Vince McMahon once swore that Michael Hayes would never have a job in WWE — and the legendary producer says turning that hatred around into a trusted right-hand role is one of his proudest accomplishments.
Hayes opened up about his rocky start with the former WWE chairman on the latest episode of Stephanie McMahon’s “What’s Your Story?” podcast, recalling how he went from being despised to becoming a fixture of the company.
Michael Hayes (Credits: Fightful)
Michael Hayes Says Vince McMahon Hated Him and The Freebirds
“This man, he hated me. He hated The Freebirds and swore on everything that was swearable that I would never have a job here,” Hayes said on the podcast.
Hayes remembered thinking his WWE run was over after his time working with The Hardys. But fate intervened when McMahon spotted him wandering around during vignette shoots and began pulling him in to help out.
“I figured I was pretty much done here, and then I think Vince saw me wandering around when he was doing vignettes and stuff and would start pulling me in, help him out,” Hayes recalled.
How Michael Hayes Won Over Vince McMahon
Asked how he won McMahon over, Hayes was characteristically blunt: “I don’t know… Not only did I get hired back here, I became one of his right-hand men. That’s quite the accomplishment.”
His secret, he said, was simple — outwork everyone. “I got his trust. Because I worked and I outworked everybody, and when he wanted something done, I went and got it done. He didn’t have to ask about it and I would tell him I got it done.”
Now 67, Hayes has been part of WWE since 1995, evolving from a legendary in-ring performer with The Fabulous Freebirds into one of the company’s most respected backstage producers.
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Source: Fightful — read the full story there.
