WWE veteran R-Truth has shared details of a creative, and comically unconventional, merchandise idea that was ultimately rejected by Stephanie McMahon.
During a recent appearance on Insightwith Chris Van Vliet, R-Truth recounted a pitch he made during the height of his popular “Little Jimmy” gimmick. The character, an imaginary friend that only Truth could see, became a fan-favourite aspect of his quirky persona. Capitalising on the character’s popularity, Truth suggested the creation of a “Little Jimmy” action figure. The twist? The toy would consist of nothing but an empty box.
“I asked Stephanie McMahon, ‘Could I make a Little Jimmy action figure?’” Truth explained. “She said, ‘What’s it gonna be?’ I said, ‘Nothing, but it’ll be in the box.’”
Truth added that McMahon laughed at the idea but ultimately turned it down.
“She said, ‘Truth, I don’t think we can do that. We’ve got to give them something.’ I said, ‘Well, I guess put a stick beside them or something. They got the package.’ She said, ‘No, we can’t do that.’”
Although WWE didn’t go forward with the pitch, the idea of selling empty toy boxes isn’t unprecedented. In 2010, Mattel jokingly advertised an “invisible” Wonder Woman invisible jet toy on April Fool’s Day. The unexpected fan interest led the company to produce and sell the empty boxes, complete with hidden weights to mimic the feel of a real toy, at San Diego Comic-Con for $5 each. Those novelty items are now rare collectables, with listings on eBay reaching prices up to $450.
How Did Stephanie McMahon Come Up With Her Signature WWE Move, The Slap?
Stephanie McMahon spoke about the origins of her signature slap and said that while she doesn’t remember who was on the receiving end of her fist slap, she does remember the advice the locker room gave her on performing it. McMahon said that she was told that she had to “lay in” the slap, but to do so in a safe spot so as not to injure someone.
H/t to WrestleTalk.com