Former WWE NXT producer reveals a bizarre Vince McMahon edict

Scotty 2 Hotty's account of the developments in NXT includes an unusual Vince McMahon edict.

Scotty 2 Hotty at WWE performance centre
By Blesson Daniel | Jan 20, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Last summer, producer and coach Scott “Scotty 2 Hotty” Garland sought his release following NXT 2.0’s rebranding and the resulting reprioritization of WWE’s developing system.

While the major changes at the Performance Center have occurred, he has gone on to work independent dates. A visit to Chris Jerico’s “Talk Is Jericho” podcast was also on his bucket list.

Much of what he says is already public knowledge among fans. However, hearing a confirmation of the behind-the-scenes working is always a plus.

It also helps that his story contains a rather bizarre edict brought about by WWE chairman Vince McMahon.

It also includes an amusing Vince being Vince tale

According to Garland, the chairman wanted the NXT coaches to do whatever possible to look younger.

“Hunter [Triple H] used to say that we have this culture here, and if we could bottle it, we could make millions off this culture. The backstage culture of ‘We are NXT’ was a real thing.

“That was a real pride amongst the roster. I feel like that’s been lost to a degree. It was the coolest environment I’ve ever been in my 30 years in wrestling. It was still a wrestling business, don’t get me wrong, but there was a certain pride there that there wasn’t anywhere else.

“Then it started to change. They started coming in with rules. One of the first weeks since COVID was, they started to let us wear NXT tracksuits to TV because we don’t see anybody.

“We come into the Performance Center for television. We don’t have any fans waiting outside, and for the longest time, there weren’t any fans. In the building, it was all in-house people, so we were wearing NXT tracksuits.

“As soon as it started to change, Hunter went away, and the other guys started to come in, it was, ‘Ok, we gotta get back to business casual again.’

“The next week it was, ‘Vince wants the coaches looking younger, so we need you guys to start dyeing your beards and cutting your hair.’ I literally lost sleep over it.

“I’ve had every kind of facial hair, dye, goatee, beard, spiked up hair, bald head. It’s not about that. It’s like if they’re going to have us jump through hoops like monkeys just to see if they’ll do it, so if you do that, what’s next?”

READ MORE: Samoa Joe reacts to his second release in 12 months by WWE

NXT 2.0

The show formerly beloved by a certain section of fans has undergone changes. Whether or not one agrees with them is a matter of choice and personal preferences.

However, the story about coaches looking younger will surely elicit a few laughs among fans.