Episode 87: Dating In Secret with Renee Paquette

it ain't a top shelf. Welcome to them down, everybody better see a lot of top shelf from Steve's dam post and Nikita Kucher Off tonight, people, and back to your intro. We have so many things to discuss with you, Renee. I have known you for how many years? A lot of years? What I want? A lot of years. That's a really great way to summarize our relationship. You are You no longer live in Las Vegas. You moved to Cincinnati. Your mom. You are a you wrote a cookbook. I

can't even cook. You are a television host, you're a presenter, you're a TV personnel. All the things. We don't have time for the intro. But you're amazing. You've always been one of those women in this industry that have been so supportive of other women, as Aaron and I can attest to that, not everyone is like that, so we are thrilled to have you on here. And also, it is hard to get Colin Coward to love anyone because he's very opinionated on things. As we know, Colin Coward

is obsessed with you. You can listen to her podcast on the volume as well, but there's a myriad of things that you do, but calling Cowards endorsement, I think is number one on that list. I'll take it because Colin is um not always the easiest guy to read him like, does he like me? Are we best friends? I'm trying, you know. I always try to work on it, and it's from a distance because I don't get to

see him in person that often. I do my podcast from right here, so I don't get to hang out with Colin and get to rub elbows with him all that often. But when I do, I'm really trying to, like work in the nook and crannies. As Aaron can attest to, he cornered me in the hallway at Fox and was like, I'm obsessed with Renee. I love Renee. She's amazing. Do you know how many Instagram followers she has?

I was like, Colin, you're on Instagram and selfie videos and we all know, but yes, when he's smoking his cigar and it's like that awkward angle up the nose, Colin, I didn't know I needed to like be introduced to all your follicles in your nose here, Renee, what's something about Colin Cowherd that people love him, hate him, don't know about him? You know what? I would actually say

his generosity. So as much as like we've not got to spend like that much time together in person, I've honestly not really had many people through my career that I felt like really bestowed some wisdom. This man knows how to drop some knowledge, and I feel like anytime

we've got to hang out, just like his perspective. Mean, obviously he's been so successful through his own career, but even talking to him about women in this game, I mean from him being able to work with you Carissa, working with Beetle, working with Joy Taylor, he has worked with so many amazing women, and it feels like he's really championed a lot of them throughout their careers. I think he has a great eye for the talent that

he wants to work with. UM. So yeah, for me, it's were so like like that being able to have someone I'm like, oh, I think I can like really learn something from the things that obviously, I mean, God, you look at the man's career and what he's been able to do, but not everyone's always like willing to like shell out that information or like want to hang out and like really get into some of those things. So I've always really appreciated that from the times that

we've got to spend together. He is rich rich, Oh my god, isn't he? How do I get a little bit of that? That's the you know, the business part I was gonna say, Renee, he's always advocated. I remember when living in Connecticut and he's like, I own part of this wine store and I'm an investor in this jerky turkey burn whatever the hell he does. It's like what's going but it is. And so you're a woman who does a lot of different things. Obviously, you know

I just mentioned the cookbook. I can't cook. It's not my thing either, or age, which I can't wait to hear all about this from you. Yes, exactly. So you're messing in the kitchen. Is cooking something that you've always done? Is that? Where does that background come from? So yeah, I mean I've always just love cooking. I love being in the kitchen. I'm sure. I mean, I guess you guys can't attest this if you don't want to be

in the kitchen. But when you're on the road that often you're ordering up the club so much and like the caesar salad, whatever you're getting from the room service. Both Jesus, that's a cornucopia fruit over there. Killing for rash see if Vegas they serve some good things up every now and then. Um. But for me, it was like I feel like I really delved into it more through my time with w W E. I finally get home and I'm like, oh my god, I'm like in my own kitchen. I can cook my own food. Like

