Vince McMahon personally stepped in to direct two extras during Alexa Bliss’ infamous “Bayley: This Is Your Life” segment on WWE Raw, according to former WWE writer and producer Chris Dunn.
The segment aired on the May 29, 2017 episode of Raw, with Bliss attempting to humiliate Bayley by bringing out people from her past ahead of their Kendo Stick on a Pole Match. WWE itself described the angle at the time as Bliss presenting a sinister version of the classic “This Is Your Life” concept originally associated with Mick Foley and The Rock.
During his appearance on the Public Enemies Podcast, Dunn said he worked on the Bliss and Bayley segment with another writer. He admitted the idea was already in trouble because the original formula did not translate cleanly with a heel leading the presentation.
“In theory, it was like a good conceit. I think it was a little flawed because it was taking off of, you know, Mick Foley’s This Is Your Life with The Rock, and Bliss, though she was incredibly over, you have a heel leading it instead of a babyface.”
Dunn did not try to rewrite history when it came to how the segment turned out. He said the team knew it was struggling and was simply trying to make the material functional by the time Raw went on the air.
“It’s so bad. And you’re working to make it better and better. We’re in the process of, like, making it watchable. Like, sometimes you just want to get through it.”
According to Dunn, the situation became even more uncomfortable after a producer criticized the segment. He claimed McMahon had a habit of digging in harder when someone openly pushed back against one of his ideas, and that is what happened with the Bliss and Bayley angle.
“One thing that Vince would do is, if you didn’t like his brainchild and you didn’t handle it with respect and try to accept that it was bad, he would then dig his heels in and go back to the original creative, which he did.”
Dunn then recalled seeing McMahon personally directing two extras who were part of the segment.
“I watched him in rehearsal in a back room, I think we’re in South Carolina, teach them how to kiss.”
The “Bayley: This Is Your Life” segment has remained one of the most criticized moments from that era of Raw. Dunn’s story adds another layer to it, claiming the angle was not only difficult behind the scenes, but became even more committed to its original direction once McMahon took direct control.
What do you think about Chris Dunn’s account of Vince McMahon personally directing extras during the Alexa Bliss and Bayley segment? Leave your feedback in the comments.
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