Mandy Rose breaks silence after WWE release in interview

Last December, Mandy Rose unexpectedly dropped the NXT Women’s title after 413 days. The next day, Rose was fired.

Reportedly, Rose was fired over risqué content on her FanTime account. According to Wrestling Observer at the time, she was not given a chance to remove any questionable content, which she confirmed during this interview.

In an exclusive interview with The Tamron Hall Show, Rose spoke publicly for the first time since her release.

There is a confidentially clause in place and Rose can’t speak on everything. She did admit to being warned once before about her content, but she complied when asked to remove something.

Rose said there was no full nudity on her FanTime. There is a photo of Rose with strategically placed belts that WWE reposted to their account. Hall pointed out the hypocrisy of WWE reposting a photo like that and then firing her over racy content. Rose didn’t see anything wrong with that photo. When asked if she felt targeted, Rose said, “no because everyone has their own opinion of what they think is appropriate and whatnot.” She can’t say she was wronged because she is so grateful to them.

She stated several times that she is hurt. “I was hurt so much more because of everything I put into the business, but just the last year and a half. I was champion for 413 days. I unified those two titles that we just saw. I was the third longest reigning NXT Champion. I also created this must-see faction with two other women that I really brought up. And I got to see so many women develop their characters. They’re all younger than me and in the beginning of their careers and to me that is so important because it’s so rewarding for me.”

“So losing the title was honestly a gut punch. I was so disappointed. But at the end of the day, my purpose was what was gone and that’s where I kind of felt lost. And I felt confused because of all the hard work that I put in. (…) At the end of the day, I love what I’ve done in the WWE and I love the platform and what it presented me with, so I am forever grateful for them.”

Hall said they reached out to WWE, but did not get a comment.

Will Mandy Rose return to WWE?

When asked about ever returning to WWE, she replied, “never say never. I’m not moving on and looking back and yes, that is my past. But, I would says never say never. I don’t know what the future holds.” Rose said the site is still up. If it were a condition for her to return, she told Hall that “there would have to be a conversation.” She also confirmed that she made $1 million on FanTime in two weeks. She said it “would take me a while, for sure” to make that same amount in WWE.

Rose is more concerned with owning her brand and her identity. “I think what I’ve realized and learned from this whole thing is that my name, image, and likeness is extremely valuable. And I know big organizations usually kind of have all the power and reap the benefits off that. But what I learned, and this is why I say I’m so grateful for them, but the future and what the future holds for me is now I can self monetize my NIL and I can have complete brand control and complete creative control, a direct relationship with my fans, and that right there was a moment of empowerment that I have felt. We all have to set ourselves up for the future.”

It is unclear when Rose’s non-compete clause is up and if she will return to wrestling. Rose seems very clear on the fact that her name, image, and likeness is where her power lies. She can control her future and build on not only on what she did during seven years in wrestling, but on what has happened since being fired.