WWE Hall of Famer Jesse Ventura has provided some additional insight into his ongoing talks with the company.
Back in April 2024, the Hall of Famer revealed that he had been in talks about a WWE return after they had gone in a “change of direction”, which is a reference to the departure of Vince McMahon, who resigned from his role following allegations of sexual misconduct. In a further interview, Ventura has provided more of an insight into the negotiations.
Speaking with Frank Morano on WABC, Ventura confirmed that he has contracts and that WWE is looking to sign him to a Legends deal:
“I’m back negotiating with them. We’re in talks right now. In fact, I have contracts with my attorney right now with the WWE. And I can only say that that’s happened because of the change of direction in the company.
We don’t know right now fully [what his role would be]. They want to bring me back under their Legends. You know, I’m an old guy now and you’ve got to have the legends. And, hell, if you go back to WrestleMania I, there ain’t too many of us alive anymore. It’s true. Look at — Roddy’s gone, Orndorff’s gone, Andre’s gone, John Studd’s gone. You start going down WrestleMania I and you’ve got more gone — Junkyard Dog’s gone. The list goes on and on. There’s Hogan, myself, and Tito, and a couple more, we’re the only ones left.
The door is, you know, we’re talking right now about me having some — you know, I’m getting older. I mean, I’m in my 70s now. And I guess I’d just like to open up the door at the end in the wrestling career and see what’s still left there. And it ain’t like I’m going to go back on the mic, because, if I could be honest with you, I don’t even know who wrestles there anymore.”
Ventura was a part of the company from 1981 to 1990, serving as a wrestler and an announcer during his time with the company. Following his exit, Ventura served as the Governor of Minnesota from 1999-2003.
Jesse Ventura Recalls Heated Conversation With Vince McMahon While In WWE
Ventura and McMahon were famously at odds in the 80s when Ventura was looking to start a union and McMahon was strongly against the idea. In a previous interview, the Hall of Famer recalled what McMahon said to him when he heard about the idea:
“I went home the next day. My phone rang, and it was Vince, ‘What in the hell are you doing yapping about this union crap in the dressing room?’ And I stood up to him, I said ‘Vince, why can’t we? It’s not just to fight you. Right now, I pay $5,000 a year for health insurance for me and my family.’ This was the ’80s, if we had strength in numbers, maybe I’d only have to pay $1,200 a year. What about retirement? I’ve seen hundreds of guys retire after 30 years in this business, they don’t have a pot to p**s in or a window to throw it out of.”
Due to his anti-union views, Jesse Ventura says he is “not surprised” that Hulk Hogan has fallen in with Donald Trump.
In August 2024, Jesse Ventura detailed his current relationship with WWE.
H/t to F4WOnline.