Vince McMahon Told FTR Their Problem Was They Were Just Professional Wrestlers

While reflecting on FTR recently being managed by their hero Bret Hart for an independent match (for Big Time Wrestling against Brian Pillman Jr. & Brock Anderson), Dax Harwood revealed that Vince McMahon once told the team that their problem was they were 'just' professional wrestlers.

While discussing the experience of being managed by The Hitman with Sports Illustrated, Harwood said:

"That night, in the ring, I was thinking about the moment and how much it meant to me. I thought about all the WrestleManias we've worked, all the titles we've won, all the towns we've traveled. I was hit with this thought. It was from a night we wrestled in WWE, and waiting in Gorilla for us after the match was Vince McMahon. He had his hands in his pockets and said to us, 'Everyone says you're the next great tag team. But you know what I see? The problem with you guys is you're just professional wrestlers'. That night in the ring, standing next to Bret, I thought to myself, 'Damn right, I'm a professional wrestler. I'm a great professional wrestler, and look at where my life is right now'".

FTR famously turned down lucrative, long-term contract offers to stay with WWE after asking for their releases. They were ultimately granted their release on April 10, 2020, and subsequently signed with AEW.