The Ariel Helwani Show - Renee Paquette

Episode Date: October 21, 2021

The world-renowned Canadian-born broadcaster joins Ariel to discuss why, after eight years, she decided to leave WWE in 2020 (5:41). Plus, she talks about her short-lived acting career (26:42), how she met her husband (current AEW star Jon Moxley), if she plans on joining AEW (57:52) and how difficult it was to work for WWE at times.Renee Paquette (formerly known as Renee Young) is a Canadian-American broadcaster. Before spending eight years with WWE, she worked for The Score and BiteTV in Canada. She left WWE last summer and now focuses on her podcast, weekly radio show with Miesha Tate, and her four-month-old baby.You can follow Renee on Instagram @reneepaquette, check out her new book Messy in the Kitchen and listen to her podcast Oral Sessions wherever you get your shows.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport, and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

Hey everyone, hope you're doing well. It is Thursday, October 21st, 2021. Welcome to a brand new episode of The Helwani Show. I, of course, am Ariel Helwani. I am loving doing this podcast each and every week. We've got the videos up on my YouTube channel, youtube.com slash Ariel Helwani, and we've now done this for five straight weeks. We started with current WWE champion Big E. We then went to Pat McAfee, Stephen Brunt, my favorite sports journalist. And last week, Marty Fish, the former tennis star who was very open about his struggles with anxiety and mental health. And I'm so excited about today's episode. Before we get into today's episode, a quick shout out, much love to my good friends, the

lovely Feathers for this theme song. It is great to have them a part of the Helwani show as well. So today's guest is someone that I have an immense amount of respect for. Her name is Renee Paquette. You may know her as Renee Young from the world of pro wrestling. She worked for WWE for about eight years. She was a huge star over there, an incredible talent. She can do it all. Prior to that, she worked in Canada for a network called The Score. She also worked on ByTV. She originally wanted to become an actress and then somehow found her way in the crazy world of pro wrestling.

Last summer, she left WWE. She's now hosting her own podcast called Oral Sessions, which is great. She also hosts a show on Sirius XM Radio with the great Misha Tate. And she is the wife of one John Moxley, formerly known as Dean Ambrose. They recently had a child together. She's doing a lot. There's a lot going on in her life. And I wanted to learn more about her career, about her time at WWE, why she left, about where she wants to go. Will she join AEW? If you are a fan of pro wrestling, you are going to love this. You are going to eat this up. But even if you are not, I think you'll really enjoy it. You'll learn a lot more about someone who bet on themselves and went out there and chased a dream and was highly successful.

And then at some point said to themselves, you know what? I'm going to pivot and do something else and kind of go solo independent. Does it sound familiar? It should. In any event, I love the conversation. I think you will as well.

Without further ado, here is my interview with the one and only, the inimitable Renee Paquette. Renee, huge honor for me to have you on the show. Thank you for the time. Thank you. I'm excited to be on your show. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little bit nervous because I feel like when you came on my show, I was able to grill you and now I'm the one in the hot seat and I'm ready to buckle up and get into it. Okay, great.

You know, it's so funny that you say that because I was on your great podcast, which I'm a huge fan of, Oral Sessions. Thank you. I hope everyone checks it out. I was on your show, I believe, in early May. If I'm being honest, it was a very vulnerable time in my life. Yeah. I got a little emotional towards the end. And it was probably due to a number of things. But I think it was when I was talking about Daniel Cormier.

But that was kind of a trigger for other stuff. And knowing in the back of my mind that our time was coming to an end. And you did hit me with some hard questions about my job and ESPN. And I felt like I was very honest. So this is my way of returning the favor. So you're right. I am going to hit you with some hard-hitting questions here. It's funny that you knew that. Yeah, I figured very honest. So this is my way of returning the favor. So you're right. I am going to hit you with some hard hitting questions here. It's funny that you knew that. Yeah, I figured you would, though. I will say, I mean, I kind of liked your introduction of doing another show where you can

do some other interviews that aren't just MMA based, because that's really why I want to start doing oral sessions as well. And having you on my show and being able to talk to, you know, just other interesting people to break out of just that wrestling world is really nice. So I get that feeling of wanting to flex that muscle. And last thing I'll say before we really get into things, and this is kind of the jumping off point, I actually want to thank you. You have given me a lot of inspiration,

whether you may not know it or you do know it. What I mean by that is when you left wwe and you kind of went on your own and you started doing this thing on your own with the youtube channel and the interviews i felt and correct me if i'm wrong there was a freedom and a happiness oozing out of you and i know what it is like to tell people i work for this big company that everyone dreams of working for and i know the kind of joy that that might bring to others and maybe briefly to you as well, but then to have the shackles come off and just do things that warm your

heart, that pleases you, your own little sandbox. Actually, when I saw you starting to do that first, when I saw you leave WWE, and then when I saw you start to do your own thing, your own way with your own voice, without anyone telling you how and what to say, it gave me a lot of inspiration and it gave me a lot of courage to say to myself, you know what, she's doing it. I could do it as well because WWE ESPN, there's a lot of similarities there.

So thank you for giving me that. Oh my God, of course. And like, here we go. Look at us go. Like what a good time. It can be nerve wracking. It can be a little scary to wonder if fan bases are going to want to follow you into some of these other conversations that you want to have, or these other pursuits that you want to kind of check out. It can be a little bit stressful, but it is so nice to just let those shackles off and do your own thing and try to find your own way again. Ultimately for you, why did you leave WWE after eight years? Well, I mean, you know, I think there's really like a number of different reasons, but ultimately what I kind of come down to is that I felt like I

had checked off every box there of things that I wanted to do. Um, you know, I got to do so much during my time there from, you know, starting off doing interviews to working with me and Gene Okerlund and being able to like learn from a man like him and be able to like kind of follow in those footsteps to hosting kickoff shows for every pay-per-view for WrestleManias, for Summer Slams, to jumping on commentary and getting to be the first woman to do that within WWE, to go to Saudi Arabia and be the first woman to be a part of that. There's so many things that I got to be a trailblazer for that I look back on so fondly, but also, you know, there are still other things that I really wanted to do. And I think with my skillset and the dreams that I want to

achieve, I was not going to achieve them there. Do you recall when you started to realize that, you know, your time was coming to an end when you started to feel like, all right, at some point very soon, I'm going to leave this place? Yeah. And you know what? It actually came in different waves because God, I mean, now in this timeframe, probably about five years ago, I had asked for my release from WWE and I wasn't granted it. Really? from WWE and I wasn't granted it. Um, yeah. And this was before I did commentary. It was before I did a lot of other things and I'm glad that I didn't leave at that point. I'm glad that I was not granted my release because, uh, you know, my resume wouldn't be what it is today if I had left during that point. Um, but you know, I, I think for me, it was really like, I still sort of had stars in my eyes and I still have stars in my eyes about

things that I want to do with my career. And I kept feeling like I was hitting a wall of being told that I cannot be a star within this company. Um, because it was not about me. And I get that because I'm, I'm the broadcaster. I'm like the personality. I'm not the wrestler. I understand. I'm not putting asses in seats. I'm not selling merch. I'm not selling tickets. I get it. Um, but that was sort of the thing that was, that just felt very stunting to me in my career of being like, damn, like, I feel like I have so much more to offer and there's so many more things that I want to do. And yes, you've given me this amazing platform, but I do see where that ceiling is at. And I see more for me outside of this. And if you guys don't see that, or if that opportunity, I don't even know.

