven was brought to SmackDown, but returned from a lengthy injury as a member of the Monday Night RAW roster.
In the latest video from his YouTube channel, Maven said he preferred working on RAW as opposed to the pre-taped SmackDown. He said,
“I’ll be perfectly honest. For me, I was ecstatic when they moved me over to Raw. I always appreciated and I always enjoyed a live atmosphere better. Things just felt different backstage. Things felt crisper, it felt like a tighter-running ship, you could definitely see that more emphasis and more importance was placed on timing, getting things done in their proper time.”
In late 2004, Maven became the General Manager of RAW for one night, which allowed the Tough Enough alum to prove himself in a high-pressure setting. He said,
“I remember the night that I was the Raw General Manager. It was in Indianapolis and I was involved in I want to say probably ten or eleven segments of that night. That was ten or eleven more segments than I was normally in. So I had to learn lines, I had to learn staging, I had to learn promos. I had to also have my match with Hunter. I was literally moving, working, and prepping the entire day.
“That night, at the end of that night, when I got through gorilla, and immediately saw Vince and he gave me his approval and told me, ‘Amazing job,’ it meant so much more. Why? Not because it was coming from Vince. Of course, it was great hearing it from Vince, but because it happened on a live show. There was literally no room, zero room for air, and knowing that I was able to perform in a live environment like that, it felt so good.”
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Former WWE Superstar Maven Huffman recently shared his thoughts on his time on RAW and why he preferred working on the red brand over SmackDown. Maven, who won the first season of Tough Enough, initially joined SmackDown but later returned from injury as a member of the Monday Night RAW roster.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Maven expressed his excitement about moving to RAW and working in a live atmosphere. He believed that things felt different backstage and that there was a tighter-running ship on RAW. Maven appreciated the emphasis on timing and getting things done in their proper time.
One of Maven’s notable moments on RAW was when he became the General Manager for one night in late 2004. This opportunity allowed him to prove himself in a high-pressure setting. Maven recalled that he was involved in around ten or eleven segments that night, which was more than he was normally part of. He had to learn lines, staging, promos, and also have a match with Hunter. The entire day was filled with constant movement, work, and preparation.
Receiving approval and praise from Vince McMahon at the end of that night meant a lot to Maven. It wasn’t just because it came from Vince himself, but because it happened on a live show. Maven felt a sense of accomplishment knowing that he was able to perform in a live environment with no room for error.
Maven’s preference for working on RAW highlights the unique challenges and opportunities that come with performing on a live show. The pressure to deliver flawless performances and the adrenaline rush of performing in front of a live audience can bring out the best in WWE Superstars.
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