Former WWE Superstar Sean Morley, better known as Val Venis recalled how Vince McMahon came up with the X-rated character.
In a recent interview with Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw, Morley shed light on the origins of his iconic character during the Attitude Era. Morley disclosed that the brainchild behind the Val Venis gimmick was none other than McMahon himself.
Reflecting on the genesis of the character that made him a household name in the late 90s, Morley recalled the moment McMahon reached out to him at 7 am via a phone call while Morley was in Mexico. McMahon, accompanied by Vince Russo, pitched the character of Venis, a former adult film star-turned-pro wrestler.
I had just returned from a two-week camp [WWE tryout] back to Mexico. It was 7 am in the morning in Mexico City, my phone rings and it was Vince McMahon. He says, ‘I got Vince Russo on speakerphone with me, we have this character for you, and we want to run it by you and see if you’re comfortable with it.
Initially sceptical, Morley had his reservations about playing an actor gimmick, considering the likes of Hulk Hogan and Jesse Ventura had already explored similar roles. However, McMahon piqued his interest by revealing that Venis was a former adult film star. Intrigued by the unique nature of the character, Morley eagerly accepted the role.
McMahon, aware of the potential controversy surrounding the gimmick, advised Morley to take 24 hours to contemplate the character and ensure his comfort with it. Less than a day later, Morley called McMahon to confirm his enthusiasm, and the Val Venis character officially came to life.
As the WWE machine began to promote the Val Venis character, a series of vignettes showcasing his lifestyle aired. One of the most memorable vignettes featured real-life adult film star Jenna Jameson, which was shot at the house of WWE executive Bruce Prichard.
Has Vince McMahon Created Other WWE Characters?
McMahon is well known to get hands-on with the creation of on-screen characters for his television shows. McMahon is credited with the creation of some of the most iconic characters such as The Undertaker and Goldust.
McMahon has also been credited with being involved in the creation of storylines for programming also. In an interview on the 16th of May, Gene Snitsky revealed that Vince McMahon was deeply involved with his storyline involving Lita and Kane back in 2004.
H/t to WrestlingInc.com