It's not that they didn't see that. It's not that the opportunities just weren't there. Um, you know, and with the network starting and, and, you know, having the WWE network and the different versions of that from when it first started to just being like all interview shows to then it's all documentaries. Like they're, they were really going through the growth spurts of figuring out what the network was. And I couldn't quite find the place where I wanted to land within that.

Then moving over to Fox and being able to do backstage with Fox. And that was something that scratched that bit of an itch where I was like, oh, okay, I like doing this. I like being in the studio setting. I liked working with Fox. I had such a great experience there. But then that came to an end as well with COVID kind of shutting its doors on everything. And, um, anyways, kind of going back to what I was saying is that, yeah, I had asked for my release several years ago, was not granted.

It got to do a bunch of other things. And then on that second time when I was like, okay, now it's really time to get off this ride. Um, and that's sort of the reference that I come back to a lot is getting off that ride. It's hard to find a time to leave WWE. There's never a perfect time. Um, it just goes so fast. The fact that I was there for eight years, like makes my head spin, but it's like next show, next show, next pay-per-view. Now we're building to mania. Now we're building to summer slam and this is coming up and this new opportunity and blah, blah, blah. There's never that time to really get your foot out that other door. So with my time at commentary ending, the Fox show ended and then COVID, we were in the middle of COVID. I was like, this is my time. I see this window and this is my time to jump off the ride and figure it out, which is a weird time

to do that because everything else was already shut down as well. So I'm like, oh shit, I don't know where I'm going, but I'm getting off this ride. Five years ago, why did you ask for your release? I was just unhappy in the sense of like, just knowing that I had more to offer. And then I was just doing backstage interviews. I mean, I was still doing kickoff shows and whatnot, but like on the day to day weekly schedule was doing backstage interviews, which I actually loved doing. I always liked doing backstage interviews because that felt more to me like getting to flex a little bit of that acting muscle, something that I've always loved that. So I enjoyed doing that. I loved being able to have, you know, the very subtle reactions to a

heel or a baby face and being able to help those storylines along any way that I could through that. But yeah, I just, there wasn't that other thing for me to sink my teeth into. And there'd be times that I would sit there at Raw or SmackDown and I wasn't on the show. If there was no backstage interviews, you just sit there waiting for something to do. And I started to feel like I was really wasting time. I felt like I was wasting really important years of my career when I could be out doing more things rather than, you know, felt like I was wasting really important years of my career when I could be out doing more things rather than, you know, even if I was doing something on the show, it was like a quick little, Hey, ladies and gentlemen, welcome my guests, blah, blah, blah. They cut me off. I'm left fucking staring off into the abyss for the camera cut. So as much as I love doing

that, I know that there was more that I really had to offer and other things that I really wanted to do. Um, so yeah, it was, it was just offer and other things that I really wanted to do. So, yeah, it was just trying to find that right thing to do. And then when I spoke to Kevin Dunn, I asked for my release and he said no. And I was like, oh, wait, you can say no? Yeah, what is up with that? You could break up with someone and they say, it's like a Seinfeld episode. Yes, exactly.

Like, I wasn't expecting that. I was like, oh, shit. What? Okay. And they're like, like well we've got other plans for you we've got things that we want to do and whatever so again I'm glad that uh I'm glad that the doors did not close we did not end our relationship at that point in time because there was stuff still for me to do there um but yeah by the time I had jumped off commentary and uh and the fox show ended it was just that was the time to go and this time they didn't put up a fight no so this time around and you know i think this was also a different situation i was under a different contract

i didn't have to ask out of my contract i was an employee so i gave my two weeks notice okay which was much different um so yeah that that definitely put me in a better spot to be like okay now i can end it and we are ending it and And that is what it is. But, you know, I think that we both, I can't speak for them, but my opinion and the way that I feel is I think we were both kind of like, all right, we're not, we're not meeting each other, you know, on the same playing field right now. Like, and I felt like my time and commentary really sort of lent its hand in that, that it left a bad taste in my mouth. I felt like my relationships with other people there had kind of maybe gone downhill a little

bit and it just wasn't a great experience. So I think stepping away from that and having sort of like that clarity afterwards and just knowing the way things work that like, you know, for me to take a second to myself, the commentary thing didn't go the way that I wanted it to go. Um, and I think I'm sure it wasn't the way Vince wanted it to go either. And when he is not into something, it takes him a while to come back around to it. And I did not have the time to wait for him to come back around to it. So when you say that it didn't go the way you wanted it to go and you suspect the way he wanted it to go as well, what do you mean by that? How did you want it to go? Well, I wanted to go better. I wanted, I wanted everyone to enjoy it.

I wanted to get great at it. I wanted to, you know, I really wanted to thrive in that role. I wanted to do well at it. Obviously nobody wants to do bad at their job, especially on a massive public platform. Of course you want to do as at it. Obviously nobody wants to do bad at their job, especially on a massive public platform. Of course you want to do as well as you can, but you know, I really got thrown into the deep end, which is fine. I enjoy working in that world. It's, it's okay. Throw me out there and let's sink or swim. Um, but going out there every week for three hours and you start to get in your own head and you're being told different information and you're trying to, you're just trying to get that right footing. And I never felt like I got mine. You know, there would be certain shows where I'd be like, okay,

that was fun. I like that. I feel like we had some moments. Um, but, but overall it like, I felt like I was walking away from more shows than not just feeling like that wasn't fun. I didn't like that. And I think a lot of people were kind of feeling that same way. And I don't mean just in terms of my performance. I mean of just us having good shows and feeling like we could high five afterwards. It just felt like nothing was really gelling. It was tough.

I have heard, obviously, I've watched and read about the business for a very long time. I've heard the stories of, you know, Vince yelling in your ear. I know it's tough enough as a broadcaster to have anyone talk in your ear, let alone yell at you or make you feel worse, lose confidence, et cetera. Did you ever experience that? Yeah, of course. What is that like? Like like can you give me example without i know you don't want to probably reveal too much but like what is he saying that could be so bad to you know mess with someone mentally um so this time i actually this i wasn't on commentary for

this moment but it was after i had done commentary and i was doing a panel i want to say it was either like the premiere of smackDown on Fox or no, it wasn't. No. Cause that was LA. We were actually in Las Vegas. Anyways, we were doing a panel show where they cut to us in between the show.

