Former WWE star Rico Constantino has revealed the conversation with Vince McMahon that ultimately led to his release from WWE in 2004.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Rico Constantino explained that he approached Vince McMahon after completing his original rookie contract and requested a pay rise following his success on television and in the tag team division. According to Constantino, he asked for an additional $1,000 per week after holding the WWE Tag Team Championships twice and regularly appearing on WWE programming.
“I thought I was worth it,” Constantino said.
Constantino claimed McMahon responded by telling him he “wasn’t popular” before informing him he would be released from the company. The former WWE star explained that he was earning a $75,000 annual downside guarantee at the time, excluding royalties, pay-per-view bonuses and video game payments. Constantino also claimed McMahon initially had concerns about his age when he first entered WWE, believing he was too old to begin a wrestling career at that level.
“Vince didn’t like me because of my age in the beginning,” Constantino said.
Rico Constantino Once Pitched A Storyline To Vince McMahon Involving Chavo & Eddie Guerrero
During the interview, Rico Constantino also discussed several creative ideas he pitched to Vince McMahon during his WWE run, including a proposed storyline involving Chavo Guerrero and Eddie Guerrero shaving off one of his trademark sideburns during an attack to help transition his on-screen character into a more flamboyant presentation.
“I wanted to get rid of the sideburns and make it a whole new character, and I thought of an angle with Chavo Guerrero and Papa Guerrero that they want the belts, because Charlie and I held them, and they jumped me in the bathroom, beat me up, and then shave one of my sideurns off.”
According to Constantino, the storyline was ultimately rejected.
Constantino held the WWE Tag Team Championships twice during his run, first alongside Rikishi and later with Charlie Haas before leaving the company in late 2004. Since departing WWE, Constantino has remained active through independent wrestling appearances, conventions and podcast work.
