Vince McMahon Pressured WWE Legend To Do Playboy

A WWE veteran has revealed being pressured by Vince McMahon to appear in Playboy.

Trish Stratus was portrayed as a sex symbol by the Stamford promotion, but she had no interest in taking that image further.

While the likes of Sable, Torrie Wilson, and Christy Hemme shot for Playboy, Stratus stood her ground, rejecting every request that came her way through others or directly from McMahon.

The WWE Hall of Famer discussed it while speaking on the Pod Meets World podcast, revealing that the pressure from the former boss was intense.

Trish Stratus Discusses Turning Down Playboy Offers In WWE

When asked if she regretted turning down Playboy, the 49-year-old said that she did not, as it was not for her.

I’m like a Tomboy, even though I am known as a sex symbol, I suppose. That is not me. That is my character. It was not even an option. That is not me.

She went on to reveal that appearing in lingerie for the Divas Swimsuit editions made her uncomfortable, and to ease the situation, she added her own spin to it.

Even when I had to do lingerie stuff, it just wasn’t me. It was very put on. One time, they had these annual magazines called the Divas Magazine, which was our Swimsuit Magazine where we would go to exotic locations. I don’t know if it was budget cuts or ‘horny writer storylines,’ but suddenly, instead of the annual bikini issue, they wanted a lingerie issue and I was like, ‘Eww.’ I didn’t want to do it. It felt so silly to me, so I made this whole sports lingerie look.

The Canadian superstar then recalled being approached by Vince McMahon to pose for Playboy, explaining how the former boss kept the pressure on.

When Playboy came along, I was like, ‘Absolutely not interested.’ Vince, oh my God, hounded me like crazy. He’s like, ‘It’s a great opportunity.’ I was shown during that time, ‘If you turn this down, we’re going to give your opportunity to her. Are you sure?’ ‘No, I still don’t want to do it. Thank you.’ They came to me for years and years, and I was like, ‘No.’

I do not regret it. It’s just not my thing. Now that I have a kid and everything, I can’t even imagine. That is my decision and I stand by it.

Trish Stratus went on to build a legacy for herself in WWE, becoming a 7-time Women’s Champion. In 2013, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Also read: Trish Stratus Names The Favorite Match Of Her WWE Career

H/T: Ringside News