It was some kind of special, but anyways, Tyson Fury was on the show is when he was doing a stint in WWE. And it was me, Samoa, Joe Booker T and beth phoenix i believe that's what the cast was for that crew and i had said i was throwing to a package blah blah blah something something uh the gypsy king tyson fury throw it a package and he's in my ear and

goes you ruined it screaming at me telling me that I've ruined this segment because I did not refer to Tyson Fury as the lineal champion. Oh God. That I referred to him as a gypsy King Tyson Fury through the package. So he's screaming at me. And at this point, like at this point I am like over it. I've done the commentary thing. I'm just like, I'm a little bit hardened to all of the circumstances. So he's yelling at me about this and I'm looking down at my notes. Maybe I'm just like, I'm a little bit hardened to all of the circumstances. So he's yelling at me about this and I'm looking down at my notes. Maybe I'm looking to Samoa Joe, taking in this information in my ear, but he thinks I'm ignoring him. So he yells at me again. Do you hear me? Acknowledge that you hear me. And he wanted me to like, look into the camera and be like, yes,

sir. I hear you. I understand you. I apologize. Um, but yeah, I mean, it just to be yelled at like that for a small, I didn't want to say mistake. It's not a mistake. I just didn't call him millennial champion. I didn't know that it was that necessary as if I had run, I had ruined the run of Tyson Fury and WWE by not calling him that. Uh, but to be yelled at like that in front of your peers was pretty demoralizing. To just be yelled at that I had ruined a segment. I felt bad about it. Then we had to come back and do an on-cam after that.

And I was just like, I wanted to pull off my headset and just literally get in my car and drive home. But at that point, I had just had it. Are you, like, I consider myself proudly a sensitive person i don't know if i would handle that very well yeah um do you go home and and like do you cry do you feel i mean you say you want to cover your face i don't think i ever cried at that like i can't think of a time that i had cried there's times that i had cried during my duration in wwe for sure and we can get into those.

But as far as like being yelled at and being upset about that, not so much. It's more so it's shocking. It's like jarring to be yelled at like that as a grown ass woman. You're like, wait, you're talking to me like that. What the fuck? That it's it. You almost find like comedy in it to a degree of like this is happening and it's it's also like you know you're sitting there with your crew of people that are also on the panel they

understand what's happening so we're all on the same page as much as it can be embarrassing we also all understand the circumstances in which we're working so we can sort of roll our eyes at each other and just go okay he's on one today I guess we just got to take it on the chin. And that's, that's more what that is. Um, but you know, there, there's been other times too, of just having like, like just having like a fuck up on air, you know, you're doing a 15 second on cam. And I remember it was when Bray Wyatt was doing the firefly fun house. Try saying that out loud really quick. I did that. I was like the flyer fly fly. I said, I said it wrong. And I was like, Oh fuck.. I said, I said it wrong. And I was like, Oh fuck. But I still like threw to the thing. And he was like, yeah, you messed that one up. I was like, yeah, I did. That was my bad. Um, but I mean, those are moments where you're doing live TV,

you're doing things on the fly. It is what it is. And you know, as much as I can say, those moments happen. And yes, you hear the stories about Vince yelling in someone's ear and in whatnot. But by the time you walk back through gorilla at the end of the show, he's over it. Like, it's not like he's holding onto this grudge. You're like, you did this terrible thing. And now I'm going to hate you for forever. Like it doesn't really work like that. Sometimes it does, but usually it's like by the end of the show, he's moved on to the next thing. Like it's not even a blip on his radar. It's just that knee jerk reaction to yell at you. Did he ever apologize? Oh God, no. Okay. God, no, never. No, I don't know. Not that I can remember. Um, but that's just not really

the way that it works there. Cause I mean, even afterwards, I do have regrets that I didn't talk to him more about that, especially like the Tyson Fury thing. Like that was one like of just being screamed at like that, that like, I really wish I went to gorilla. Cause at that point I was, I knew that I was kind of like, I am out of here, man. Like, this is crazy. I wish that I had gone back and had a conversation with him about that a little bit more to just like, just to clarify. And honestly, maybe that would have made my relationship with him better. Um, and I think that, you know, me kind of turning a little bit more insular after that and being like, Oh, I'm just going to avoid him. Now he screamed at me like that. I'd rather

not talk to him. I should have gone the other way and probably addressed him. And maybe he would have respected me more if I had done that. Obviously, everyone knows that you are married to the former Dean Ambrose, the current John Moxley. If he's still with WWE, do you think you're still there as well? No, I don't think so because he was still there when I tried to leave before. Okay. And he was like, you know, at the height of doing all of the Dean Ambrose things. So I don't think that those things go hand in hand.

I do think that it definitely helped in the sense that like, and not even the sense of like, you're not here. I'm going to follow you and like, you know, do the things that you're doing. It wasn't that it was more. So the conversations we have are like, do the things that you want to do, do the things that make you happy. And if it's not here, it's, it's not being at WWE. It's not doing that job. Go do the things that you want to do. It's more so that like, those were the words of encouragement that he always gave to me. And even before he left WWE, we would talk about this stuff. And I'm like, man, you make that sound so easy. It's not so easy to just pick up and go do something else.

Like you're making good money. You've got a steady gig. That's not easy. It's not so easy to just pick up and go do something else. Like you're making good money. You've got a steady gig. That's not hard. That's not easy to come by in this form of entertainment. It's tough. So when I saw him get up and leave and go, fuck it, I'm going to go do my own thing. And then he did. And he's like thriving.

I was like, well, shit, look at you to see him step out and do that. And he never hesitated. He never, you know, he didn't really overthink what he was doing. He just trusted his instinct and went to do that. And that was something that was like hugely inspirational to me to be like, shit, you're right. Yeah. Go do the shit that you want to do. Life's short. Get off the, get off this ride and go do the other shit. Uh, I want to ask you a little bit more about your relationship with John in a second, but I'm curious, you know, I was comparing myself to you a little bit more about your relationship with John in a second, but I'm curious. I was comparing myself to you a little bit.

There's a massive difference. I don't do a show or multiple shows where I talk about the world of ESPN. ESPN meant something to me. It's no longer a part of my life, but I can kind of move on. I'm talking about the UFC that's on ESPN, but it's totally different. You're talking about a world that you lived in. You are interviewing people who've been hired and fired and you are like deep in the trenches. Is that at all awkward for you because you have relationships there and

because of your time there? A little, I mean, I guess a little bit, but at the same time, like as much as I can tell these stories here of like this happened, this happened and this happened, this happened, and this happened. I don't have bad feelings towards, you know, the company or towards Vince or anything like that. It's just the way that the company works. It wasn't special to me. That's just the way that it is. So I don't have bad feelings about the company at all. Um, and that's something that I really try to stay true to when I'm doing my podcast. Cause if I'm having somebody on that's been released or they're moving on to another company, it's not that like shoot podcast. I'm not looking for them to come on and talk some shit. If they want to be my guest, the mic is hot,

do whatever you want to say. Um, but that's not really the gist of the interviews that I'm trying to have with them. I prefer talk like these are people that I've spent the better part of a decade with. And I find them also interesting. And there's so many parts of their lives and of their stories that they've not been able to tell. So I want to have those conversations more so than like those shoot interviews of somebody just talking shit on the company. And for the most part, correct me if I'm wrong, those interviews are interviews where you're asking questions and a person's answering the questions. And for the most part, correct me if I'm wrong, those interviews are interviews where you're asking questions and a person's answering the questions. And often sometimes you'll, you know, you'll, you'll, you'll weigh in here or there, but you're not necessarily being an analyst when you are on the radio though, with Sirius XM. And I know you do those guest spots, um,

you know, on their, on their wrestling radio show and whatnot. And you have your own radio show now with the great Misha Tate on down with, uh, with, uh, is it Misha and Renee or Renee and Misha? Renee and Misha. Okay. I'm sorry. You're, you're the A side. Uh, my bad. Um, I don't know how I got away with that, but I'll take it. Respect. Yeah, absolutely. Uh, you have to analyze things and your significant other works for, you know, the second biggest organization in the world, AEW. Does that get awkward at times?

