The Real Reason Vince McMahon Released A Former Tag Team Champion Three Months Before His Contract Expired

Rico has revealed that Vince McMahon fired him in November 2004 — three months before his contract was due to expire — after he asked for a raise, and that McMahon told him he wasn’t popular.

Speaking on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast, Rico explained what he asked for and what happened next.

“Yeah, and I went and asked Vince for a raise because I had already filled my three-year rookie contract. I’ve held the tag titles twice, once with Rikishi, once with Haas. I was going to almost every show and on TV. I said I want $1,000 a week minimum, which was $75,000 a year. No, I wanted a $52,000 raise on top of the $75k. I thought I was worth it, and Charlie and I and Jackie were about to come out on the SmackDown magazine front cover, and he told me I wasn’t popular.”

Rico added that McMahon had never been fully behind him and suggested the feminine character was assigned in hopes he would fail.

“Vince didn’t like me because of my age in the beginning, he was forced to put me there. And if anybody out there looks at my background, I’m an Action Man. I’m a straight to law enforcement. I’ve been to two police academies, graduated number one in both of them, I’ve got life-saving awards. I was voted one of the officers of the year by Crime Stoppers for catching a person who was escaping her parole, who led me to a person who was wanted for murder, and I caught a homicide suspect and shipped them back to LA. So I’m that type of guy. EMT, paramedic, people running this way, I’m running to trouble. I want to help people. So here Vince gives me this style in some feminine character, they may be hoping I fail. Well, I turned it around.”

Rico also said he is open to a part-time in-ring return once current health issues are resolved, specifically a blood clot and arterial blockage he is currently dealing with.

“Right now, as I’m going through the blood clots and the blockage right now, I am retired, but if they can clear the blockage, either with a stent or remove it, and these go away, I’ll return to part-time work. I’ll go and work again. Maybe, you know, if somebody wants me to make a special appearance, I’ll get right back into ring shape. I would. As soon as I get into ring shape, I would, and it won’t take me long. I’d love to in one of the bigger promotions and stuff like that. I’d love to do a tag match. Not ready to do singles yet. I would love a tag match.”

Rico held the WWE Tag Team Championship twice during his main roster run — once with Rikishi and once with Charlie Haas.