Freddie Prinze Jr. Reveals He Quit WWE Because Of What Steve Austin Said On Tough Enough

Freddie Prinze, Jr. was recently interviewed by Chris Van Vliet in which he reflected on his time as a writer for WWE from 2008-2009 and then again 2010 until 2012. He also revealed why he quit the company. Check out some highlights below.

On writing from wrestlers:

"I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I knew I could write well and I knew I could write well for talent.  I knew that I could hear them speak and write words that they would say instead of what sounded good in my head that I would say.  That’s a hard disconnect for a lot of wrestling writers to make.  It’s a step that television writers have to be able to make and screenwriters have to be able to make.  If all your characters sound like one writer wrote them, you failed.  If the wrestler you’re writing for sounds like you, you failed.  You failed the wrestler.  It’s only 10% of the equation.  It’s 80% on the wrestler, it’s 15% booking and it’s 5% writing.  I’ve seen horrible promos get over because the talent is so money."

On why he left WWE:

"There was a show called Tough Enough.  They tried to bring it back and Stone Cold was a judge.  There was a mom that wanted to be a wrestler and she said she was doing it for her kids.  Steve Austin said, ‘That’s bulls*t.  Do you know how many times I won father of the year?’  He put a big goose egg up.  I was watching that show in the writer’s room and I stood up, walked to gorilla, and I gave Vince my two weeks.  I said, ‘I’m trying to win father of the year.  I can’t work here anymore.’  He said, ‘Talk to me after the show.’  I talked to Stephanie after the show.  I let her know.  She said, ‘We were about to give you SmackDown.  You were going to be the head writer.’  She was disappointed.  I was like, ‘You know I love you guys, but I’m a dad.  I’m out.’ That was that.  I quit and never looked back."