Do you find yourself having to bite your tongue at times if you don't agree with something, if you don't like something? No. And I mean, that is like I get I get where you're going with that, because, of course, that could be a little bit of a sticky situation. I'm not ever trying to like step on anyone's toes. But at the same time, opinions are opinions and we get paid to have opinions. Um, but the thing that's, that I find with doing a throwing down with Renee Misha on Sirius XM fight

nation Mondays, two to 5. PM Eastern time. Um, she, uh, because, because Misha is not a huge wrestling fan.

I'm trying to bring her into the world of wrestling. So we're not dissecting what's good and what's bad. We're talking about stories that are happening. Like Rhea Ripley lost her gear on the road. Holy shit. Somebody, she lost her, her tag team championship.

Some dude or some woman just is walking around with like a WWE title somewhere. Like we'll have those stories or like, you know, I want to talk about the success of big E within WWE. Like I can talk about that stuff, but that's more so the stuff that I want to highlight getting into like that nitty gritty of like, I don't like this. Or, you know, we talked a little bit about like the ratings war between a W and WWE. And I'm like, I don't like having these conversations. I don't care enough about that. That's not the stuff that I look to and what I

care about. Like if I see it in a headline call, look at it. But like, are John and I having conversations about that? Absolutely not. I like looking at like the creative side of things. I like seeing what's working for different characters, for different, different athletes that are just like kicking ass. Like I want to talk about that shit more so than trying to like bury a segment or something. If we would have a, you know, would have had a conversation when you were 17, 18, you grew up in Canada, you grew up in Ontario, the great province of Ontario in Toronto. Does it hurt you to say that from Montreal?

No, not at all. Listen, I have a lot of respect. I mean, if we could, if you want to talk about, you know, the Canadians and Maple Leafs, we can, although you jumped off that bandwagon and now are a Golden Knights fan, which is bizarre to me. What was I supposed to do? I mean, just stay with your team.

That's exactly what you're supposed to do. Well, they've been getting better, but I've actually not been a Leafs fan for quite some time. Oh, really? Why? You disowned them because they're a pathetic franchise? Essentially. Kind of. Yeah.

That is sort of what happened. Fair enough. Fair enough. It was disappointing disappointing it's hard to be a fan for a while and they keep losing but they have been up they've been on the up and up they didn't go quite as far as montreal in the playoffs but kudos to you guys yeah we don't have to get there uh or talk about that thank you thank you um much like the golden knights a couple years ago um so i believe correct me if i'm wrong your original dream was to be an actress, right?

19 years old, you moved to Los Angeles and you don't last very long there. How long did you actually last? I was only there for about six months, six to nine months, something like that. So yes, that is absolutely accurate. That's what my passion was and honestly kind of still is. That's the thing that I love. I love watching movies I love sort of the art of acting and like I I really wanted to sink my teeth into that like I was taking like full acting

method acting classes like really leaning into that world and I Yeah, I was a dumb kid. I finished doing my second city classes I was like, that's where I'll go. Second City is in Toronto. That seems like it's the place that everyone goes to start. I finished my training there. And I was like, well, guess I'm ready. Here I come, Hollywood.

I had not booked a job in my life. Maybe I'd done like a music video at that point. But like I had done anything. I was like, I got to get to California. That's where the magic happens. But I had no work visa. I had no resume. I had nothing. I just had no idea what entailed to be a Canadian moving to the United States, trying to become an actress. There's a, there's a lot that needs to happen there. I mean, as you know, we both just became citizens of what all

goes into like getting those work papers, trying to convince someone to hire you. That's not freaked out that you're like, can you sponsor my Oh one visa? And they're like, what the fuck? Um, so yeah, anyways, yes. 19 year old me moved to Los Angeles to go be an actress, but then I got sick. I got a cold and I, that's really what was the straw that broke the camel's back. I got a really bad cold and I was like, Oh, you have to have health insurance here. I can't pay for this. I was making $50 a night and only working like four nights a week. I had no money. I had no money. I had, yeah, like I couldn't do anything. So once I got sick and I was like, I can't even pay to go to the hospital. I got to go home. This is, I just, I also hate wasting time. I am not a time waster. So when I realized that it was like roadblock, robot roadblock, like everything

was just like not working out. And I was like, Hey, I got to go back to Canada. Let's go back to auditioning there. Let's take some more classes there and try to like, let's go build my resume there and then come back. So how do you go from the acting dream to the TV dream? How do you go down that path? So, you know, I had like my, my agent and whatnot in Toronto going out for, you know, I was auditioning a lot of just doing like, you know, whether it was commercials, film, television, whatever, so much stuff comes through Toronto. So that was a great experience to be able to understand how all that works. But again, I started to feel like I was wasting time. I was like, I'm ready to go. I want to work. I want to work. I don't want to

wait to be girl number three at a bar in some, you know, small movie, hoping that something's going to take off. I felt like I was just wasting so much time. So I was like, how can I, what do I do? How do I get something going? Um, and the idea of being a television host was something that I was like, I don't know if that's really what I want to do. I don't know that that's going to do the, it's not going to scratch my itch. Um, but I will always remember during the throes of this, I was like sleeping on my couch and I woke up and Chelsea lately was on. And I was like, I want to do that. That's perfect. That was, it just was something that just echoed my personality. It just lined up with all the things that I wanted to kind of do aside from acting. But, you know, starting at second city comedy was a big thing that I really wanted to do as well. So seeing Chelsea in that role and hosting a show and having these like brash opinions

and just getting to like fuck around and have fun. I was like, that's what I wanted to do. So I had gone on one of those like online casting websites, as you do when you're trying to book gigs and they were looking for a VJ for Byte TV. And I was like, fuck, I can do that. No problem. So I went, I drove to Mississauga, went to go audition to be their bite girl of the month or whatever. And I thought it was like a true VJ thing. I was like, Oh, I can be like Rick Campanelli. Let's go. Give me that George

