WWE News: Mandy Rose speaks on Paige criticizing her on Tough Enough

What’s the story?

WWE RAW star Mandy Rose was recently a guest on Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia and, discussed a number of topics, including her time on Tough Enough while Paige was a judge.

In case you didn’t know…

Mandy Rose didn't have a background in wrestling before auditioning for Tough Enough. She did, however, prove herself to be a quick learner, and that along with impressing WWE management, earned her a WWE contract, despite being the female runner-up on Tough Enough, losing out to Sara Lee.

WWE officials thought so highly of Rose that, she was even given a spot as a main cast member on Total Diva's. However, she failed to gain a following like the others and her appearances became few before she was dropped by the next season.

The heart of the matter

While speaking to Lillian, Rose spoke about a number of topics including Paige criticizing her ability and wanting to be there. Rose said she had to prove to Paige that she wasn't just a model or a 'Diva', she said:

"It was more of the fact that she would judge me that I didn't know how to wrestle, which I didn't know how to wrestle at that time because I came from a fitness background; I didn't have any pro-wrestling experience. That was the biggest thing, and I think that I am very different than Paige.

Paige brought a lot to the women's division, as the 'anti-Diva' which is great, but I kind of come off as the Diva, which I want to change that, I'm not just a Diva, of course, we're called superstars, and maybe that was what it had to do with. We are very different, but Paige didn't get to know me personally; she just knew me from the show, and I wasn't the nicest on the show, which I get. I was playing a character, especially towards the end when I played the b***h."

What’s next?

Mandy and Paige have since become friends and, Paige now serves as Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville's manager in their trio, Absolution.

Mandy Rose will be an entrant in the Women's Battle Royal at WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans.

Author’s take

I have been pleasantly surprised by Mandy Rose. I was one of the many that looked at her as the next 'Eva Marie' and thought she would never be as good as she is. Thankfully she, Sonya Deville and Patrick 'Velveteen Dream' Clark are as good as they are today, or the 2015 season of Tough Enough would have been a complete waste.