Mandy Sacs (fka Mandy Rose) will be featured in [+]Black Label Pro’s Combine.
Mandy Sacs (FKA Mandy Rose) is set to return to the ring in a unique Black Label Pro Wrestler’s Combine at Crowning Glory. The event, sponsored by Draft Kings, is further proof of a wrestling boom period as the rising independent wrestling company—recently acquired by Paragon—impressively secured a major sponsor for its September 4 show in Chicago.
Sacs reached her career apex in WWE NXT, only to have it taken away from her with little notice. Following a sudden loss to Roxanne Perez at Halloween Havoc 2022, ending a 413-day reign, Sacs was abruptly fired in December of that year amid nude photo and video leaks from her lucrative FanTime website. The firing furthered the discussion of WWE’s control over its independent contractors and their limitations when it comes to third-party deals. Sacs’ sudden departure also caused particular backlash in the wake of Vince McMahon’s forced return to WWE after the Chairman was previously forced to retire for sexual misconduct.
McMahon has since been ousted from the promotion for a second time due to an ugly (and ongoing) sex trafficking lawsuit from former WWE employee Janel Grant. McMahon’s trials and tribulations will be the subject of an upcoming Netflix documentary which Sacs plans to watch.
Now two years removed from her last wrestling match, Sacs remains busy with her Mandysacs.com website, a return to bodybuilding and her Power Alphas podcast alongside her fiancé, and former NXT Superstar, Tino Sabbatelli. Mandy’s presence at BLP’s Crowning Glory will be her first wrestling-related appearance—outside of meet and greets—since 2022. Needless to say, “God’s greatest creation” is ready.
Mandy Sacs On BLP Combine At Crowning Glory
Alfred Konuwa: You’re competing in the Black Label Pro: Crowning Glory Wrestling Combine, which I’m very excited to see how that goes. I know you just competed in a bodybuilding competition. I asked Jordynne Grace this question because she also trains for bodybuilding: How does training for a bodybuilding competition compare with training for a combine?
MS: There’s a lot of similarities, but there’s obviously some differences. Bodybuilding is kind of more for the aesthetic, the aesthetic training, but I’ve also been training for so long for both purposes. Obviously I started out, it’s kind of a full circle moment. 10 years ago is when I first competed with WBFF, and that’s why I kind of wanted to step back on stage a few weeks ago. So it was kind of the start of my career, which led me to WWE and the rest was history. So they go hand-in-hand.
They’re a little bit different. With the bodybuilding, you’re focused more on the diet and it’s a lot more strict than if I was to just be wrestling or any kind of sports entertainment in that aspect. So I’m really excited for the combine, September 4th, the wrestlers combine. It’s very cool. It’s very unique. We’ve never seen anything like this. So when I was approached and asked to do it, I actually thought it was very different. So I was like, yeah, this sounds like fun. Haven’t really stepped back in the ring obviously in a while. I’ve done autograph signings and stuff like that, and I’ve been able to be with my fans and see all my fans, but I haven’t really stepped back in the ring in any kind of aspect. So it’s exciting.
AK: I’m sure you’ve gotten all kinds of offers to step back in the ring or maybe wrestling related offers. What made you say yes to this particular offer?
MS: It was just so different and unique and I haven’t made that decision yet if I am going to be stepping back in a ring full time or in any aspect. So it was just one of those things that it was unique. And Mojo (Rawley) is a good friend of mine, and I’m very proud of the work that he is done with Paragon and I’ve been working with them and Draft Kings as well is a really great company as well to work with. So it was just something really cool and different and unique that maybe might kind of spark something as far as a Mandy Rose return or anything like that. I know it created some buzz and everyone thinks I’m getting back into wrestling for this, but yeah, this is just a little taste, so we’ll see how I feel afterwards.
AK: We’ve seen this theme of women’s wrestlers, top women’s wrestlers, going back to bodybuilding. I saw Bianca Belair went back to bodybuilding for a little bit. Did very well. You did very well. Jordynne Grace, one of your opponents in the combine, went back to bodybuilding. So who do you think would win in a bodybuilding competition? An all-star competition between yourself, Bianca and Jordynne Grace?
MS: Ooh, all three of us? That’s a tough one. So it all depends on what company, what federation it is because everyone looks for certain things. I competed with WBFF. They’re all about the beauty, the presence on stage, the whole package. So not trying to toot my own horn, I’m very humble, but I have to say when it comes to WBFF, I think I’d have them beat just because it’s a whole package thing. Bianca Belair looks amazing. She’s an incredible athlete. We all know that. Jordynne Grace, same thing, looks amazing, incredible athlete, jacked, but at the end of the day it’s kind of like a whole package thing. And now other companies may be different. They may be looking for something different, but when it comes to that feminine look, but still strong and strong and still classy and all those things on stage, I think I got them.