Strombolopoulos gig. But that's not what it was. I showed up and it was like a bunch of girls in bikinis and it was like these models. And I was like, oh fuck, that's not what I thought this was. So I went into the audition and I fucked around because obviously that's not what it was. They wanted a model, like a bikini model. So I went in and I pretended that I walked into the wrong audition room and I thought that I was auditioning for Canadian Idol. And anyways, it was just a dumb gag because I was an idiot and they gave me a job. They're like, oh, this is fun. What do you want to do? I was like, I want to host a show. What can we like? I want to host. And I was like hosting and producing my own show, booking all my own talent, started doing a show called Rippin' It and Lippin' It,

where I was interviewing bands, a lot of like punk bands going to like Warped Tour and whatnot. And then also interviewing like extreme sports athletes, like snowboarders, skateboarders, everything kind of in that world. So that was really me cutting my teeth, figuring out like, Oh, I like doing this. I can just have me and a cameraman and we're creating this content and we're putting it out there. And I'm figuring out my voice as, as a broadcaster. I mean, I use the term broadcaster very loosely when I'm pertaining to a ripping it and lipping it, but just like figuring out who I was on camera. And that was like such a great learning experience for me to know what I wanted to do and to

make these segments that I wanted to do. And then at that same time I was writing for one of their like late night shows that they were doing. I was helping come up with different segments and bits for that. Um, and I was, I mean, I was only like, it was probably 20 at the time. So I was like, really, you know, my head was in my ass. I didn't know what I was doing, but just trying to make something work. And then the opportunity with the score came up once I knew that I was time for me to move on. Now what's the bigger thing to do? How do I get on a national station? How do I figure that out? And in Canada, as you know, it's pretty limited to find a national broadcasting gig. Um, so when the score

was in Toronto and that really talked to me because they had comedians doing interviews, it was not traditional broadcasting. They had Jerry D they had cabbie. Um, they had all these guys that were out doing sports interviews with a comedy twist. And I was like, oh shit, maybe I can do that. And then I was literally knocking on their door, emailing them, getting any contact I possibly could to get my foot in the door. And eventually they hired me and it was great. Quick side note. I love the shout out to Rick the Temp and George Strombolovas. Most people listening to this probably don't know who these guys are. I think we're around the same age. I'm 39. I won't ask you how old you are. I'm 36. It's okay. I put it out there. I don't mind. Much music. I used to watch that all the time. Music Plus in Quebec as well. So

those were great memories. So you get the job at the score. Well, I should actually add a side note now that you said that because before I was going to the score, as I was like, well, what's nationally broadcast much music, which is literally around the corner from where the score is. So they were starting to do a VJ search, and I was like, okay, maybe I'll enter that. So I had entered that as well

and was kind of moving along through the audition process with that. But then the stuff with the score was the thing that that just connected and made the most sense and perhaps the most successful thing that you did at the score among many other things was right after wrestling which i think then became aftermath yeah um and i know you kind of grew up a little bit somewhat of a fan of wrestling and got to go backstage and whatnot because of your father who worked in the- Gosh, you really do your research, Ariel. Come on, Renee. I mean, this isn't my first rodeo here. I have to give respect. And I really do love these conversations. It's great because where else would I get to do them? This gives me,

I don't know if you know the term nachas. Do you know what the term nachas is? No, what's that? Nachas is like a Yiddish term where it's like you get this joy and fulfillment in your heart when you talk to people. And I'm enjoying this very much where I don't have to ask a fighter about a fight and this and that. Like, this is just, to me. Yeah, we're just shooting the shit.

We're just shooting the shit. It's a beautiful thing. What is the term? I really like that. Nachas. But you gotta go. Nachas. Like chutzpah.

Like chutzpah. Yes, exactly. Yeah. Okay. All right. All right. I'm going to forget it, but I'll message you and get you to like, leave me an audio. No problem. Dare I say you probably get a lot of nachas when you see your husband perform on television. Probably a lot of other feelings as well.

Usually. A lot of other feelings. It's sort of that kind of thing. Yeah. The wrestling stuff was so interesting. It was such a great show. And by then I had already moved to America, but I would see the clips and there was nothing like it here in the United States, you know, raw SmackDown would end and then that's it. But you guys would do a post show and it was very free format.

And you guys would break the fourth wall and talk about all these storylines. And it was great in the back of your mind. Did you think, okay, this is going to lead, like at some point, did you think this was going to lead me to WWE or you were just doing it because they offered it to you? No, I was doing it. So Greg Sansoni, who was my boss at the score, did you, you must,

you know, Greg, right? Of him. I don't think I ever met him, but I knew of him. We should have a little side note here as well. There's many side notes to this because I always remember when you first came to the score and you came in with Morrow and he was like, this guy's going to be the guy. He is the MMA guy and we're like oh okay great and like look at you look at everything you've done it's really cool to like think back to those days i mean how old were you when you came to i was 2010 or something like that i went there in 2010 actually was since six shero who was working for the score who's now on breakfast television who gave me the biggest break in my career this isn't my interview here renee but he the score actually helped propel me into this

position that's a whole other story that's the best yes and by the way the score has now like produced what a track record right jackie redmond now with wwm yeah it's incredible i know it is really cool they just let people be people guys that's all we're asking let us be ourselves for the love of god um anyways what were we talking about uh greg and the wrestling opportunity oh yes so greg uh had i had not been at the score for very long but he was like hey we're gonna start doing a post show for monday night raw we want you to host it and i was like okay i'm all about the opportunity of saying yes. When shit comes your way, you say yes. And you figure it out. And yeah, I did grow up a fan, but it's not like I was staying fully in tune with everything that was going on. I wasn't

following wrestling. So I had some homework to do. I had some research to do to like, get my ass back on track. Thank God I did. And what a blast we had doing that show. I had so much fun doing aftermath, um, just from like the different versions from like, whether moral was on the show to having like Arda on the show. I mean, Arda was, you know, the forefather of aftermath, uh, but we, in Jimmy Cordero, there, it was just been such a great opportunity. But when I started doing that, it was, it was not in my mind remotely of going to work for WWE and not in a sense of like, oh, that's not something I want to do. It's because the job that I had for WWE did not exist. It wasn't there before I started working there. There was nothing for me to look to, to be like,

oh, maybe I'll do that. Um, so when, when they wanted to hire me, I really didn't even know what I was going to be doing. I was like, am I going to be doing like a post show? Like I'm doing now, which ultimately, yes, I did end up doing that years later. But I had no idea what their role was going to be for me there when I started. Like, I remember going to Titan towers and I'm like walking around meeting all these producers, meeting all like, you writing team the crew whatever and I was like I had no idea what I was getting myself into so funny to think back to those days of like my ass walking in there and then all the shit that I actually got to achieve from my time there it was a big moment because Canadian you're doing great but everyone knew that you were bigger than the score that you were more talented than the score

with all due respect the score was kind of like the Montreal Expos in the sense that they developed this talent and then they go out and do great things. So when you signed with WD, he was like, of course this was inevitable. And then you were crushing it. I hated the fact that they changed your name. Um,

I know. Cause I actually like, it's such a great name. Young. Yeah. Renee Paquette is a nicer name. It's a, I get why they do it, but I hated the fact that they did it.

But nobody else has to deal with that anymore. Jackie Redmond gets to be Jackie Redmond. Kathy Kelly got to be Kathy Kelly. Why do you think that is? I don't know. I think they want the legitimacy of someone coming from another sport. You know, like Arash Markazi is doing things on NXT, so they don't want to change their name and persona.

