Pat McAfee
The 2002 brand split was a pivotal moment in WWE history, shaking up rosters and splitting up legendary teams. One of the most notable casualties was The Dudley Boyz, with Bubba Ray staying on Raw while D-Von was drafted to SmackDown to launch a singles career. While Bubba maintained his hardcore persona, D-Von was repackaged as “Reverend D-Von,” a character that introduced Batista to the world but ultimately failed to gain long-term traction.
D-Von Dudley On Why Vince McMahon Ended The Character
Speaking to Pro Wrestling Culture, the Hall of Famer opened up about why the run didn’t work, placing the blame on a lack of patience from the boss. D-Von contrasted his WWE experience with his time in TNA, where he enjoyed a successful Television Title reign and creative freedom. “TNA… allowed me to be able to be me… WWE, different story. Vince had his own way of doing things,” D-Von explained. He noted that McMahon invented the Reverend character but refused to let him execute his own vision for it.
Ultimately, D-Von admitted that the transition from a decade-long tag team wrestler to a singles star required time that McMahon wasn’t willing to give. “He didn’t have the patience, and he didn’t see good things coming out of it,” D-Von recalled. “The man that pays the bills is the only one that you have to impress. Apparently, I didn’t impress him enough for him to keep the character going on.” The character was abandoned after eight months, leading to the reunion of The Dudley Boyz at Survivor Series 2002.
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