Kevin Kay Recalls Vince McMahon Pushing Standards On TNN With No Panties Shot Of Divas

Kevin Kay recalls conversations with Vince McMahon.

From 2000 to 2005, WWE Raw aired on TNN, which eventually became Spike TV. In 2005, the show went back to USA Network.

Kevin Kay was the President of TNN at that time.

Appearing on the Ariel Helwani Show, Kay recalled Raw going back to USA and his conversations with Vince McMahon.

“Their trip back to USA ended badly for us because we were trying to re-sign them, but they made the decision and he had a really good relationship with Bonnie Hammer at USA. They told us they were going back and we were like, ‘Okay, there’s not much we can do. We’re sorry to see you go.’ They gave out ‘USA’ signs to the audience in the weeks leading up to them leaving us. They would get the audience to hold up ‘USA’ signs and chant ‘USA! USA!’ I was like, ‘You can’t promote your move. We’ve had a good relationship. What are you doing?’ I called Kevin Dunn; we had an argument, and he goes, ‘You’re gonna have to talk to Vince about it.’ I called Vince and he goes, ‘What are you going to do about it?’ ‘If you keep doing that, I’m gonna have to cut the audio. You don’t want that. The second thing, if that doesn’t stop, I’m gonna have to go dark.’ He’s like, ‘You’re not gonna do that.’ I did.

“It didn’t go well. We cut the audio; we never got to the point where we had to go dark. He was really angry about it, which I understand, but he sent the divas into the ring the next week after that happened; they crawled under the rope, the shot was from behind, and they weren’t wearing any panties. I was at home, and it was the shot of four divas going to the ring. My phone rang, it was the Head of Standards and Practices. She said, ‘Kevin, are you seeing what I’m seeing?’ I was like, ‘I am.’ ‘That can never happen again.’ I called Kevin Dunn on the Monday after that and I said, ‘That can never happen again.’ He goes, ‘Vince wants to talk to you.’ I got on the phone with Vince and he’s telling me what an idiot I am. ‘Vince, that can’t happen again. You know our standards.’ ‘I don’t know what your fucking standards are. They change every day. Every time this happens, it’s a different standard. Tell me your standards.’ I go, ‘How about we start with no vaginas.’ He hung up.”

Elsewhere during the interview, Kay recalled his first meeting with Vince McMahon. You can find his full comments on how that went by clicking here.

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