WWE’s Attitude Era was known for pushing boundaries, but some creative decisions left performers uncomfortable behind the scenes. Former WWE valet Terri Runnels recently opened up about two controversial storylines she desperately tried to avoid during her company tenure. The wrestling veteran, who played key roles in storylines involving Goldust and the Pretty Mean Sisters faction, revealed she fought against creative decisions that she felt crossed the line.
The PMS Name That Made Runnels Cringe
When discussing the Pretty Mean Sisters stable during her “Ring The Belle” interview, Runnels didn’t hold back her feelings about the group’s problematic acronym. The stable’s name was deliberately shortened to “PMS” on television, creating an obvious connection to women’s menstrual cycles that made the performer deeply uncomfortable.
“I hated that name,” Runnels stated bluntly when asked about the stable.
Contrary to backstage rumors, Runnels firmly denied being the creative mind behind the controversial moniker. She revealed that she actually pleaded with WWE leadership to reconsider the direction before it aired on television.
Wrestling With Creative Control
Runnels pulled no punches when describing her reaction to the stable’s name, explaining her visceral response to the creative team’s decision.
“I begged the dude that used to own the place… I mean, who wants to think about a bloody tampon when you’re like… It was just bad!”
The former valet pointed fingers at Vince Russo as the likely architect of the PMS concept. She also revealed that her alternative acronym suggestions were ultimately rejected by the creative team, leaving her stuck with a name she found distasteful.
The Miscarriage Angle That Crossed Personal Lines
Beyond the PMS stable name, Runnels faced another creative battle that hit even closer to home. WWE’s writers developed a kayfabe miscarriage storyline that the performer felt was inappropriate and potentially harmful to viewers who had experienced real pregnancy loss.
Once again, Runnels found herself in the uncomfortable position of having to advocate against a storyline she was assigned to perform.
“I begged to not do that one; I lost again,” she revealed during the interview.
The storyline proceeded despite her objections, highlighting the limited creative input that performers had during WWE’s most controversial creative period.
Not All Creative Battles Were Lost
While Runnels faced setbacks with the PMS stable and miscarriage angle, her WWE career wasn’t entirely defined by creative disagreements. The veteran performer has previously spoken positively about developing her most memorable character persona.
In 2024 interviews, Runnels took credit for creating the Marlena character that became synonymous with her WWE run. She successfully pitched this character concept directly to Vince McMahon, proving that performers could occasionally influence their creative direction when they presented compelling ideas.
Attitude Era Creative Controversies in Perspective
Runnels’ revelations provide insight into the creative tensions that existed behind WWE’s controversial Attitude Era programming. While this period is often celebrated for its edgy content and mainstream success, performers like Runnels experienced the personal cost of pushing creative boundaries.
Her willingness to speak out about these uncomfortable storylines years later demonstrates the lasting impact that controversial creative decisions had on the wrestlers who were asked to bring them to life. As wrestling continues to evolve and become more socially conscious, stories like Runnels’ serve as important reminders of lessons learned from the industry’s most provocative era.
What other Attitude Era storylines do you think crossed the line, and how much creative input should today’s WWE performers have in shaping their own characters and storylines?