I love going to the grocery store. It's like one of my favorite things to do. I love a little I'll perusing. But it's funny because like often when we go to the grocery store, my husband and I go together and I'm like, oh my god, this guy like he takes off when we get in there, and then we are going like if he goes to get the deli meats, he goes to get the bread, he's in the ice cream. He's big into ice cream right now. So we like stup all right, but he's like, he

wants to just get it done. He wants to be in and out where. I'm like, no, I want to like, I want to take my time. I want to see what other sites, like spices, Marinades, what's going on, like the fish counter. I love spending my time there. Aaron, you hate it? Why do you hate it? It's like home deep out to me. I'm nervous. I don't know where things are. But see that's because I am now

trying to start and Chris is doing this too. We're trying to get better at things we kind of aren't that great at so, you know, being domestic, making meals so forth. So I like, I'm a NoteTaker. I was gonna write what are some Things? And I'm excited to read the book. I'm gonna read it on the way

home tonight from Vegas. What are some things that girls like Chris and I who aren't home very often but want to start improving and be healthy and eat well and make great stuff that you need to start getting at the grocery store. What are our go toos? Okay, So I will preface this by saying my cookbooks definitely not like super healthy. I like to cook like the bad stuff, not like bad stuff, bad stuff, but like

I want the pastas. Like my favorite thing with cooking is like I want to pour a glass of wine, I want to put on some music, and I want to spend some time in there, which honestly, in the last year, so my baby just turned a year and I've been like, Laura, baby, Nora sweet. Where's her name derived from? My grandmother was Eleanor. We went, we went Nora from from Eleanor. Yeah, she's just she's delicious. But I feel like, like you know, eating has been more

of like, alright, necessities. Not only do I need to like get my life together and like try to attempt to get my body backed in shape. So it's just been like kind by the way, you posted that picture, and this is one of many reasons I love you. The self deprecation is amazing. You're like the shorts are working hard, like you must have been like having that Noura like the next second, right, I was like a house huge. Did you like being pregnant? Were you one

of those women's like, yeah, I was annoying. Did you think you would go into it? Did you think you would? I did think that I would like It's so I was basing this off of and everyone kind of says, is that your pregnancy is a lot like what your mom's was, And my mom had like pretty easy pregnancy. So I got into it, and like, I know, I feel like annoying that I was that woman that like I felt great. I worked out the whole time, Like I just felt like I was like thriving. I loved it.

I actually like miss being It's fun being huge for a little bit of just like your body fun right honestly, Um, but yeah, I will say though, I mean it took me a long time to get pregnant to it was like a whole ordeal where it took like it was like over a year where I kept, you know, your start like pye to try and that it's like, oh wait, what's happening here? Went to the fertility clinics. We're doing all the tests everything. I had the i v F at home and then I left my job and I

got pregnant that month. It was crazy, crazy, crazy. So let's go back to that for a second. So when you made that shift and you made that decision to leave, let's go back even further for a second. I totally deviated off of what your original by the way, I think we give a ship. Yeah exactly. I was talking about ripping the hair follicles out of the back of my head because this rapunzeled mainsmen in here, and I can't believe I was talking about Collins follicles in his nose.

So we're good, We're good. Okay. The know, the last time I saw your hair was super short, and I'm so fucking jealous of it. Airenatles. I literally started taking preenatals, and I was like that Barbie with like that crank arm where her hair just starts growing. Is nuts. I take prenatal vitamins and the hair on my chin grows. But now I get those two. I love a good chin. Wow, let's hear them all out. Okay, So let's go back for a second. So w w E how did you

get into it? How did you get involved? You met your husband? There? I need the whole background and story for everyone that doesn't know the whole kitten caboodle. Um okay. So I was working in Toronto and I was working for a sports network there and I started working there because they had like a comedic take on sports, and I was like, oh, that's something I could maybe do. Like I was not that like behind the desk like sports center like I would die, I I just could.

I would do none of job. Yeah, yeah, you guys get it. I would do a really bad job at that. Um. So I was doing that and then my boss at the time was like, hey, they had the rights to w W in Canada and they're like, hey, do you want to host this after show for Ron. I was like yeah sure. So instantly I'm like, oh my god, what do I need to know about wrestling? Like I was gonna say saying, I mean I knew for like a little bit from when I was younger and watched it.

