Stephanie McMahon Reveals How Her Trademark Slap Came To Be
In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, former WWE executive Stephanie McMahon shared the backstory of her infamous slap, a move that became synonymous with her heel character in professional wrestling.
McMahon’s journey as a WWE villain began in 1999, marking a significant shift in her career and on-screen presence.
The slap was when I became a character and when I became a heel.
While the exact moment of her first slap remains unclear in her memory, McMahon vividly recalled the advice she received from the WWE superstars in the locker room.
I don’t remember what my first slap was, but I remember the advice that I was told, all the boys were like, ‘You’ve gotta lay it in, Steph. You’ve got to lay it in and it’s got to look good.’
The superstars also provided specific advice to maximise the slap’s effect while minimising potential harm.
Make sure you don’t pop anybody’s eardrum. You’ve got to hit them in a particular spot, but hit them hard.
As her character developed, Stephanie McMahon’s slap became a staple of her performances, with notable recipients including wrestling legends Mick Foley and Chris Jericho
That’s how the slap kind of started. Foley, Jericho, I got. One time, DX was holding Jericho, I forget the storyline, but I was going over to slap Chris, and he like winced and all the guys thought it was so funny.
This moment led to an impromptu bit of ring psychology, with her fellow performers turning Jericho’s reaction into an opportunity for comedic timing.
They made me wait and let him wince. Then they had me slap him.
Stephanie McMahon stepped down from her executive role in WWE in 2019 and has only made limited on-screen appearances since then.
Stephanie McMahon To Front New Show On ESPN
During her same appearance on the Pat McAfee show, it was revealed that Stephanie McMahon will host a new series coming to ESPN+ in March titled “Stephanie’s Places”. Stephanie said she hopes with the show she can tell the stories of WWE Superstars, their story, their journey of how they’ve gotten to where they are.
H/t to Fightful