In a recent interview on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” professional wrestler Shotzi Blackheart opened up about her initial days in WWE. Among other things, she spoke about the criticism she received from Vince McMahon about certain aspects of her gimmick. These include her iconic tank, helmet, and her characteristic howling.
She said, “I’m not sure why my tank was taken away for a part of my main roster run. It was a hit with Hunter when I was in NXT. I had even shown him a video of the diminutive tank I had purchased from Walmart… The one you saw on WWE TV wasn’t from Walmart, it was an upgraded version – Hunter’s addition. He had it reworked. However, when I transitioned to the main roster, Vince wasn’t a fan. He felt the tank, the helmet and the howling were overkill, given I already had green hair and tattoos. He wanted to see a more authentic version of Shotzi. While I was initially hesitant to let go of these elements, I got on board with the changes. Afterall, I’m a team player and always up for a challenge.”
Blackheart revealed that she would like to incorporate her tank into her performances on the independent wrestling circuit. She is currently trying to reclaim it.
She added, “I would be thrilled to bring my tank to an independent show. Right now, I’m trying to get back my original, modified tank. It was custom-made for me by WWE, built around an electronic wheelchair. But since they incorporated parts of my original tank into the design, I feel it’s part mine, part theirs. If necessary, I’ll even drive to Connecticut to pick it up or purchase it from them. It holds a lot of sentimental value for me. I’d love to have it around, even if just to keep in my garage.”