But then I was like, oh god, I gotta like some and you guys know, I mean it's like like anything that like and base is so intense that like you cannot you cannot Yeah. Yeah. I didn't know dick about hockey and I was like reading literally hockey for Dummies because they'll pick up real quick if you know, oh yeah, they sniffed you out real real quick. Um. So I was doing that show and it was great. I had such a good time, and that was like a great way for me to like dip my toe

into that world. And then as my contract was coming to an end there in the whole company is being sold, all these things blah blah blah, I was like, I want to make my jump down to the US. I want to figure out what I'm gonna go do. So, um, this is where we kind of come into play. Because I had come into audition for UM for Sports Nation and I loved it, had a great time. I thought, for sure, that's the thing that's gonna be it. That's

where I'm headed. And then that at the end of that week, w w E brought me in for an audition and I bombed it. It was not good. It was a full day. So I get there and like you know, you're like meeting all like the producers, meeting the executives, blah blah blah, like walking through the buildings figuring everything out. So they had me do like, you know, like a post show style kind of thing that was fine. I was like, Okay, this is my wheelhouse. I can

do this. They had me jump in and do commentary and I was like what like so over my head, not a clue what I was doing, Like blessings to the man that was in the booth with me trying to do it, He's probably like, get this chick out of here. Um. Then they like gave me like uh, like a battery charger or something, and they're like sell this to me, and I like, I haven't, Like what are you doing? It was like full on like boot camp, sink or swim. So I honestly didn't really think I

did a great job. And I was like, Okay, well we'll see what happens. I don't know. I'm probably gonna go do this thing at ESPN anyways. Um, and then Chris A. Thompson enters the picture and then they gave it to me by default. Numbers never Lie got canceled and they're like this, but just got a year left on her contract, so we gotta put her somewhere. Oh

my gosh, no, I remember like being at home. I've told this story before and like on my show and maybe some other places but I was like at home being like cool, I'm gonna go do this other thing. I'm gonna go to ESPN and blah blah blah. And it was like the episode that Michelle Beatle was leaving, they shoot her out the can and I'm like, oh, that's a nice little send up. And then this car pulls up and these like heels pop out, and like, wait,

who's this, what's happening? What's going on again? By default, listen, you're so fantastic at everything you do, Like, God, you're so you were so great on that show and you're so amazing and all the things that you do. But it was that moment that I was like, oh my gosh, Okay, so that's not happening. And then w W the contract came through with them and I was like, yeah, okay, let's go and do that. Let's go. And I had no idea what I was gonna do. They're not a clue.

I was like, am I doing the show like I was doing in Toronto? Am I gonna be doing like a studio show? What am I going to be doing? Um? And then yeah, I mean I ended up doing a million things there. I started off hosting this show Vintage Collection, which was like all old wool wrestling that I was hosting with me gane Oakerland, who's just like an absolute

class act, best man ever. Loved him. And then I end up going on the road doing backstage interviews was kind of the thing I started dipping my toe into, then hosting panel shows for for all the pay per views, joining Total Divas, doing a reality show we need to that's where Aaron insert erin there. Well, no, that's when I started hearing about you because I would get your name tagged onto my name at Twitter like she's the wrestling Aaron and and I was like, what's going on,

what's happening? I was like, am I screwing up something here? So that I kept seeing your name everywhere? And I was like, is this bitch talking about me? Like what's going on? And you weren't, but it was like everybody's like, oh, she's the wrestling version. So I was like, okay, I

see you. So Total Divas so funny. So we get brought in to do Total Divas, which was like great, but it was also a little weird or like awkward, I guess for me because I was the only girl on there that wasn't a wrestler, So I'm like, what am I? Like, what am I bringing to the table? What are your trying to bring everywhever? Trying to bring the party? And then so my husband, now we were dating at the time, but we were doing the show. We were on it together, and it was just like weird.

