Former WWE Superstar Lana, who had a run-in with NBA legend Dennis Rodman, was a mainstay in WWE since debuting as the manager of current AEW star and her husband, Miro. The real-life CJ Perry not only sizzled with her looks but also with the ability to constantly dictate the actions of the erstwhile Rusev. While she is currently not associated with any wrestling promotion, Lana’s massive fan support continues to clamor for her in-ring return.
While speaking on the Wrestlezone podcast (via the12thman), the former WWE Superstar opened up about the time when basketball legend Dennis Rodman pressurized the Ravishing Russian into giving up on pro wrestling. The two stars were part of The Surrreal Life reality tv series last year. The former WWE star mentioned that she was “frustrated” with Dennis Rodman as he asked her to “resign and evolve.”
“I was getting so frustrated with him because he kept encouraging me to resign and evolve. Dennis, you’re 60 years old and still working, I’m impressed. He immediately changed his opinion of me after I took over the management of Frankie Muniz and Dennis Rodman.”
Lana managed to alter Rodman’s opinion of her as she took on her Ravishing Russian persona. The WWE star was released from WWE in 2021 owing to the budget cuts stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, she is yet to return to the wrestling ring and has often teased her comeback. She is also active on social media and has enthralled fans with her paywalled content.
Dennis Rodman once teamed up with Hulk Hogan in WCW
During his heydays as a basketball star, Dennis Rodman took up professional wrestling quite seriously. Like many during his time, the legend hoped to be a star celebrity and make a mark on the industry. Dennis Rodman’s first appearance in a wrestling program came on the March 10, 1997, edition of WCW Monday Nitro. He then appeared for the company several times.
Dennis Rodman was also a member of nWo, which was one of the most well-known factions at the time and remains to this day one of the most legendary stables in professional wrestling history. In terms of matches, Rodman had a few, but his most noteworthy match came at Bash at the Beach in 1997 when he teamed up with Hulk Hogan to take on Lex Luger and The Giant. The two nWo stars ended up on the losing side.
Dennis Rodman and Hulk Hogan. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/kz2wnLgwVL
— Timeless Sports (@timelesssports_) May 18, 2020
However, Rodman and Hulk Hogan‘s tandem did end up winning. At Bash at the Beach in 1998, Hogan and Dennis Rodman took on Diamond Dallas Page and Karl Malone. The two basketball stars squared off in a heavily criticized match where the team of Hogan and Rodman won. He retired from wrestling in 2000.
