A former WWE star spoke about how they thought Vince McMahon‘s idea of a gimmick for them was a joke.
Former WWE Tag Team Champion Kenny Dykstra has revealed that he initially believed Vince McMahon’s pitch for the Spirit Squad was a joke. Speaking in a 2018 interview with ESPN, Dykstra recalled his first reaction when McMahon introduced the idea of a male cheerleader faction. According to Dykstra, McMahon was completely serious as he laid out the concept and its purpose.
“Guys, this is my idea. It’s gonna work because I’m telling you it will work,” McMahon told them. “I want cheerleaders, male cheerleaders. There’s nothing that gets more heat than male cheerleaders.”
Dykstra admitted that he struggled to believe the pitch was genuine, assuming McMahon was testing the group or playing an elaborate prank. That doubt only increased when McMahon added stakes to the idea.
“I think he said something like, ‘Well, either it will work, or you’ll be fired,’” Dykstra recalled.
Any remaining uncertainty disappeared moments later. Dykstra said McMahon looked up, smiled and delivered the final confirmation that the concept was moving forward immediately.
“You’re gonna be on WWE Raw next week,” McMahon said.
The Spirit Squad debuted soon after and quickly became one of the most heat-drawing acts of the mid-2000s, capturing the World Tag Team Championship and playing a prominent role on Raw. While initially sceptical, Dykstra’s story highlights how one of WWE’s most unconventional ideas came directly from McMahon and was pushed with full conviction from the start.
How Long Did Vince McMahon’s Spirit Squad Last In WWE?
The Spirit Squad was introduced to WWE television in early 2006 as part of Vince McMahon’s vision for a heat-generating faction built around the male cheerleader gimmick. The group quickly became a featured act on Raw, capturing the World Tag Team Championship and playing a central role in McMahon’s on-screen feud with Shawn Michaels.
The faction’s run at the top was relatively short. By late 2007, the Spirit Squad had been phased out, with its members gradually repackaged into new roles or sent back to developmental. In total, the Spirit Squad existed as an active unit for just over a year, making a significant impact in a brief window before being quietly dissolved.