So my husband's wrestling character, especially at the time, was like this like crazy lunatic. So that was sort of the essence on the show where he's still this like wacky, crazy guy and I'm like, why is he so crazy all the time? So it was like this weird dynamic that's like not actually what our dynamic is. But it was a lot of fun. I mean, should you just get to like hang out with your friends and keep

the champagne flowing you go on these trips. The only thing that like that I had really a hard time with was just being miked up all the time, having a mic pack on you all day long, and you're like on on vacation in a bathing you just put this on your bikini and it's like segging your pants down. It's like that, did you guys have a clause in your contract? Because we did when I danced on Dancing with the Stars, it was kind of the same thing.

You were a mic pack all day, so if you're hooking up, you're fighting, if you're cussing out the producers, it's on tape. But we had it in the contract. As soon as I'm in the potty, the mic pack is allowed to be off, So that's where Maxim and I would fight or like bitch about the show, being like, of course she's gonna win it, right, Like, that's not going to bathroom, So yeah, could you take it off in the potty or no? Um? Yeah, I don't really remember there being any like you can do X, Y

and Z like. It was a little more like loose in terms of that, because there are be times that we'd be shooting and then near the end of the day, like as the camera start like pulling out, pulling out, pulling out, we're like at dinner or shooting the ship and whatever. Am I allowed to swear on here? By the way? Right? Um calmed down and calmed down, everybody calmed. Can you not swear on the volume? Are you guys

classy over there? No? I swear probably too much. I think it actually freaks people out because they're so used to me not swearing on television. They're like, who is this? Yeah, it's just it's actually we're trying to work on. It's a tough one to break. I also feel like kind of boring when I'm just not swearing as much. I like, just by my sentences a bit had a little flair. He's going to go into one of our segments we're gonna have with you about Canadian or is it just

Jared about swearing? Don't worry, how is being married to a Canadian? What's like the other side. They won't get to that. I mean, that's gonna be part of our segment Canadian or just Jared. So I can't wait. Give me the one thing. So you started in the industry at what age? Um? I mean I started like auditioning and stuff like that, like around eighteen nineteen. But then I was like brought Like I had my first broadcasting

on national television job at twenty three. So I think it's awesome to, you know, when like younger girls or guys or whatever ask advice. Um on, you know, if you could go back and tell your younger self something. I also think it's important to continue to solicit advice

from people that I respect in the industry. Give yourself advice if you go back in time the eighteen year old you or the twenty three year old you that you now know that you didn't know, then I would say, be selective who you take advice from, because everybody wants to dole. Not everybody wants to dole advice, but a lot of times, a lot of people can get in your ears and it doesn't mean that that person has the key to the castle. It doesn't mean that they

know what is right and what's wrong. I remember early on in my career actually when I started doing the show in Canada about wrestling, and one of the guys and one of the executive producers at um ts N, which is like the bigger sports station in Canada, was like, don't do wrestling. No one's going to take you seriously. And I was like, I don't really want to be taken seriously, Like that's not what I'm trying to do anyway,

So like, um, yeah, suck that. But yeah, I would just say, like, you know, find your people that you trust, that you want to be the source of people that you want to get information from. And of course listen to people and like, you know, take things with a grain of salt. Not everybody always has the answer. There's no straight line of how you get somewhere, So stick

to what you know and what you like. And I mean, you know, it's really just getting in that experience too, and knowing what your voice is as a broadcast or who you want to be, and not letting somebody like really take the ring away from you on that. I love that. I want to know about your marriage and what you know before you jumped on, Chris and I were talking about just life, black sins. What makes it work you married somebody that's in your field, in your

line of work. I you know, I'll be really candid. I you know that's frowned upon in my world and probably I don't know your world too, but I used to be so worried about it in my twenties, and I did. I dated athletes. I totally did, because we're you going to meet people for five to six days a week, and like, sorry, a normal Joe Schmo isn't going to understand my life going out here, going to bars. And I would keep it really on the d L about who I dated and yeah whatever, they were interested

in the same thing. And then obviously I ended up marrying somebody in my line of work, not a sport I covered at the time, but you did, and and how is that and maybe fun stories from meeting going. So when John and I first started dating, we kept it under wraps for like a good six months before anyone like and it's like kind of hard. I mean we're always all together, we're on the road or at the hotels, we're in the arenas, like it is not easy to like really sweep that under the rug um.