In any event, along the way you joined WWE in 2012, you eventually, of course, meet your now husband. Could you tell us how you guys met? Not obviously like the first time you met, I'm sure, or maybe it was love at first sight, but how do you actually like meet, meet? And I don't mean consummating the marriage, by the way. I just mean like meet, you know.

Oh, we consummated our marriage in our closet so that Bulldog would not attack us that's a true story okay uh i just meant like when does it actually you know because i'm sure they probably don't want these things to happen right the fraternizing or maybe they do sure well listen it's it's so inevitable because we're all on the road so much i mean it can be i don't want to say incestuous, but like, yeah, there's a lot. Everyone's we spent so much time together. We're on the road. It's a lot of like shenanigans of like hanging out in hotel lobbies and we're all staying in hotels. And yeah, I mean, of course, things are going to get a little chaotic there. Um, but I met John, so him and I started dating like pretty early into my time on the road pretty quickly.

Obviously I knew, well, I can't say obviously I knew who he was because the shield was so new when I had started. So when I went to my first WrestleMania, which was a WrestleMania, New York, New Jersey, and the shield, I think had just come out at the survivor series the year prior so they were pretty new and I was like up to my eyeballs and like who's this wrestler what's going on what's this person's name like really trying to like submerge myself in that WWE world and there's so many people that you're meeting that it wasn't this like oh that guy so you're meeting all these people and John and I we just kind of, we kept, I guess, just like sort of bumping into each other and like talking to each other.

It's funny because in my mind, as much as there were moments of like, oh my God, we're in love. What? But for, I think it was more so other people's perspective of it, because John can be he's a loner to a degree like he really keeps to himself. He's he is not the social butterfly. That's me. I'm around talking to everybody. I'm friends with everybody. And he's not. He just kind of does his own thing.

He stays in his own lane. You're not going to catch him just like randomly shooting the shit with somebody. So he would do that with me, which I didn't think anything of it because that's just how people interact. But it was everyone else. They're like, he talks to you. What? He doesn't talk to anybody.

And I was like, I don't know. We talk all the time. So I think that's really what it was, is we would spend so much time talking. Whether it was we I did you ever use the app Voxer? It's like a little walkie talkie thing no I can't say I did it was a it was an app that a bunch of us were all using for a while we just like walkie talkie each other all day like we would message each other and talk to each other and he was in Vegas I was in New York and it you know it would get a little bit flirty to the point

that of like here we're gonna like hang out in real life? Or are we just like, what's going on here? Because we were just like friends, you know, like we were friends shooting the shit all day long. And wondering like, okay, is something happening here? Am I making this up? Or maybe we are just friends. Are we friend zoned? I don't know. And he would always be like, I'm going to come to New York. I'm going to come to New York. I'm going to hang out. And we're like, well, you know, we'll spend a weekend together or whatever. And I'm like, you know, a couple of cocktails in on box. I'm like, yeah, that sounds like a great plan. And then the next day I'm like, oh, hell no. You can't just come. I thought he would like come stay with me in my one bedroom apartment. I was like, hell no, that can't happen. That's,

that's crazy. So I shut down that trip on him two or three times. Uh, and then we eventually met on neutral territory. I was down doing NXT. So I'm in Orlando and he's like, Hey, I'm going to come to Orlando. We'll hang out. Let's just like, not be friends on boxer. Let's hang out in person. So by the time we actually got together and keep in mind in Orlando, it's inundated with wrestlers, the whole crews there where they're filming NXT. So like all of the restaurants close to the airport are kind of like filled with different, whether it's producers or talent or whatever.

So we're like, fuck, if we go out in public, people are going to see us together. They're going to assume we're dating. I don't know. So we're like, F it. Let's just hang at the hotel room. So we stayed at in his hotel room and he was so sweet. He got me like all like my wine that I like to drink. He got me all my snacks that he knew that I liked. And we literally just stayed up until about four in the morning, just like buddies hanging out, shooting the shit, having a good time. but then it hits that point that you're like, all right, are we doing this or

not? It's like, are we like, are we just like best friends that just enjoy talking to each other? Or are we going to get a little bit romantic here? So yeah, once that threshold was broken, pun intended, no pun intended. Yeah. We've literally just been together ever since. So that's coming up. We're almost at, it's like our eight year anniversary, like next week. Cause we went to Halloween horror nights in Orlando. That was the first time that we hung out. So it's like eight years ago that we like hung out. Finally we're together face to face in person, like in like a romantic situation. And we're like, I guess we're just together forever. And it really was that feeling. Like as soon as we were together, there we've never had that moment of like, is this my boyfriend? Is this going to work out? How's this going to go? Like, we've just been like, that's my guy. We're just that we're together. It just is what it is. There's never been that like question mark of what's going on here. What are we as a couple? We're just together forever.

And now he's doing great things. In fact, he is an author as well. So shout out to him on his new book that just came out or is about to come out, right? About to come out? November 2nd. Yeah. November 2nd. And you're at the moment, the wife and mother at home who's doing a lot of things. You're not just Susie Homemaker or whatever. No, no sometimes i wish i was but shit i gotta i gotta make ends meet too right um and he has sort of evolved you know he's he's one of my favorites to watch and he's evolved in kind of like this 2021 version of sandman if you will where he like comes out okay respect and he kicks ass and then he leaves uh but the the matches are intense and i see you

tweeting sometimes about it when he's doing these crazy matches how do you like now he's your you know he's your husband he's the father of your child daddy yeah how do you stomach this how do you watch these intense matches do you even watch them i do i i mean i like to watch everything i also i'm at home i'm hanging out so if i know he's working, of course I'm going to watch. I'd be an asshole to not be like, oh, what were you doing tonight? Oh shit, sorry, I missed it. I was watching whatever. So yeah, I definitely watch all the stuff that he's doing.

Yeah, it can be hard to stomach sometimes. It can be a little bit stressful, especially the last match that he just had with Nick Gage, GCW for the GCW championship. Hard watching that because I don't know that world. I don't come from that indie wrestling world. I especially don't come from the death match world. So for me to see what he's doing, it can like make my head spin sometimes of like, what the fuck? Um, seeing him bleed that much, uh, doing some of the spots that he's doing out there. But the thing that I always kind of come back to is I can handle surface

wounds like that of like a cut or whatever. I would prefer that to him taking crazy bumps, you know, like there's certain bumps that you see people do that. I'm like, Holy fuck. I'm glad John's not doing that. Um,

so I mean, yeah, he comes home, he's got some scratches on him. I can handle that a lot more than making sure it's like vertebrae is in the right spot that that's tougher to swallow. Even when I'm watching friends of mine do spots like that, it stresses me out. But yeah, the thing is, it's like, he's so good at what he does and he loves what he does so much that I get more of a kick out of being able to see him do what he wants to do. He's creating his art and he's a master at it. So watching him do that does bring me joy. It can stress me out, of course. But end of the day, he's happy and he's doing the stuff that he wants to do.

I know we're running up against the clock here. Do you have time for a few more questions? Yeah. Okay, cool. He's down there with the baby. They're surviving. Okay, yes. And of course, you have to get to Nora, I believe.

