Former WWE Star Says He Got Heat For Turning Down Role In The Spirit Squad

Over the years wrestling fans have seen their fair share of wacky gimmicks on TV, and in 2006 a group of male cheerleaders called The Spirit Squad debuted in WWE.

Vince McMahon thought it would be a good idea to put the group in the spotlight on Monday Night Raw, and originally former WWE star Elijah Burke was offered a spot in The Spirit Squad.

During a recent interview with Lucha Libre Online Elijah Burke explained why he turned down the offer to join the group, and he also revealed that he got some backstage heat for turning it down.

“It was a great redemption, redeeming moment so to speak, in not taking the Spirit Squad and getting a bunch of heat for turning it down from some of the boys, who saw it as squandering an opportunity for telling Vince McMahon no. But Vince McMahon appreciated the fact that I was open and honest. I was man enough to say it’s not for me.”

“I won’t get into the names, because I know you’ll want to follow them, but I will say this. The opportunity was presented by Vince McMahon himself, and Vince McMahon told me along with the other original members of the Spirit Squad that we were going to make a lot of money, because it was his idea and he was going to push it, obviously. Because it was his very own idea, his own creation. Vince got on a plane one day and thought to himself, “Ha! People hate cheerleaders! Ha-ha-ha!” So, that’s what he did. He got himself some male cheerleaders and he wanted me to be one of them. I politely turned him down, as I don’t feel like I could have did that role any justice.”

Do you think Elijah Burke made the right call turning down The Spirit Squad? Sound off in the comments below.

H/T Sportskeeda.com