Vince Russo says WWE stars playing lovers on television can create serious tension behind closed doors. While discussing Austin Theory, Maxxine Dupri, Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan on The Coach and Bro Show, Russo said wrestling has a long history of fictional relationships becoming very real.
The conversation started with Jonathan Coachman discussing Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan. Both wrestlers have real relationships away from WWE, but their characters have continued to act like a couple on television and social media.
“When it comes to relationships on the show and how far you go, you and I have talked many times about Dirty Dom and Liv. They will put their stuff out there on social media. Liv has now gotten engaged, and Dirty Dom is already married. It takes something away.”
Coachman then brought up a social media video involving Theory and Maxxine. The footage was slowed down, and the post blurred the position of Theory’s hands while suggesting that their story could get messy.
“There is slow-motion video of Maxxine and Austin Theory. It says, ‘Austin Theory and Maxxine Dupri, what is going on here?’ They blurred out his hands where he’s holding her, and it says, ‘Something tells me this story is about to get very interesting. Someone is definitely going to need a lawyer.’”
Coachman also mentioned seeing an image involving the wrestlers’ real-life partners but admitted he had no idea whether it was authentic or created with artificial intelligence. His larger question was how spouses handle watching their partners perform scenes like these every week.
“There was a picture the other day of Austin Theory’s girlfriend riding with Maxxine’s husband. I don’t know if it was real or AI or what. But when you have this type of situation and you tell them, ‘We need you to get as cringe as possible,’ what do you do if you’re the wife or the husband at home?”
Russo said the concern is legitimate because the wrestling business has seen television romances become real relationships before. He immediately pointed to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
“It’s tough because there’s a track record of stories like this starting as a work. Stephanie and Triple H, for crying out loud. If I’m the husband or I’m the wife, my radar’s going up. There’s a track record in wrestling.”
Coachman said he has always had a problem with WWE placing married wrestlers into romantic programs while allowing them to post about their actual spouses at the same time. In his opinion, the real-life content kills the illusion WWE is trying to create on television.
“I’ve always had an issue when you put somebody into a relationship that you know is married in real life. If you’re a superstar and this is what they’ve chosen to do, then until you’re out of it, no posting, no Instagram, no, ‘Hey, this is the love of my life. We’re going to get Smoothie King.’”
Coachman used Dominik and Morgan, along with Theory and Maxxine, as examples of angles that become harder to believe once fans are constantly reminded about everyone’s real relationships.
“On Monday night, you’re holding Liv around your waist or Maxxine Dupri. I just think it makes it so unbelievable that it’s not worth it. I’ve always had an issue with that.”
Russo agreed and argued that WWE stars do not need to expose every part of their private lives online. Unlike independent performers who depend on social media to promote themselves, top WWE talent already have a massive platform.
“I agree with that, especially when there’s no point to it. Liv Morgan is making money. She doesn’t need to be out there promoting herself. She is doing very, very well in WWE.”
Wrestling romance angles have always blurred the line between television and real life, but Russo believes that line can become dangerous when spouses and partners are watching from home. WWE may see provocative physical contact as part of the show, but the people involved still have to live with it once the cameras stop rolling.
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