AK: That was a very classy answer. But you also put yourself over as the best bodybuilder. That’s very well done.
MS: Right. Yeah, of course (laughs). Got to.
Many Sacs On Her WWE Run
AK: When you look back on your WWE career, which I think was very underrated, what accomplishment do you take the most pride in through your entire run?
MS: I would say the biggest accomplishment that I take the most pride in throughout my whole career would be getting that phone call about going back to NXT. A lot of people would look at that and look at it like a downgrade, and I didn’t. I took it with a grain of salt because everything in that company you have to take with a grain of salt. You never really know what the real reason is and what the situation is, but at the end of the day, you know what you bring to the table. And I knew what I brought to the table and I knew my talent and I knew my talent wasn’t really being showcased in the best way. And I looked at this, like get a fresh coat of paint, rejuvenate my career a little bit, focus on some things maybe I need to work on, etc.
And it did. It all worked out. And that’s why I always say always stay positive and look for the best because at the end of the day, it really reflects on the work you put in. And with that positive mindset. I never looked at it like a negative. I think a lot of people would take that call and look at it like a negative. And obviously all of the people out there from the outside looking in could have their input and whatever they want to say, but you kind of just have to ignore that and focus on yourself and just kind of put those blinders on and put in the work. And I think obviously it showed with my time in NXT the second round and with Toxic Attraction and everything that I did. So I was really proud of that and I think I really humbled myself as well with doing all of that. And it paid off.
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AK: I feel like NXT, if you look at it now, it’s like the cool place to go. When I watch NXT, as much as I do enjoy RAW and SmackDown, NXT feels like the cooler, younger show and that shows up in the young demographic. I don’t think people give you enough credit, but that started with you. You were kind of the template from a main roster star coming to NXT, having a good run and recreating yourself. And I feel like a lot of people have done that since then. Do you feel like you get enough credit for just how great you did in NXT in that run?
MS: Thank you. I feel like you’re never really going to get enough credit. I feel like I do get credit, but I just feel like especially someone like me, I just feel like I always had to fight that stigma of like, ‘does she really want to be in this business? Is she just here for the fame? Is she, because I didn’t come from wrestling, does she really love wrestling?’ It was always like a question. And I think eventually I got that respect from the fans and I think the story was really great with ‘put some respect on my name,’ because it really was a lot of truth to it. So I really do think I get the credit, however, I do think it’s kind of hard to say. I just feel like maybe you might not ever get that full credit of what you think you really do deserve. But I think during my time there from the fans I should say at least that I got that respect from them and I hold pride in that.
AK: I try not to spend too much time on wrestling Twitter. But I will say that it was a lot of fun seeing the internet wrestling fans come around to Mandy Rose. They’re always smart Alecs who they think they know everything about professional wrestling and what’s great for the sport. But to see them become part of the Mandy Hive was a lot of fun.
MS: That was a lot of fun. I have to agree with you, of course.
AK: One of my favorite storylines ever in wrestling was you and Otis. I mean, you’re very familiar with it, obviously. It kind of got derailed by the pandemic, so it’s always going to be one of these what ifs. In an alternate universe, if you and Otis got to take that storyline to a full building in WrestleMania, where I think you guys kissing would’ve been the biggest moment, how do you think that affects each of your careers?
MS: Yeah, it was such a crazy time, obviously in the middle of the pandemic, and I really do think that would’ve changed the trajectory of a lot of our careers in that storyline. There was a lot of people involved as well, besides Otis and myself. However, I don’t like to dwell on the past. I do like to look at it like it was a great storyline. We really had the fans connected. Could it have been so much better with a huge crowd and a WrestleMania moment? Of course. But there’s always those things where if it did go that way and things wouldn’t have panned out to where they panned out and listen, there’s some regrets along my way of my career or whatever it may be. I think with all of us, we live and we learn, but at the end of the day, everything happens for a reason.
And I’m in a really good place right now. A lot of stuff has happened the last couple of years, as you know, and nothing was planned. It was just kind of crazy and happened very fast. But I always say triumph with tragedy sometimes. And that’s just how we get through life and we evolve and we learn and we just have to hope for the best. And everything has been great and I am very blessed. So I do think it would’ve been amazing. But then again, if it changed my run back in NXT and Toxic Attraction and all those things, then that would’ve never happened. So then you just never know. But I will say that moment of Otis and myself kissing at a WrestleMania full stage with 80,000 people would’ve been really remarkable.
AK: There’s always that butterfly effect. So you are moving forward, you and your fiancé Sabby have this great podcast, the Power Alphas podcast. And what I like about it is that a lot of times WWE wrestlers are muzzled. So your time in WWE, you can only say so much for corporate reasons or whatnot, but now I see you guys talk about all kinds of stuff. Like the election; I once saw—it was like—“Mandy Rose talks about Kendrick and Drake,” and I’m just like, “okay, Mandy!” So what are some of your favorite things to talk about on your guys’s podcast?
