In his latest YouTube video, former WWE Superstar Maven recalled when he went off-script during a match against MASADA on WWE Sunday Night Heat in 2003.
According to Maven, MASADA attempted to pin him in a way that wasn’t acceptable for an enhancement talent against a main roster Superstar. This caused Maven to take the match into his own hands, and he ended up no-selling a pinfall attempt by MASADA.
You can check out some highlights from the vlog below:
On his feeling going backstage after the match: “As I’m walking up the ramp to go back to gorilla. I’m actually terrified because I know I went off script. I know I wasn’t supposed to clothesline him, I wasn’t supposed to jump off him when I did. I also know that what I did was right. Why was it right? You can’t, as a name guy, have someone doing something that disrespectful to you. Like I said, do I think he did anything maliciously? No, absolutely not. I think he was having his regular his regular style match. He’s probably done that a million times, and if I was wrestling him on an indie match, no problem, but I knew that I was going to have to face Arn Anderson. I knew that Gerald Brisco was going to be sitting at the monitors backstage when I got back there. I knew the wrath I would incur if I walked through that curtain and I made their talent, the talent that they pay on a weekly basis, look less than.”
On Arn Anderson and Gerald Brisco commending him for how he handled things: “As soon as I get to the top of the ramp, I peek the curtain open, and I walk through, standing right there are Arn Anderson and Gerald Brisco. Both of them immediately told me I did the right thing. They said, ‘Maven, there’s no way as a main guy, you can let someone who’s just trying out, make you look stupid, make you look lesser than.’ Both of them congratulated me, told me I did the right thing, and again, I was immediately relieved.”
On explaining to MASADA what happened: “After that, my next step was to find MASADA and just explain myself, explain what happened. I remember when, as soon as I saw him, he was a little bit shaken and didn’t understand, but once I told him and once I explained my position, actually, Arn, I think was there with me. Once I explained it, he completely understood. He knew it was just a mistake. He was wrestling his normal match. Nothing he was trying to do again, [there was] no malicious intent. He just got carried up and I completely understand. I know he’s actually still wrestling to this day and I wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
Former WWE Superstar Maven recently shared a story from his wrestling career in his latest YouTube video. Maven recalled a match against MASADA on WWE Sunday Night Heat in 2003, where he went off-script due to an unacceptable pinfall attempt by MASADA.
During the match, MASADA tried to pin Maven in a way that was not suitable for an enhancement talent facing a main roster Superstar. Maven, feeling the need to protect his image and the integrity of the match, decided to take matters into his own hands. He no-sold MASADA’s pinfall attempt, deviating from the planned script.
After the match, Maven felt a mix of fear and relief as he walked backstage. He knew he had gone against the script, but he also believed he had done the right thing. Maven understood that as a name guy, he couldn’t allow someone to disrespect him in the ring. He acknowledged that MASADA probably didn’t have any malicious intent and was simply wrestling his regular style match, but Maven felt it was necessary to maintain the credibility of the main roster talent.
To his surprise, Maven received commendation from two respected figures in the wrestling industry, Arn Anderson and Gerald Brisco. As soon as Maven reached the top of the ramp, he encountered Anderson and Brisco, who immediately told him that he had made the right decision. They emphasized that as a main guy, Maven couldn’t let someone trying out make him look foolish or inferior. Their support and validation relieved Maven of his initial fears.
Maven also took the initiative to explain the situation to MASADA. He sought out MASADA and clarified what had happened during the match. Initially shaken and confused, MASADA eventually understood Maven’s perspective after hearing his explanation. Maven acknowledged that MASADA had no malicious intent and was simply caught up in the moment. He expressed his support for MASADA’s wrestling career and wished him the best moving forward.
The YouTube video shared by Maven provides a firsthand account of the incident and offers insight into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of professional wrestling. It highlights the importance of maintaining credibility and respect within the industry, even when unexpected situations arise. Maven’s decision to go off-script was ultimately supported by wrestling veterans, further emphasizing the significance of protecting one’s image and the integrity of the match.
Overall, Maven’s story serves as a valuable lesson for aspiring wrestlers and fans alike, showcasing the complexities and challenges faced by performers in the world of professional wrestling.