Mandy Rose Reflects on WWE Journey and Embracing Her True Self
Mandy Rose's WWE Experience and Transformation
Mandy Rose, often recognized as the blonde bombshell during her time in WWE since 2017, has shared insights about her journey. Initially, she aimed to present a more natural image, yet she received guidance from management to adjust her persona. It was during her time in NXT 2.0 that she truly embraced her character.
Even after stepping away from WWE for over two years, Mandy Rose has reflected on her tenure with the organization. She held the NXT Women’s Championship for an impressive 413 days, marking her as the third-longest reigning champion in that category. However, her reign concluded when WWE found her online content to be inappropriate.
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Following her title loss to Roxanne Perez, Mandy Rose was released from WWE and shifted her focus to her glam persona, monetizing her content behind a paywall. On her YouTube channel, Mandy Sacs, she recounted being advised to tone down her sex appeal when she joined the main roster in November 2017.
“When I first got to the main roster I was like the golden goddess and the sexy one from Tough Enough and whatever, and I was told to take it down a notch, ‘You’re too sexy.’ So, now I’m going, ‘To be honest, I’m not even trying to be sexy,’” Mandy Rose recalled.
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Mandy Rose Discovers Her Authentic Self in NXT 2.0
The former NXT Women’s Champion explained that while she attempted to adhere to WWE's guidelines, her appearance was often perceived as provocative. This directive came from the then WWE Chairman, Vince McMahon, which she felt compelled to follow. Eventually, Mandy returned to NXT 2.0, where she could express a more authentic and edgy version of herself.
“I wanna be sexy but I don’t wanna put on sexy, I just wanna be me, and then I think it was my ‘NXT’ days was when I finally felt this is me,” Mandy stated. “I went a little darker, I was a little edgier, but that is me. Yes, I’m a blonde bombshell sometimes and all that, but I just feel like I was able to be my cool self.” (quotes courtesy Wrestling INC)
After a successful stint in NXT, Mandy Rose was called up to Monday Night Raw as part of the Absolution faction, which included Paige and Sonya Deville. Following Paige's retirement, Mandy and Sonya continued as a tag team until they engaged in a heated rivalry in the summer of 2020.