Anyone Ever Wonder What It’s Like To Do Extra Work For WWE?
Jan 10, 2022 10:54:55 GMT -5
via mobile
Mayonnaise, The Thread Barbi, and 8 more like this
Post by jobber2thestars on Jan 10, 2022 10:54:55 GMT -5
A few years ago I got to do extra work for WWE when they ran Raw in Boston and SmackDown at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. It was a pretty cool experience and the closest I ever came to working for WWE, so I figure at least one person here might be interested in hearing what it was like.
First, getting chosen wasn’t really that hard. I think the application was on the Performance Center website. It was your pretty much your normal set of questions and asked for promo pics and a match. I don’t really remember filling it out, and forgot I did it until I got an email one night when I was at the gym.
I didn’t think the email was real when I first saw it, and originally thought it was something for the WWE Network. My reasoning for questioning the validity of the email was the text was red and blue, so I sent screenshots of the email to a few friends. They confirmed it was real, and that it was from the guy who sends them out. Can’t remember his name, but I think he was a referee. I could definitely be wrong, though, as I no longer have the email.
The email came about a month before television, and said a recent physical was needed. This sent me into trying to find a doctor who could get me an appointment in a short period of time, which was tough. I was able to get blood work done pretty quickly, but had to go to an Urgent Care for a physical. I did find out I have bad vision, so I guess it was worth if I’m the long run.
A few friends from the area also got chosen for extra work, so we drove together. Raw was in Boston, so it wasn’t a bad drive at all. Can’t remember when call time was, but I want to say it was sometime in the late morning/early afternoon. Could be wrong, but we were there on time. We told the security guard in the lot we were there and he knew we were extras. Probably because we were in a different lot from the actually WWE employees. Once inside we went to go check in. We also did a really quick visit physical with a guy from WWE. It was pretty much asking us to touch our toes and a blood pressure check.
Checking in was the first time we were actually backstage, and it was definitely cool. You can tell WWE is a full on professional operation, and the difference between a local indie show and this are amazing. Check in was in an office where we had to sign something. Forget what it’s was, but I believe it was something to get paid and a waiver. While we were there, Sasha Banks was called in and told she was going to be on Wendy Williams. She seemed excited.
We were sent to our locker room, which was a small room that had some chairs and hangers on the wall. There was more than enough room for everyone, so it was fine. Most of us there knew each other, but it was the first time a lot of us had done extra work. A few other guys had been there before, so we listened to them about what to do. This is they gave us different advice. One guy told us it was best to wait in the room fir a bit until we were needed, while another guy told us it was good to be seen and to look like we belong. We opted to listen to him and went to catering. One guy with us got changed into his ring gear and walked around in his trunks and boots all night.
The catering area wasn’t very big, but it was where most of the guys were hanging out. From what I remember, Kurt Angle was there eating a lot of chicken, Ricochet was eating peanut butter out of a cup and everyone was very friendly. It was clear they were there to work, so we left everyone alone, but all the guys there said hi and were cool. The food itself was great and there were a lot of choices. At one point some friends and I were sitting next to Lacey Evans. First, she’s absolutely beautiful and was in full gear (don’t believe she was on the show that night). Second, out of nowhere, she started telling us about the skin rash she got from tanning. Overall, she was actually very nice and we talked for a few minutes.
At this time, a guy came to us and said he needed a few guys to be EMTs for a spot later in the night. Three other guys and I were chosen, and we got sent to truck with a bunch of costumes. We were given EMT shirts that smelled a bit musky, told yo put them on and sent to the ring. We sat in the seats outside the ring and watched everyone go through their matches for the show. Two guys from Saturday Night Live were doing something that night. They eventually went through their skit. I think it was a talk shot segment, but I don’t really remember. The four of us sat there for an hour or so before the guy who came to get us came back and say the spotless probably going to get cut, but to keep out stuff on in case.
We went back to catering and hung out until the show started. Some highly where were sitting next to Dasha Fuentes. She’s absolutely beautiful and was very polite. It did seem like she was listening in to us as we were talking about other local guys, and we still joke that she was reporting back on us. I think she got released shortly after. The Saturday Night Live segment didn’t go over well with anyone in catering, and one guy commented about how his match got cut it shortened for this shit.
While we were watching the show in catering, the guy in charge of us came back abd said the spot was back on and to be ready. We got sent to gorilla where we were told it was possible it be cut again, but to be ready.
Now, I haven’t been star struck too many times in my life, but this was certainly one of those times. The four of us were there talking about football when Vince McMahon walked by, saw us, nodded his head, said “boys,” and kept going. We were all speechless. Shortly after we were brought into gorilla and told we’d be going out.
Gorilla is cool. I believe Triple H, Kidman, Charly Caruso and a referee were in there. Kidman was the person telling us what to do and when to go to the ring. I forget the match, but I think it involved Dean Ambrose. Could be wrong. Honestly, I had to pee really bad and Charly Caruso is absolutely breathtaking. She and the referee were talking about whether he was going to drive home or fly.
I don’t really remember, but I think the spot was just for us to go out to help Ambrose. While in gorilla, we were told time was short and we’d go get him during the commercial. As Kidman started counting down, he stopped and told us the spot wasn’t going to happen. We ended up going back to catering and watching the rest of the show.
One of the big take seats I had from the first night was how big everyone was. The difference between a professional athlete and a regular guy is amazing. Even the “smaller,” guys on the roster were good size and bigger than someone you’d see on the street. Looking back, it was really the beginning of the end fir me, as I realized I just didn’t have the size (never mind the skill) to get anywhere.
