During the Attitude Era of WWE, a plethora of on-screen romantic storylines unfolded. However, not every twist caught the fancy of WWE veteran Jim Ross, regardless of what he might have expressed verbally in his role as commentator.
Back in 1999, an on-screen love saga began between Stephanie McMahon and Test. The storyline eventually resulted in Test proposing to the daughter of the company’s boss.
On a recent edition of Ross’s podcast, “Grilling JR”, where he has frequently endorsed the McMahon-Test pairing, the commentator revealed his genuine take on the storyline.
Ross candidly shared, “It actually elevated Stephanie’s status because it gave her more screen time and it’s undeniable that she’s a talented performer. She outshone Test in terms of performance; we realized that Test’s charisma was somewhat limited. Though he had a great appearance and was a pleasant individual, being naturally charismatic was something that eluded him.”
Further adding, “In their shared scenes, it was quite evident that she was the one who stood out. And we realized that we can use her talent more frequently. To be frank, the entire affair of marriages and engagements didn’t sit well with me. I didn’t believe that the audience bought into it and honestly, I didn’t either. I wasn’t particularly fond of the storyline.”
As the plot unfolded, Stephanie McMahon briefly suffered from amnesia as a result of an attack by the British Bulldog, leading to an opportunity for Test to woo her once more.
By the end of 1999, their relationship came to a sudden halt during their wedding ceremony when Triple H unveiled that he had secretly married McMahon at a drive-thru chapel. McMahon would later turn against her father and join forces with Triple H that December. Eventually, the two became a real-life couple and were married in late 2003.