Maven talks about the protocol when using props or weapons in a WWE match.
Maven was a WWE Superstar from 2001-2005 and during this time, WWE was transitioning from The Attitude Era to the Ruthless Aggression Era. Throughout these eras, the use of foreign objects during a match or angle was commonplace.
During his latest YouTube video, Maven addresses whether or not it was ever okay to use a prop without prior approval from agents or higher-ranking backstage officials.
Maven notes that the use of any major weapons had to come with prior approval, but opportunities would arise for fun, spur-of-the-moment spots that involved props.
"You're not going to just grab a trash can lid, grab a chair, grab something without having it pre-approved by your agent. We're also out there in the spur of the moment and we're reacting. For every action, Newton says, there is a reaction and sometimes that reaction includes props," Maven began. "Here's an example. When I first started my career, I was at HWA, the developmental for WWE, Heartland Wrestling Association, and I was wrestling a guy named Justin Credible. Our match spilled to the outside and while we were wrestling along the ring apron, Justin reached up and grabbed and hit me with a water bottle. Water went everywhere!
"It just made for a great visual," Maven continued. "Obviously, we had no clue we were gonna get down to the floor and get this water bottle, but did we get in trouble for it backstage? Absolutely not. That doesn't mean you're going to just take it upon yourself to open up and pull out trash can lids or anything like that. Never going to happen. We definitely want to get approval on props, but we don't want to not do something that comes to us if it's going to make the match better."
Sometimes when using pre-approved props, wrestlers can get busted open the hard way. Learn about the backstage reaction should a moment like that occur at this link.
In the past, Maven, who only ever won the WWE Hardcore Championship, opened up about the possibility of him becoming WWE Intercontinental Champion and why he turned it down. Read more here.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Maven's YouTube channel in addition to linking back to this article and giving Fightful credit for transcription.
