Mandy Rose And Tino Sabbatelli Reflect On Having To Clean Rings After NXT Herpes Outbreak

Mandy Rose and Tino Sabbatelli discussed how things have changed from their time in NXT to the current state of the brand. They reflected on having to work their way from the bottom and not getting any special treatment as athletes outside of pro wrestling.

While discussing their NXT journey on their podcast, Mandy Rose and Tino Sabbatelli revealed that they once had to clean the rings at the WWE Performance Center after a herpes outbreak.

“Then we had to clean the rings in NXT, because there was a herpes outbreak. I don’t even know if everyone knows that one. Remember Daria had the Ninja Turtles thing on with the vacuum. I think this is the beautiful thing, too, that I get why they do this for most people, as well as because there’s always, you know, a bottom. You always have to work your way out. But things have changed a lot in WWE,” Mandy said.

She then opened up about how she faced some criticism early in her career for being fast-tracked to Total Divas and for still being able to take on early sponsorship opportunities.

“Even when I got there, it was like, even me, they were like, ‘Oh, this girl’s getting thrown in Total Divas, and she has a following.’ I was able to do some of my sponsored things in the beginning, people didn’t like that.”

Mandy Rose was fortunate enough to become WWE NXT Women’s Champion at the end of her time in WWE. She left the company in 2022. Learn more about that here.

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