Freddie Prinze Jr. Reveals Why He Quit WWE, Was Going To Be Head Writer Of SmackDown

Freddie Prinze Jr. put his family first.

In 2008, actor Freddie Prinze Jr. was hired by WWE to be part of the writing staff. With his experience in Hollywood, he quickly earned the trust of Vince McMahon and became a trusted member of the team.

Speaking with Chris Van Vliet, the She’s All That star explained why he decided to leave the company in February of 2009 despite being so passionate about the wrestling business. Here is what he said:

“There was a show called, I think it was called Tough Enough, and they tried to bring it back. Stone Cold was a judge and there was a mom that wanted to be a wrestler, and she said that she was doing it for her kids. Steve Austin said that’s bullshit. He said you know how many times I won father of the year, and he put a big goose-egg up. I was watching that show in the writer’s room and I stood up and I walked to Gorilla and I gave Vince my two weeks and said I’m trying to win father of the year, man, I can’t work here anymore. He said what, talk to me after the show. and I talked to Stephanie after the show. He got in the limo and was flying back to Stamford and I was going back to L.A., and I let her know and she was like, man, we were about to give you SmackDown, you were going to be the head writer. She was disappointed, you know, and I was like look, you know I love you guys, but I’m a dad and I’m out and that was that and I quit and I never looked back.”

Prinze Jr. revealed that he would travel with Vince McMahon to every show, except those overseas, and that the job requires all of you, all the time. He started watching the weekly shows again because his daughter is a fan, even admitting to secretly writing stuff for friends in the company and then laughing when he sees it being done differently on TV.

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