Maxxine Dupri Admits Scrutiny Over WWE Performance Sucks
Maxxine Dupri faced the unenviable wrath of a WWE crowd at a recent live event and admits the scrutiny she is under sucks.
Maxxine Dupri has wrestled just 13 times since making her in-ring debut on July 3rd, 2023. The star never wrestled in NXT as she arrived on the main roster as a valet, meaning she’s very much learning on the job.
However, wrestling crowds are not known as especially forgiving places. A clip has been doing the rounds on social media of Dupri making her way backstage at a recent live event to loud jeers from the crowd, with those captured in the clip less than impressed with her performance.
Rhea Ripley led WWE stars in defending Maxxine Dupri while calling out the fans who booed her. However, one ex-WWE star defended fans, noting that maybe the reaction came as a result of spending money on the top company in the world and seeing someone who was clearly still learning.
Maxxine Dupri Not A Fan Of WWE Scrutiny
Speaking on the Lightweights Podcast, Maxxine Dupri discussed the level of scrutiny she is under in WWE and if she believes she is being watched more closely than most:
I think yes and no. I think at times, people have really given me a lot of grace because I’m learning on live TV, and thankfully, with my character, that’s been said, so people are aware that these are my first reps. My first times performing in front of a crowd have been on Monday Night Raw. So I think on that level, people have given me a lot of grace.
I think on the other hand, and maybe this is in my head, this is just how l feel, I feel like we have so many talented women. Not only on SmackDown, Raw, but NXT, developmental, people wrestling on the independent scene. So I think there’s also this level of, ‘Okay, so this girl’s getting a shot who maybe is or is not quite as ready as people feel I should be.’ So I think that adds a level of scrutiny.
But I think for me, it’s an added level of pressure, but it’s also, I want to make those people proud that aren’t getting an opportunity. I’m so grateful for every opportunity. I’m grateful to be thrown into the deep end. Obviously, it’s scary, and obviously, it sucks when you get scrutiny for things where it’s like, I really am doing my best, I’m training as hard as I can, I’m trying to get better every time.
But I’m not perfect. I am human, and this is my first time doing this stuff, so there is gonna be times where I do things that people aren’t gonna love, or that I’m not gonna love when I watch back. Believe me, I’m watching it back too, like why did I do that? I don’t know. [Laughs] I’m trying to figure it out, like I get it. So I do think it adds that level of scrutiny, but I also think I’m a perfectionist, I’m a people-pleaser, so it’s just hard for me sometimes. I want to be better than anyone could ever could imagine I could be.
Maxxine Dupri was then asked about her in-ring training regime and revealed she’s been working closely with on-screen partner Chad Gable and says she goes to the Performance Center any chance she gets with anyone that will train with her:
I’ve always been spending a lot of time in the ring. So yes, consistently. I train with Chad Gable as much as I can. Obviously, he lives in a different state. So any time that I’m able to get in the ring with him before TV on Mondays, I always will. That’s been a game-changer for me. He’s so kind to spend his time doing that, he does not have to do that. So I’m really, really appreciative that he takes the time to do that.
Then I go to the Performance Center during the week, and I’ll train with the girls that are in the developmental. I’ll go with Indi sometimes, and Candice, Nia, anyone I can go with, Chelsea. I love the opportunity to learn from any of them because I’m always like, ‘I need it. Someone come with me and help me, please.’