NXT star Jake Atlas has described what it was like coming out to WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon and says it was better that he didn’t know it was her when he did it.
Atlas is currently one of the only out LGBTQ+ athletes on the WWE roster and his star has continued to rise on the black and gold brand as he recently scored wins over crypto-king Cameron Grimes and LA Knight.
Speaking to WWE’s The Bump the 26-year-old Atlas spoke of his happiness at seeing the response from the WWE Universe and beyond to him at the beginning of Pride month.
Atlas said:
“I am so fulfilled! I’m really overwhelmed by the amount of support from the last 24 hours with seeing how open we’ve been about Pride and Pride Month. Being able to be authentic and talk about my excitement for it, it makes me extremely happy!”
Atlas then discussed his goals in WWE and alluded to getting some attention that’s worth a million bucks:
“I’m trying to get the attention of everyone. My ultimate goal is to become famous one day and become a household name. If this is the step I have to take to make sure that I make that happen, then I’m going to make it happen. How do I become famous? By winning and becoming successful and gaining people’s attention. Hey, if I get the ‘Million Dollar Man’s’ attention as well, then so be it. I’ve been seeing on Twitter #MillionDollarAtlas. Bring it on!”
“To be able to be a WWE Superstar and actually check off boxes that I didn’t think were possible growing up, or even into my adulthood, it just felt so surreal to have the support and the backing of the WWE and WWE Universe to want to invest in me. If I’m having these accomplishments, then clearly, I’m doing something right, and I can be more proud of that.”
Before Jake Atlas began competing in WWE he was signed to the company as an ambassador after appearing on Celebrity Undercover Boss. The undercover boss in question was Stephanie McMahon and Atlas came out to McMahon before he knew just exactly who he was talking to.
Atlas described that experience with a laugh:
“I wasn’t an ‘out’ performer before I met Stephanie. Meeting Stephanie undercover and not knowing it was Stephanie was so much better and helpful in a way. I don’t know if I would have been able to talk to her if I knew it was Stephanie.”
“Meeting Stephanie and coming out to her… I mean, I came out to one of the most powerful people in professional wrestling. [After filming] I was a mess, and I was crying, and she hugged me. But I took a moment to myself and said if I was able to have this conversation and be open and authentic, to again, one of the most powerful people in pro wrestling, then I can do anything that I set my mind to. I can be honest, I can be open, and I can be successful. I’m so grateful for that opportunity.”