Mandy Rose remains closely associated with one of WWE’s most unexpected romantic storylines, and she has now addressed why a modern-day callback involving Otis never had a chance to happen.
Rose and Otis became a popular on-screen pairing in 2020, with their story building around Otis’ efforts to win over Rose after repeated obstacles stood in their way. The angle reached its most memorable point at WrestleMania 36, when Rose helped Otis gain revenge on Dolph Ziggler. While the pairing did not last indefinitely, it left a lasting impression on viewers, who continue to connect Rose with Otis whenever his WWE character finds himself dealing with relationship drama.
That history resurfaced when Maxxine Dupri separated from Alpha Academy and aligned with Austin Theory, leaving Otis and Akira Tozawa behind. Fans quickly floated the idea that Rose could make a surprise return to WWE programming to stand beside Otis again, particularly because the former couple’s initial angle remains a fondly remembered chapter of both performers’ careers.
Speaking with TMZ’s Inside The Ring, Rose revealed that she saw the online calls for her to come back and help Otis. However, the timing coincided with a major personal moment in her life: she was preparing to welcome her baby.
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“I was getting a lot of tweets and a lot of people being like, ‘Oh my god, Mandy Rose is going to come back and save Otis,’” Rose said. “And I was laughing because I think I was like literally delivering my baby like that week. And I was in the hospital like, ‘Oh man, I should just post a photo and be like, ‘I really wish I could, but I’m actually in active labor right now. Sorry, guys.’”
Rose believed that a playful response during that moment could have created a memorable reaction among WWE fans. Although no return materialized, her comments underline just how much interest there still is in the connection between Rose and Otis.
“I think the crowd would have erupted and I think that would have been a really really cool moment. 100%,” Rose added.
A WWE Storyline That Still Resonates
The Rose-Otis story was a notable departure from the more conventional WWE pairings of its era. Otis had established himself as a powerful, unpredictable and highly comedic member of Heavy Machinery alongside Tucker. Rose, meanwhile, was presented as a prominent member of the women’s division who had frequently been aligned with Sonya Deville.
The contrast was central to the angle. Otis’ affection for Rose was earnest, while Ziggler’s attempts to insert himself into the situation made him the clear antagonist. Deville’s involvement added another layer, turning the story from a simple romance into a betrayal-driven rivalry. The audience responded strongly to Otis’ persistence and to Rose ultimately choosing him over Ziggler.
At WrestleMania 36, held during WWE’s empty-arena period, Rose’s appearance helped Otis overcome Ziggler. The moment became one of the better-remembered feel-good developments from a WrestleMania that was forced to operate under unprecedented conditions. Fans were unable to be present in person, but the reaction to the storyline remained substantial online and in the months that followed.
Rose and Otis later appeared together as an on-screen team before their respective WWE paths changed. Rose moved to NXT, where she reinvented herself as the leader of Toxic Attraction alongside Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne. That run elevated Rose into a top NXT role and saw her hold the NXT Women’s Championship for an extended period. Otis, meanwhile, went through several character changes and eventually became a key part of Alpha Academy with Chad Gable.
Despite the separation of their television paths, the original pairing has retained its audience. Rose’s newest comments suggest she understands exactly why viewers still raise the possibility of a reunion whenever Otis is involved in a storyline centered on loyalty, betrayal or romance.
Rose Praises Otis as a Performer and Person
While the possibility of Rose returning to rescue Otis was only fan speculation, she spoke warmly about the experience of working with him. Her praise focused not just on his ability to generate entertaining moments on camera, but also on the positivity he brought to the work behind the scenes.
“He’s hilarious. Like, everything about him is just hilarious,” Rose said. “He’s always in good spirits. He’s such a positive person and he’s a lot of fun and we had we had such a ball filming. Um yeah, he was the best.”
Otis has long been regarded as a distinctive WWE personality because of his blend of explosive power, physical comedy and expressive delivery. Those traits made him an effective fit for a storyline that required viewers to root for him without reducing him to a punchline. His performance alongside Rose relied on sincere emotion as much as humor, and that balance is a major reason the angle maintained momentum.
Rose also made it clear that she sees their storyline as the original standard for the kind of fan-supported Otis relationship narratives that have followed. “We were definitely the OG,” she said, before asking fans if they could deny it.
That statement is likely to resonate with viewers who followed the entire 2020 arc. WWE has revisited elements of Otis’ romantic and interpersonal struggles at different points since then, but Rose remains the person most closely linked with the character’s breakout love-story presentation.
Maxxine Dupri’s Departure Sparks the Conversation
The immediate reason for fans revisiting Rose and Otis was Maxxine Dupri’s exit from Alpha Academy to join Austin Theory. Dupri had developed an important association with Alpha Academy, particularly through her interactions with Otis and Tozawa. Her decision to leave the group created an emotional shift for the remaining members and naturally encouraged viewers to wonder whether someone from Otis’ past might reappear.
In wrestling, callbacks can be powerful when they acknowledge long-term audience investment. A Rose appearance would have connected a current story to one of Otis’ most recognizable WWE arcs, while also supplying a clear emotional response to Dupri’s departure. Rose’s explanation shows why it was not possible at that specific time, but it also confirms that she was aware of the discussion and amused by the idea.
There is no indication in Rose’s comments that a WWE return was planned, discussed or imminent. The fan campaign was simply a reflection of how strongly the audience still remembers the Otis storyline. Rose’s focus at the time was understandably on her family and the birth of her child, making a television return unrealistic despite the enthusiasm online.
What the Reaction Says About Rose’s WWE Legacy
Rose is no longer with WWE, but fan responses to Otis’ recent television developments demonstrate that her work with the company remains part of the conversation. Her career included multiple distinct phases, from her early main-roster run to her leadership role in Toxic Attraction, yet the Otis partnership still has a unique place in the memories of many fans.
That is partly because the story gave Rose room to play a sympathetic role after earlier presentations that often leaned more heavily into glamour or villainy. It also gave Otis a major emotional storyline beyond the tag team division. Together, they helped turn a seemingly unconventional pairing into an angle audiences embraced.
For now, Rose’s hypothetical return to defend Otis remains just that: a hypothetical. Still, her comments offer a humorous glimpse at how close fans felt the timing was, even as the reality of her personal life made any appearance impossible. They also reinforce her genuine affection for Otis and for the work they created together.
Whether WWE ever revisits that history is unknown. What is clear is that the pairing continues to have enough support that a change in Otis’ on-screen circumstances can immediately bring Rose’s name back into the discussion. Six years after their story captured the audience’s attention, the connection has not been forgotten.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.