Yeah, little baby Nora. You recently were a part of a PSA about mental health. This has been a topic of discussion, not only in the world of wrestling, but in the sports world and outside of the sports world. But of course, stemming from the tragic passing of Daphne. And earlier in the conversation, you referenced crying in the past and things of that nature. Is this something that you have battled? This is something that we're talking a lot on this show about, because it's something that I've dealt with, especially in the past year with coming to terms with leaving the dream job and everything. Has this been something that you've dealt with a lot? So yes and no. I mean, I think everyone deals with some

mental health stuff to a certain degree. You know, when I talk about, you know, referencing back to what we were saying earlier of like having moments of crying, that was more so that wasn't like, uh, those moments of me being upset, weren't so much of like a breaking point for me. It was feeling like my dreams weren't coming true and that I wasn't living up to my potential. And that to me was fucking heartbreaking. That was a really tough pill for me to swallow. And like literally being told to my face, you will never be a star in this company. And like early on in my career that I was like, holy shit, I just signed a contract here. What? Like being told stuff like that by people in power fucked me up. Like that really put me in a really upsetting spot. I mean, shit, we should bring John up here and tell you all about it. But there's times that he would get

to the hotel room and he would get in after me because I would arrive to do TV for Raw or SmackDown and he's coming in off of the road loop. So he would get in late after, you know, whatever show they were doing in whatever town, but he would come to the hotel room and I would just be in tears, just so upset being like, what am I doing? This is not, you know, I didn't sign up to, to not fulfill my dreams of the things that I wanted to do. So that's really where like those tears and those moments of me being upset come from. Um, but I can definitely talk to, um, anxiety. I have had a lot of anxiety and it comes and goes, I'm sure. I mean, this is something that I'm sure that you can relate to in the sense of like, where am I

going? What is next? What, like What branch am I putting my hand on as I let go of this other one? That can be stressful when you're a grown ass adult with a family, with a child of like, what am I doing next? So anxieties can come from that. I mean, whether it's staying up late at night, and I always find it fascinating how much our thoughts differ in the evening to the morning. Do you find that? Like I find things like when I wake up in the middle of the night and I'm like, oh my God, I've got to do this or shit. I forgot about this or, oh my God, am I missing out on this opportunity? My wheels will spin like that in the middle of the night. And then I'll wake up in the

morning and go, you're fine. Relax. Everything's working out the way that it's supposed to work. But I also had other anxiety problems traveling. Traveling really got to me near the tail end of my career as well. There was a trip, which actually WWE is about to do right now, the trip to Saudi Arabia. So I flew to Saudi Arabia. Then we had to fly to England. And then from there, I just on like my own went to Portugal, was hanging out. And then I'd fly back to the United States. It was like flight, flight, flight, flight, flight. I'm on all of these planes. And it was my last flight, like a 45 minute little connection flight. And I was at the very back of the plane in a window seat that didn't actually have the window. And

these two women came and sat next to me. And I felt like I was going to evaporate from my own body. I was like, I'm at, I think I'm having a panic attack. I have to get out of this situation or I don't know what's going to happen. I have to get up and leave. Um, and they were having mechanical issues on the plane. So they're like, we're going to be grounded for a bit. And I was like, no, like freaking out. We ended up all having to get off the plane anyways, but I had to get the girls to get up, to move. I was like, I'm so sorry. I have to get out of the seat. And I got my luggage down and I went to the front of the plane. And luckily they're like, we are deplaning. So I could

actually get off the plane at that time. Uh, but that was something that just rocked my world. And it still does getting on a plane. Now, um, you know, I was supposed to go, uh, to Manchester with WWE and being an employee, you get first-class travel on like a 10 hour flight. So I was like, okay, I'll have first-class. I, if I'm in first class, not to be like bougie, I just need that more space. And it's not even the space I need. It's to be able to get off the plane quicker. It's when everyone stands up on the plane and you're all stuck there. I feel like I'm going to lose my shit. So anyways, I was flying from Vegas to Manchester and I got on the plane and it was not a first class ticket.

And I was at the back and I was like, holy shit. Oh, yeah. Sorry. The reason why it wasn't a first class ticket is because it was like nine hours and 50 minutes. So I didn't qualify for that first class ticket. I was like, are you shitting me right now? So I get on the plane and I'm sitting there, my knees are touching the seat in front of me and the plane's super hot. It's packed. And I'm like, I'm flying 10 hours to ask someone one question and then fly home. I got off the plane. I was like, they didn't close the gates. And I was like, is the door still open? They're like, yep. I was

like, great. I grabbed my luggage down. I walked off and I like had to call, um, Sue DeRosa who did all my travel for WWE. She is an absolute angel of a woman. I love her so much, but I called her and I was like, I had to get off the plane. I can't do it. My anxiety got to me too bad. I cannot do a flight like that anymore. If I'm needed at the show, I need to have different travel than, than flying in the very, very back. Just cause yeah, it's, I feel like I'm sounding like I'm being a little princess about that right now. Like I need first class. It's truly not. That's because I'm going to have a fucking panic attack otherwise. So yeah, that, that really rattled me. By the way, did they hook you up? Did they change it? Okay. They did. They changed my contract. Yeah. Thank God. And you know what? They did it really

quickly. They like, they really did jump on that right away for me. So kudos to them for, for helping me out with that. But yeah, it was, I think it was just like years and years of travel and being on a plane. Cause I never struggled with it ever before. And I never understood it because my mom is massively claustrophobic to the point that I laugh at her. I'm like, are you kidding me right now? She can't wear a fucking turtleneck without losing her mind. I'm like, what is going on, Carol? I never understood it. And now I'm like, oh my God, I get it. I get how it is. I don't even like getting in an elevator now. I'll take the stairs everywhere. So yeah. Yeah. I, it really has like gotten in my head and yeah. I mean, you know, when you're, when we're talking mental health and I, you know,

I think everyone just instantly thinks of depression and you know, those are, those are the more serious sides of mental health. This side, it does affect me certainly, but, uh, but depression is not something luckily that, that I've had to deal with. Thank God. I mean, it is something I've seen firsthand and I obviously feel so immensely for people that, that struggle with that and it can be such a battle. So I'm very grateful that I'm not someone that battles with depression. Second to last one, you mentioned working with me and Gene Okerlund, the legend. May he rest in peace. I mean, the greatest, in my opinion, to ever be, you know, like that role is, I mean, what he did, my favorite one was after Ric Flair won the Royal Rumble and he looks off to the

side and he's like, put that cigarette out. And I believe there was no one smoking a cigarette. He was just that damn good at his job. He's just an absolute legend. Did he ever tell you anything about like any pearls of wisdom that he ever shared with you about the gig, about the business that stuck with you over time? I don't think that it was so much of him sharing pearls of wisdom, but we got to spend so much time together. Like I just really got to like, he was a great friend of mine. So to be able to call Mean Gene Okerlund a great friend as well as like, I mean, yeah, you look at the career