Did you have an o ship moment where somebody caught you and you had to like play it off, because I definitely did. In like a hotel, a lobby or something like that, Yes, I've had. Yeah, there's two to come to mind. There's one. So like there's always like the TV hotel that like most people stay in, but a lot of times wrestlers will stay and like the other they don't book their own flights, but they will often book their own hotels. So I went and stayed at the hotel John was at, and one of the

other wrestlers was pulled up. He's like in his rental car and he's like, what are you doing here? And I was like, and I was so new at the time that I wasn't even like sure that I was like, oh do I handle this situation that I was like, I don't know. It's just a hotel. They booked me this. He's like, yeah, okay, they sniffed me out so fast. But I also remember another time John't I have been together for a while at this point, but um one

of it was JB L who's like legendary wrestler. His hotel room was right next to ours, and the next day, Hey, I was next to your guy, and I'm like, oh my god, I just start sweating, like sweating that I'm like, no, I mean not even just on the like actually, but I was like, what were we saying? Talking about a panic mode? But you know that moment when you're staying

in a obviously we all do. We're staying in a hotel with colleagues, and you're like, funk which room at the end, because it was I was talking too loud to my friend to whoever on the phone, like you got the worst I know, yeah, especially if you're like wine and you're like just here we go literally we'll tell someone the next day and not give a ship. I'd be like, okay, I heard and gross or weird. I don't care, Like it's just because they'll call my

ass out because obviously this voice travels um. But yeah, So when John and I first started daying that, we did keep it to ourselves for quite a while, and then once the cat kind of got out of the bag and yeah, we've been together for a while, but John, So John really keeps to himself, like when he's he's like not the social butterfly. If you meet him, it's like he's Yeah, he just kind of does his own thing.

So when he people started seeing him and I hanging around was weird to them because he talks to nobody, but him and I were always just like buddies. So yeah, people are like, something's going on here, and I was like, what do you mean, what are you talking about? Oh, he doesn't talk to anybody kind of except for me. Uh So yeah, people people figured out probably quicker than we thought that they did. And then what's been your secret of staying together? Any please? I need them all?

I think we know why listen. I will say I really looked out John is, um, he's so patient, and I can be a psychopath. Um. Yeah, like I am like constantly like at ten, where he is like so mellow, he's rational, he's not like that knee jerk reaction where I'm the opposite side of that. Um. So I really

looked out that he's like so patient. Um. And I actually think it helps for us that we're in the same line of work, like wrestling such a weird world that like, if you don't get it, I'm sure for the people that are married to people that are outside the business, so many people in wrestling are married to people within the business, I'm sure when you're on the outside of it, it is nice to just like take a breather. But I find for us it's nice, like

we understand. I understand the things that he's talking about. I get those ups, those downs, I know what that life on the road is. Like. I always felt bad for like people whose wives weren't on the road and didn't understand because I feel like you you often think that that life on the road is a lot cooler than it really is, and it's so glamorous and you're stacking around and it's so exactly Yeah, just getting by. I totally agree with you. I mean, yeah, and I

think what's good for me? And I think John knows this too. My husband knows my entire crew. I mean he was like really good friends with Joe and Troy. He knows all our guys behind the scenes. He knows the guys that I'm going to the bar with that are walking me up to the hotel room, and they know my nonsense, and he ever needed to call them they Oh my god, has there ever been times like

that too? Were like God, Yeah, I remember John coming in really late from because when we were with W W E and there's house show, so he would be doing like the live event shows. I'd be at the hotel waiting for him to get there before we go do raw the next day. Um yeah, I remember him be getting in late after me having a couple of cocktails down at the bar and just like, am I gonna answer the door where we're at? But he knows

all those guys, and I mean he's honestly known. Most of the people that I was really tight with have known him even longer than I've known him. So yeah, it's like we're all just like a bunch of buddies hanging out. For all of you Renee Piquette fans, good news. There's so much to talk to her about that we're going to make this a two parter. We cannot condense this conversation into one episode, so tune in next week for part two with Renee Piquette. Calm Down with Aaron

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