Braun Strowman Says Vince McMahon Personally Helped Refine His Diplomatic Skills, Groomed Him For A Top Spot

Braun Strowman opens up about Vince McMahon helping him to be more diplomatic and instilling patience in him as he was being groomed for a top position in WWE.

In April 2020, happenstance was in the favor of Braun Strowman as he was afforded an opportunity to defeat Bill Goldberg for the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 36 when Roman Reigns elected to take time off for precautionary measures. Speaking on Lilian Garcia’s Chasing Glory on WWE Network, Strowman credited Vince McMahon for trusting him with the opportunity to be champion and said that he now has matured so much as a performer and a man because of the chances given to him by McMahon.

“I’m more confident to sit down and do things like this where, [in] my life I’ve never been ‘Johnny on the spot’ with anything. I graduated with 80 people in my high school and things like that. I was a shy kid and I never talked to anyone. That’s one of the craziest things my parents say, like when they talk to people about how and everything that I do this and people ask, ‘well, did you ever think you would do it?’ My mom and dad are like, ‘the physical stuff. Absolutely. I knew he could do this stuff.  I don’t know where he gets the ability to talk like he does.’ And I’m not the greatest guy on the microphone, but I tell you what, when they let me go, I can handle my own self.”

He continued, “I feel like I was in this grooming process. I was being groomed to be put into this position. And in his mind, I wasn’t refined enough. I’ve had many conversations with Vince about working on my diplomatic skills and how I can’t just bully my way through life on stuff, which is where it’s worked pretty good. Not that I’m a bully, but it’s just like when I get my mind set on something, I’m stubborn about it. So, it’s also learning the aspect of sticking to your guns but not offending anyone or not coming off standoffish or dickish. So, it’s learning all of this stuff throughout the last year and a half that has helped groom me into this position that I believe they want me to be in and they need me to be in, because at the end of the day, like, there’s only a handful of guys that they stick into these positions to do the stuff.”

Because of Vince’s role in his life, from giving him an opportunity as well as giving him advice, Strowman said he will never wrestle anywhere but WWE.

“The day I take my wrestling boots off for WWE is the day I stop wrestling. I will not wrestle anyone else. I’ve been given an opportunity [by] Vince McMahon and WWE at life that I would have never gotten. I told him a long time ago, ‘the day I take my boots off for you, I’m done.’ I mean that.”

Braun Strowman is currently on RAW after having a brief run with the WWE Universal Championship on SmackDown earlier this year.

Should you use any portion of the quotes above, transcription credit should go to Robert DeFelice for WrestleZone.