To the former WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis, wearing sweatpants to the office was a fireable offense, or at least it almost was for Tom Pritchard, who spent five years working as a coach in Stamford, Connecticut, the promotion’s base.
Tom Pritchard was at one time a WWE Tag Team Champion alongside Chris Candido and took on his role as coach in 2007. During that time, Pritchard managed to get under Laurinaitis’ skin and often he would call the office to check what Pritchard was wearing.
WWE’s John Laurinaitis Hated Tom Pritchard’s Sweatpants
While speaking to “Story Time with Dutch Mantell,” Pritchard discussed how his sweatpants-wearing was a point of contention for Laurinaitis and almost got him fired from WWE.
“You know I had an office on the fourth floor, right? (…) I didn’t belong on the fourth floor. I wore my sweatsuit, my sweatpants, my gym clothes, my workout stuff because I figured I was a coach. And then John Laurinaitis saw me one time, ‘I need you to dress more professionally.’ So that was on a Friday, and I knew he was going to be on the road on Monday so guess what I came in wearing on a Monday, my sweatpants.”
Discussing it further, Pritchard disclosed how he was given the choice to wear his sweatpants everyday, but as someone who was unemployed.
“He called the office to check and see what I was wearing. He really did. And Andrew Russo put the call in to me. He says you got to call one whatever else I picked up, ‘hey Tommy, what are you wearing today?’ [imitating Laurinaitis], he goes, ‘I can make it to where you could wear sweatpants everyday if you want.’ I said, ‘No John, I understand.’ And I lived right around the corner from the office, so I went home and changed.”