MS: I just think it’s great to have your own podcast or own platform I should say, as you know, to be able to talk about whatever you want and kind of control the narrative. And yes, for a long time I was, ‘can I say this? Can I not?’ Even still, because I think it was such a while, I’m getting better in the aspect of like, okay, I could say whatever, depending. I like to stay away from politics most of the time, but sometimes it comes up.
But I do struggle sometimes because I was so used to like, ‘oh, can I say that? I don’t know if I can say that.’ It’s such a hard thing, but I do love having Power Alphas Podcast where we can talk about whatever we want, control the narrative, just speak about, mainly it’s about motivational and inspiring true stories and trying to motivate other people and talk about our struggles and everything that people may not see because they only see the service layer of everything looks so great, but they don’t know really what’s going on in our lives most of the time. So that’s the majority of it. But I do love to get kind of, I like to push the envelope a little bit.
Mandy Sacs On Vince McMahon And Life After WWE
AK: Well, let’s test you pushing the envelope because Netflix recently announced that they’re going to have a Vince McMahon documentary on September. Do you plan on watching?
MS: I do plan on watching that. Yes, for sure. I know a few of my friends actually have messaged me it thinking that I know things and all these, you know what I mean? I’m like, oh, I know. I’m excited to see it. But I am excited to see that because, excited and a little nervous, not going to lie. They’re saying that they really are putting everything out there, so it’s going to be interesting and it’s kind of wild. I don’t know, especially with everything the past few years.
AK: Do you have any thoughts about what went down and how that all happened?
MS: I really don’t because I just don’t know. I don’t like to speak on things that I don’t know the truth. And I know there’s a lot of things going on, on social media. Whatever I can say myself though, however like, I never had a bad experience with Vince. Vince was a great boss for me when I worked for him. And I think what he did for WWE alone is amazing, right? I mean, you can’t forget about that. But obviously the allegations and all these things are really terrible. So it’s hard to say, but for me, yeah, that documentary should be really interesting.
AK: WWE’s going to Netflix. How do you think pro wrestling on Netflix is going to change the industry as a whole?
MS: I’m excited to see about this because I recently brought this up on my podcast as well because someone had asked a question and because it pertains to me a little bit and my firing and how strict and PG they are as a company, and I understand certain things, but I wonder if they are going to push that envelope a little bit more being on Netflix and not having certain guidelines, whether it’s Fox or USA, whatever it may be. But I really am interested to see that. And I think it would be cool respectfully, and I know we have a huge fan base in that PG era, and I understand that, but I think it’ll be cool to push the envelope a little bit in an appropriate manner in some sort of how you can do that. Right. It’s sports entertainment, so you got to also realize that it’s entertainment. Right. So it’s what we watch on TV. So of course there’s a lot of things that you may not do in real life or all these things. Right. So it should be interesting. Yeah, I’m excited about the Netflix for sure.
AK: Now you are very classy as we have established, but you’re also a Cancer (July 18), much like myself. And what I do know about cancers is we can be vengeful. Even though we can be classy, we take pleasure sometimes in seeing people who did us wrong go down. Was there any part of you that when you saw the downfall of Mr. McMahon happen, you thought to yourself, ‘well, given the circumstances, how does it feel?’
MS: I’m actually not really like that at all because, and I’m not just saying it. My fiancé always says this about me, and he admires me in this way because it is only normal to be a little bit like that, right? However, I’m very much, I do think karma is real and I like to stay true to myself, and I don’t like to blame anyone for anything. And at the end of the day, it is what it is. Did I feel like I was a little bit wrongfully treated in a way? Of course. And I’ve stated that, but at the end of the day, I look at it like I say thank you because honestly, I’ve made the most money I’ve made in the last couple years. I’m very blessed. I’m in my house right now in New York that I’m able to spend time with my family.
So there’s just things that never would’ve happened. So I’m very thankful and I just say thank you. And it’s one of them things where I know who I am as a person, I know what I did and I know I’ll never do anything to put myself at risk for my future and whatnot, and it is what it is. But I do always think karma is a real thing and it happens. Comes back to bite you in the ass.
AK: Final question for BLP Crowning Glory. Who do you consider your biggest competition in this combine and for what reason?
MS: I got to go with Jordynne Grace, I think for obvious reasons, not just because of the way she looks because she is a badass woman, but her strength alone, right? This is a combine. So a lot of it has to do with strength. A lot of it has to do with agility. Not only the strength part, but I’ve been out the ring for a little while, right? So she’s wrestling, so is Ash by Elegance. Xia Li’s been out of the ring a little bit. So I do feel like Jordynne Grace has to be my biggest competition because she’s in it right now. She does amazing work and she’s a strong woman. So I’m excited to see, but I’m pretty strong. They underestimate me sometimes. People don’t realize how much I can lift.
