JTG on WWE Backstage Racism, HHH’s Role As Management, His New Book

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JTG

The Pancakes and Powerslams podcast recently interviewed former WWE Superstar JTG, who was promoting his new book Damn! Why Did Write This Book, Too? During the interview, JTG addresses a passage in his book, where he accounts a blatantly racist rant against him from an unnamed WWE Hall of Famer, who JTG says was drunk at the time. Below are some highlights.

JTG on Curtis Axel not using his father’s last name: “For example, Mr. Perfect’s son. He was absolutely upset that he could not use his last name. His father is such a icon in the business, why would you not want to use the last name Hennig? And I saw how disturbed he was, that’s his father. Why would you slap on a name like McGillicuty? That is one of the top ten worst names in the world (laughs). McGillicuty? I knew he was very upset about that, but he couldn’t display that because he had to remain professional, and like I said, going along to get along.”

His thoughts on Triple H’s backstage power: “When I first got there, he was always considered ‘office’ to me. That’s what we call people who have a lot of political say and pulls some of the strings behind the scenes. He was always on that level to me. The same level as Stephanie or Shane or Vince, but he was just more active. So when he would put the suit on, it didn’t make a big difference. I always thought that he was more than a talent. He was in control in a lot of the situations behind the scenes.”

On a WWE Hall of Famer who went on a racist rant against him, which he recounts in his book: “That quote was said by someone who was definitely under the influence. He was with his wife, was definitely under the influence, by the bar. Me being 21 or 22 [at the time], hearing him say that, and I so much respect for him in this business, this guy is a Hall of Famer, a legend, he definitely was a pioneer in the wrestling industry and definitely took it to the next level. But, when he said it, because of my respect for him and not being too much enlightened and having the knowledge of racism, or even being in total denial. At the time, I was definitely in denial. When he said that statement that he made, I thought that he was talking about rookies. Guys who were coming from OVW. That’s how I took it as, and that’s how I wanted to take it as because I didn’t want to think that this guy was a racist, I had so much respect for him. It wasn’t until the second time where he pretty much showed his cards and, at the bar again with his wife. I was like, wow, yeah, this guy confirmed to me that he is a racist, and I could not be in denial anymore.”

Jonathan Widro is the owner and founder of Inside Pulse. Over a decade ago he burst onto the scene with a pro-WCW reporting style that earned him the nickname WCWidro. Check him out on Twitter for mostly inane non sequiturs