Marc Mero On If He Keeps In Contact With Sable And Brock Lesnar, Says He Can Relate To Roman Reigns
Recently on The Ross Report, 'Good Ol' J.R.' Jim Ross interviewed former WCW and WWE star, Marc Mero. Among other things, Mero talked about the deal he signed with WWE to leave WCW, his relationship with his ex-wife, Rena, who performed for WWE as Sable, and his views on Roman Reigns' big push in WWE.
When asked whether he was earning money in the $500,000 range as Johnny B. Badd in WCW, Mero said he was not making really big money until he signed with WWE in 1996, though it was close.
"Well, that didn't really happen until I went over to WWE. I mean, it was close in the WCW, but it was really WWE that opened the door for me to make more money. Obviously, that's why I left [WCW]. It was just a great deal."
As well as making more money in WWE, Mero was able to negotiate a term in his contract that would require WWE to fly his then wife, Rena, wherever Mero traveled. Mero admitted that part of his desire to have Rena travel with him was to maintain a strong marriage.
"I used to travel with Van Hammer for a while and lived with him and we just got into a lot of trouble together. And it was just a real sad place, man. And that's one of the reasons, when I came to the WWE, bringing my ex-wife, Rena, with me. I didn't want to end up in divorce. And that's why a part of my contract was that [WWE agreed] to fly her everywhere I went." Mero added, "I started in WCW in '91, so I was there for many years, but we got married in '94. I got off the drugs and I just wanted to keep a strong marriage. I really tried to get into my faith in God and just go to church and raise our [daughter]. I adopted Rena's daughter, Mariah, who is still my daughter to this day. So when I got that contract at WWE, the one thing I said to Vince [McMahon], I said, 'Vince, I can't do this unless my wife flies everywhere I fly.' He said, 'I've never heard that request before,' but he gave it to me."
In addition to Mero's WWE deal being among WWE's first guaranteed contracts, the enviable salary and airfare for his wife made the deal a source of jealousy in the locker room.
"Looking back now I can see there is animosity. Guys are missing their families and here I am with my wife every night staying with me and traveling with me. It was very tough."
Mero said he was never jealous of Rena's rising stardom as Sable and he had no problem putting her over.
"My thought is, 'oh my gosh! I am so happy for her.' Not like, 'oh, she's going to overshadow me.' Never once did that come into play. Jim, I allowed her to powerbomb me few times and people will go, 'that just killed his career' and, to me, I didn't even care. They're backing up the Brink's truck to our house at the time."
Although the couple would divorce in 2004 and Rena would go on to marry Brock Lesnar two years later, Mero said that he is happy for the Lesnars and acknowledged that he shares a daughter and a granddaughter with 'The Beast Incarnate'. With that said, Mero has no contact with the Lesnars now, though it is not a bad thing in his view.
"There's no animosity and I don't know if you ever noticed, Jim, Rena and I have never said a bad word about each other. In any interviews, no one [has] ever said anybody did this or did that or nobody is mad at each other. Actually, I remember walking into court, when we signed our [divorce] papers, hand in hand. I hugged her goodbye and we both went on with our lives. And I couldn't be happier for her. She [has] got two children with Brock and our daughter, Mariah, is moving up to Canada to live with them. They've got a house up there and everything. Her husband is going to go up there and work some of the tractors for Brock."
According to Mero, he relates a great deal to Reigns in his ongoing struggles to get over.
"The sad part is I remember that I think it was last WrestleMania they were going to have Roman Reigns win the [WWE World Heavyweight Championship] strap, I believe, and if anybody can feel for that guy, it's me because I remember I was coming into WWE with high hopes and Vince was really high on me and he wanted to push me up that ladder real quick and then I got no reaction [from the audience]. And then, when you walk out with a girl like Sable, who's going to look at me? Roman Reigns is at least lucky that he doesn't have that going to the ring, okay? But I know how it feels and it is a really, really tough feeling inside to go through that, knowing that he's such a hard worker, good looking guy, man, he's a great wrestler, and he's giving it his all. And just sometimes, you can't force feed a wrestling fan. They're going to like what they like and dislike what they don't like."
Mero said that he does not understand why WWE has not turned Reigns heel at this point.
"I don't understand why they keep pushing it. If something's not working, change it. Just don't keep putting this guy through something like this because if you think it's hard for the fans, think of how hard it is for him."
In addition to these topics, Mero discussed whether he got heat for busting open 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin's lip at WWE King Of The Ring 1996, working with the late great Dusty Rhodes, and more. To check out the podcast, click here. If you use any of the quotes that appear in this article, please credit The Ross Report with an H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Source: The Ross Report