that man has had and the way that he made people feel and the moments that, that he was able to leave as his legacy. He was so great, but him and I worked together so closely and I would just love like after the show, we would always just go to the hotel bar and just have some drinks and we'd have dinner together. And we would just like shoot the shit. And it wasn't so much the wisdoms. It was just like old road stories of him traveling with Andre, of him traveling with, with Hogan, uh, the, the times that he had through, you know, the history of WWE, WCW, the things that he was able to do. Um, but it was to me how sharp he always was until his last day, you know, we would sit

in, we would go in, so we would do the show vintage, which aired in Canada. So it was all throwbacks, obviously to like old, older wrestling matches or older moments in a professional wrestling. And we would go in and shoot six episodes at a time, which is a lot. And I would come in off the road. I'm like fucking bleary eyed. I don't know how long I've been up. I'm reading the teleprompter. We're in like a green screen room. Like it was, it was a lot, but him and I would just sit there and shoot the shit. And he was always just so sharp and so funny. It like my favorite moments, because it is a lot. You're in there shooting for like several hours trying to knock out a month's worth

of content. So if you're the one that fucks up on the teleprompter, you're like, no. But his moments and like the shit he would say when he would get mad at himself for like screwing something up on the teleprompter was like my favorite moments like i would restart any read with that man any day to get those little like nuggets of like the things that would fly out of his mouth when he would be mad at himself was just the best i can't imagine what it was like working with him when i did a show in syracuse when i was a student at Syracuse University. He came on my student wrestling radio show and he was on for like an hour and a half. No one was listening other than my mom, but it was a great thrill. The last question I have for you, Renee, and again,

thank you so much for the time. And I've just broken every rule in journalism because I am burying the lead here, but I'm leaving the the biggest question perhaps the juiciest question last it appears to be inevitable if you would ask me that one day very soon you are going to work for all elite wrestling when is that time coming let us know i understand the the the the period the what is it called the non-compete yeah it's up it's it's expired i'm you're a free agent of it now yeah are you gonna work for aw i don't know i wish that i had a really juicy meaty answer for you but i don't know i'm done are they talking to you about it no no they're not i've nope i've never talked to tony khan about it ever um and yeah, it's, it's never come up. I don't know in

what, like, I mean, I'm sure there could be a million different things that I could do there. I'm certainly open to the opportunity. Um, I love everything that they're doing over there. I have obviously lots of friends and family that happened to be working there. So a lot of signs point in that direction. I think a lot of people are waiting for that other shoe to drop for me to show up there and do something. And yeah, maybe one day I will, but right now I'm not. I don't know what that is or when that will happen. But yeah, hopefully at some point,

I think it would be really fun to experience things in another light, to work for another wrestling company. I've only ever worked for WWE. I think it would be really fun to experience things in another light, um, to, to work for another wrestling company. I've only ever worked for WWE, so it would be cool to see how things really work over there. Obviously I've been there at shows and whatnot, but not that often. Cause I've been pregnant the last year and I have a baby,

so I'm really not around that often. Um, but yeah, maybe, maybe at some point you'll see it, but right now it's not, now, it's not on my calendar. I'm not in the wrestling business. I do believe in the wrestling world, this is called working someone. So I think you're or kayfabing someone, but I respect the answer.

You don't act like you don't know all the terms you'll want in. No, you know. So for now, it's the podcast, Oral Sessions. It's the show with Misha. Is there something out there that you are looking to do that's outside of the sports world or the rest? Is there something that's coming up something on the horizon? No, there's, it's not coming up.

It's, it's something that I always just kind of revert back to is like, I really, I love doing my podcast. I love doing the radio show, but I, I miss television. I want to get back into that.

And, you know, now as you know, the world is opening back up and things are productions are back up and running. My baby is now four months old. So, I mean, she's still brand spanking new, but I can at least pop my head up and get a breath of fresh air and kind of figure out what those next things are going to look like. But, um, yeah, I'm not sure what they are. I've, I've gotten some other, I've, you know, got meetings lined up a couple different things on the back burner. But I'm not sure what that's going to be yet. We have so much going on over here right now of just like, John's doing a million different things. He's working every promotion possible. It seems I'm constantly in this room doing interviews being on the radio I've got a baby we're moving

on top of that so like my head is spinning so I think by like the new year should be like an ideal time to really set the set the tracks in motion well just do me a favor take the floral wallpaper with you when you move because this is a great tell you how sad I will be I have to buy more of it it's tremendous the whole set is amazing no one does this and i love the juxtaposition of the flowers and all that with wrestlers and these you know big it's it's perfect you get it i get it i get it welcome into my space i love it um this this has been a huge honor i enjoyed every second i feel very guilty about the fact that i took up a little too much of your time. But thank you so much.

I appreciate it. Congrats on all your success. You've had an amazing career. And I can't wait to see what you continue to do. I'm a huge fan. I listen to the Oral Sessions podcast all the time. I listen to your stuff with Misha as well, the show that airs every Monday from 2 to 5. You do go up against my show.

Well, you know what? I know that because I tried to book you as a guest. No one reached out to me. It's because we knew that you were doing your show. Well, if I'm being honest, like, you know, there's a little bit of a extra on the back end. So I feel like that's a token. Well, I'm undone at like 430. But just so we have that 30 minute window feels like a token invite was just thrown out here where you said. Great. Because, yeah, literally just like two weeks ago, I was like, can we get Ariel?

And they're like, oh, he's doing his show. And I was like, shit. They don't like me over there at Sirius if we're going to shoot. That's the truth. Why? What happened? We could do an RFvideo.com right now of my time at Sirius. You like that reference?

That is old school. That's a story for a different day, Renee. For now, I'll leave you. Congrats on everything. And I will throw out the plug once again to your husband for the book that's coming out. I hear great things. I will check it out myself. I wish you guys the best.

And again, thank you so much for the time. Thank you. This was a blast. And congratulations, dude. You're really crushing it. I'm really happy for you. So that was amazing. I enjoyed that.

I could have gone longer, but I felt really guilty that I took her away from her four-month-old for that long. Thank you so much to Renee. Definitely check out her show, her podcast, Oral Sessions, great conversations with a lot of pro wrestlers, but also people outside of the world of pro wrestling as well,

MMA fighters, and her show every Monday with Misha tate on sirius xm she has a book we didn't get into the book uh the cookbook as well she's just doing a lot um and i think she's going to do a lot of big things in this post wwe life so i can't thank her enough for the time and for being so open and honest about her time as well i know that's not easy and about her relationship with john i really really enjoyed that And I hope that you are enjoying these interviews as much as I am. And we'll keep doing them. I'm not going anywhere. This is a fun time to be doing this kind of stuff. Thank God we live in this day and age. And I genuinely look forward to these conversations each and every week. So again, thank you very much to Renee

Paquette. Thank you very much to our production team, thank you very much to Renee Paquette. Thank you very much to our production team. Thank you very much to the Lovely Feathers. If you want to watch the interview with Renee, go check it out on my YouTube channel right now, youtube.com slash Ariel Hawani. Thank you for the continued support, subscribing, rating, reviewing, downloading, all that stuff and more. I love you all. I appreciate you all more than you know. Thanks for having my back. Thank you for the love. And we'll talk next week. Take care.