Sorry for the long post, but figured this could be something someone could be interested in. I can post stuff from SmackDown where we worked matches, but don’t want to write out everything if nobody cares.
First, getting chosen wasn’t really that hard. I think the application was on the Performance Center website. It was your pretty much your normal set of questions and asked for promo pics and a match. I don’t really remember filling it out, and forgot I did it until I got an email one night when I was at the gym.
I didn’t think the email was real when I first saw it, and originally thought it was something for the WWE Network. My reasoning for questioning the validity of the email was the text was red and blue, so I sent screenshots of the email to a few friends. They confirmed it was real, and that it was from the guy who sends them out. Can’t remember his name, but I think he was a referee. I could definitely be wrong, though, as I no longer have the email.
The email came about a month before television, and said a recent physical was needed. This sent me into trying to find a doctor who could get me an appointment in a short period of time, which was tough. I was able to get blood work done pretty quickly, but had to go to an Urgent Care for a physical. I did find out I have bad vision, so I guess it was worth if I’m the long run.
A few friends from the area also got chosen for extra work, so we drove together. Raw was in Boston, so it wasn’t a bad drive at all. Can’t remember when call time was, but I want to say it was sometime in the late morning/early afternoon. Could be wrong, but we were there on time. We told the security guard in the lot we were there and he knew we were extras. Probably because we were in a different lot from the actually WWE employees. Once inside we went to go check in. We also did a really quick visit physical with a guy from WWE. It was pretty much asking us to touch our toes and a blood pressure check.
Checking in was the first time we were actually backstage, and it was definitely cool. You can tell WWE is a full on professional operation, and the difference between a local indie show and this are amazing. Check in was in an office where we had to sign something. Forget what it’s was, but I believe it was something to get paid and a waiver. While we were there, Sasha Banks was called in and told she was going to be on Wendy Williams. She seemed excited.
We were sent to our locker room, which was a small room that had some chairs and hangers on the wall. There was more than enough room for everyone, so it was fine. Most of us there knew each other, but it was the first time a lot of us had done extra work. A few other guys had been there before, so we listened to them about what to do. This is they gave us different advice. One guy told us it was best to wait in the room fir a bit until we were needed, while another guy told us it was good to be seen and to look like we belong. We opted to listen to him and went to catering. One guy with us got changed into his ring gear and walked around in his trunks and boots all night.
The catering area wasn’t very big, but it was where most of the guys were hanging out. From what I remember, Kurt Angle was there eating a lot of chicken, Ricochet was eating peanut butter out of a cup and everyone was very friendly. It was clear they were there to work, so we left everyone alone, but all the guys there said hi and were cool. The food itself was great and there were a lot of choices. At one point some friends and I were sitting next to Lacey Evans. First, she’s absolutely beautiful and was in full gear (don’t believe she was on the show that night). Second, out of nowhere, she started telling us about the skin rash she got from tanning. Overall, she was actually very nice and we talked for a few minutes.
At this time, a guy came to us and said he needed a few guys to be EMTs for a spot later in the night. Three other guys and I were chosen, and we got sent to truck with a bunch of costumes. We were given EMT shirts that smelled a bit musky, told yo put them on and sent to the ring. We sat in the seats outside the ring and watched everyone go through their matches for the show. Two guys from Saturday Night Live were doing something that night. They eventually went through their skit. I think it was a talk shot segment, but I don’t really remember. The four of us sat there for an hour or so before the guy who came to get us came back and say the spotless probably going to get cut, but to keep out stuff on in case.
We went back to catering and hung out until the show started. Some highly where were sitting next to Dasha Fuentes. She’s absolutely beautiful and was very polite. It did seem like she was listening in to us as we were talking about other local guys, and we still joke that she was reporting back on us. I think she got released shortly after. The Saturday Night Live segment didn’t go over well with anyone in catering, and one guy commented about how his match got cut it shortened for this shit.
While we were watching the show in catering, the guy in charge of us came back abd said the spot was back on and to be ready. We got sent to gorilla where we were told it was possible it be cut again, but to be ready.
Now, I haven’t been star struck too many times in my life, but this was certainly one of those times. The four of us were there talking about football when Vince McMahon walked by, saw us, nodded his head, said “boys,” and kept going. We were all speechless. Shortly after we were brought into gorilla and told we’d be going out.
Gorilla is cool. I believe Triple H, Kidman, Charly Caruso and a referee were in there. Kidman was the person telling us what to do and when to go to the ring. I forget the match, but I think it involved Dean Ambrose. Could be wrong. Honestly, I had to pee really bad and Charly Caruso is absolutely breathtaking. She and the referee were talking about whether he was going to drive home or fly.
I don’t really remember, but I think the spot was just for us to go out to help Ambrose. While in gorilla, we were told time was short and we’d go get him during the commercial. As Kidman started counting down, he stopped and told us the spot wasn’t going to happen. We ended up going back to catering and watching the rest of the show.
One of the big take seats I had from the first night was how big everyone was. The difference between a professional athlete and a regular guy is amazing. Even the “smaller,” guys on the roster were good size and bigger than someone you’d see on the street. Looking back, it was really the beginning of the end fir me, as I realized I just didn’t have the size (never mind the skill) to get anywhere.
Sorry for the long post, but figured this could be something someone could be interested in. I can post stuff from SmackDown where we worked matches, but don’t want to write out everything if nobody cares.
