Sgt. Slaughter shares his thoughts on Lacey Evans' outfit and notes that he'd like to work with her, but he felt disrespected by WWE.
The WWE Hall of Famer previously sparked some buzz when he discussed Evans using his Cobra Clutch submission hold and noted that he stopped watching SmackDown because of her. Evans became the source of controversy when she wore a hat that was reminiscent of Slaughter's attire on the June 2 episode of WWE SmackDown.
Speaking with Bill Apter for Sportskeeda WrestleBinge, Slaughter discussed Evans' new character and noted that he thought about potentially becoming her manager. Slaughter noted that his daughter got upset about Evans using his Cobra Clutch, and he described how he didn't understand why the company didn't talk to him about it first.
“I had given some thought about maybe helping her out and maybe becoming her manager or her drill instructor and putting her through Camp Slaughter, and possibly, my daughter, Slaughter Daughter, is a big fixture in Spartan Racing. It’s like obstacle courses, and she does one almost every other weekend. She’s in tip-top shape, she can kick some but. I know, I trained her. She got a little upset with the WWE [because] of her coming out and using the move that I used. I just didn’t understand why they didn’t come to say, ‘Is it okay?’ I would have said, ‘Yeah, it’d be a blessing if you want to use my move.’ Imitation’s the biggest form of flattery, but I wish she would use it right. Don’t just use it to put it on somebody. Put it on to win your match, and not do it for a high spot or something like that. It’s been a move that’s so recognizable in the business, like a Camel Clutch. It’s something that few people can imitate. So I just would like to have had the opportunity to take her and make her a world champion. That’s the only way I would do it. She’d have to go all the way with it. So I kind of just dropped it," Slaughter said.
Slaughter then described how he felt like Evans' outfit was "selling sex" rather than showing that she was a tough competitor who used to be in the marines. He noted that if her character was supposed to be that of a drill instructor, she should act like it. The legend also stated that he respects Evans for her background, and he likes her.
"I didn’t watch it any further. My daughter kind of got a little upset that now she’s coming out with the campaign cover on, and she’s got a big cobra on the front of it. She’s got her outfit on and showing a lot of cleavage. To me, that’s selling sex. That’s not selling that you’re a tough S.O.B. from the marine corps. She should have a t-shirt on and have the combat boots on and have those fatigues on if you want to emulate Sgt. Slaughter and that you’re from the marine corps and you’re a drill instructor, act like one. Be one. They got plenty of other ladies out there that are the sex symbols. Lacey’s a beautiful woman, and I like Lacey a lot. I got to know her briefly, and I always admired her and respect her because she did serve in the marine corps. I just wish that they would have allowed me to get involved a little bit more," he said.
The WWE Hall of Famer recalled how WWE offered him a deal to come in and work with Evans, but he would have been making less than he already was. Slaughter questioned why he should essentially take a pay cut to come back to WWE and elevate Evans, which is why he turned the offer down. He made it clear that he'd be willing to come back and manage Evans if WWE came to him with the right deal.
"They came to me, offered this deal, and it was to make less money than I’m making now. Why should I give up making what I’m making and go get her trained and make her a star, and there I am, dangling out there and owned by the WWE. It didn’t look so favorable for me, so I just said, ‘I’m gonna stay with what I’m doing.’ But if they want to come up with the right deal, if they want to come up with the right scenario or whatever they want to do, I’d love to come back and manage her, and show her what to do," Slaughter said.
After noting that he’s confident he could help her become one of the meanest competitors around without compromising the strength of his own character, Slaughter stated that he would be open to talking to WWE about coming back. However, he stated that their previous offer was like a slap in the face. The legend expressed his wish to at least talk to Evans, and he described how he felt disrespected by the company.
“If they would like me to come back, I have no qualms about sitting down and talking about it. But to offer me something like they did was a slap in my face. It was utterly ridiculous, what they offered me. I was making more money when I left there than they were offering me to come back and make her a star. She’s been fumbling and stumbling, and I don’t know why she ever gave up the Southern Gal [character]. To me, that was the hottest thing that was going. I just wish that we could hook up together. I’d like to talk to her about it, but I quit watching it because it was kind of an insult to me, what they did and the way they did it. It was like, ‘We don’t care about Sarge, we don’t care about this, we don’t care about that.’ But I care about them. I’ve always been loyal to the WWE," Slaughter said.
Click here to see what Evans had to say when Slaughter's daughter criticized her attire.
Evans previously discussed her desire to work her way towards being a champion. Check out her comments here.
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