It broke Dolph Ziggler’s heart that much of the storyline between Mandy Rose and Otis took place without a live crowd in attendance.
The romantic angle between Rose and Otis saw Otis defeat Dolph Ziggler at WrestleMania 36, which due to the COVID-19 pandemic, took place with zero fans.
Sitting down with Sam Roberts, Ziggler wished the storyline could have played out in front of fans. He said,
“I hate, I fuc*ing hate that I had one singles match in 18 years and it was on a soundproof stage with no fans. And here’s why I hate it. I don’t hate it because I got one ever and there was nobody there. That’s hilarious, that’s a great rib. I am heartbroken that this beautiful story of this kick-as* lady and this bada** guy that you’re rooting for, and this a** 80s bad guy with his collar popped. It’s my whole life, I’m finally on TV.
“I finally get it and we invest so much time and we have like, not the matches, not the stuff that you guys see is important. The behind-the-scenes things were… Sonya and I had this weird chemistry right off the bat where we seem like these Bond villains.
“This is the most beautiful story I’ve ever been a part of in his company. I’m so proud of it and I go all I wanted, not to wrestle in front of you guys. That would have been awesome. That moment where I get punched in the balls and Otis picks up Mandy and they kiss, and I’m heartbroken that this is not in front of 80,000 people and it broke my heart because it was the payoff to a long story.”
Otis and Mandy Rose would remain an on-screen couple for some time before Rose was drafted to Monday Night RAW that September.
