Stephanie McMahon, who spent many years involved with the company her father and grandfather built, has recently opened up about her struggle with identity. In a new interview with John Cena, she spoke candidly about how she grappled with understanding who she truly was and how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu became a key part of her journey to self-discovery.
“I lost a bit of myself. I lost confidence and found it again in Jiu-Jitsu,” McMahon revealed during an in-depth discussion, showing a rare moment of vulnerability from a top WWE executive.
She shared these thoughts while explaining her approach to training alongside Cena. Now a first striped blue belt in martial arts, McMahon’s expertise is extending beyond the training mats.
“[It taught me] a very tough life lesson, particularly about my family, what WWE is, and what it means to me, and reflecting on whether there’s a part of it that defines me and what I genuinely do,” she said.
For someone so closely tied to WWE’s corporate world, McMahon’s struggle centered around her connection to the company that has shaped her life. She admitted she sometimes struggled “to see” WWE, wanting to discover who Stephanie McMahon Levesque was beyond her professional role. Fortunately, martial arts helped her find some of those answers.
“It reinforced who I was and reminded me of my own strength. It was something I did entirely on my own, not to help anyone else. No one pushed me to get to that point,” she explained.
Though McMahon is no stranger to physicality in the wrestling ring, martial arts presented a new kind of challenge. On the podcast, she reflected on how training transformed her, even when it brought physical pain.
“You’re going to feel twisted up like a pretzel and want to give up a lot… I’m always exhausted after jiu-jitsu,” she admitted.
Her story goes beyond wrestling, illustrating how physical discipline can heal emotional struggles and how truly finding oneself can restore lost confidence.
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Fan Take: Stephanie McMahon’s openness about her personal struggles and journey through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offers WWE fans a powerful reminder that even top figures face challenges with identity and confidence. This candidness not only humanizes her but also highlights how dedication to physical and mental growth can influence and inspire the broader wrestling community.
