In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, former WWE executive Stephanie McMahon pulled back the curtain on one of her most iconic in-ring moves – her notorious slap. This signature move became a defining feature of her heel character on WWE television.
McMahon’s journey as a WWE villain began in 1999, signalling a significant shift in her on-screen presence and her trademark slap shaping her persona.
The slap was when I became a character and when I became a heel.
While the exact moment of her first slap remains hazy in her memory, McMahon vividly recalled the advice she received from her fellow WWE superstars.
I don’t remember what my first slap was, but I remember the advice that I was told. All the boys were like, ‘You’ve gotta lay it in, Steph. You’ve got to lay it in and it’s got to look good.’
The locker room didn’t just encourage her to make the slap look convincing; they also provided specific guidance to ensure the move’s effectiveness while minimising potential harm.
Make sure you don’t pop anybody’s eardrum. You’ve got to hit them in a particular spot, but hit them hard.
As her character evolved, Stephanie McMahon’s slap became a staple of her performances. Main event stars like Mick Foley and Chris Jericho found themselves on the receiving end of her powerful strike.
“That’s how the slap kind of started. Foley, Jericho, I got (too).
One particular incident stood out in her memory.
One time, DX was holding Jericho, I forget the storyline, but I was going over to slap Chris, and he like winced and all the guys thought it was so funny. They made me wait and let him wince. Then they had me slap him.
The slap became more than just a move; it was a character-defining action that helped establish Stephanie McMahon as one of the most memorable heel figures in WWE history. Her ability to deliver a convincing slap, coupled with her overall performance, contributed significantly to her success as an on-screen character in WWE.
While Stephanie stepped down from her executive role in WWE in 2019 and has since made only limited on-screen appearances, her impact on the industry remains undeniable, where even a simple slap can become the stuff of legend.
Stephanie McMahon Says She “Wanted To Disappear” To Explain Her WWE Hiatus
Also speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Stephanie opened up about her decision to step away from WWE altogether in 2023, saying she kind of “wanted to disappear” for a while, but admitted she will always return to her roots in pro wrestling.
H/t to Fightful