Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb Not Happy With RAW Appearance

By Ryan Ball @RyanBall89 on October 8, 2014

Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb discussed their recent Monday Night Raw appearance on yesterday’s edition of the Today Show.

The show’s hosts joked about the segment, featuring Adam Rose, getting a negative reaction from the usual harsh New York audience. Kotb found that the entire experience was rather “exhilarating.” Kathie Lee, however, took a different stance; she claimed she was against appearing on Raw from the get go, stating that it “did not smell good.” She claims she was eventually convinced to do the show. It was then revealed they wrote the segment, which made me wonder if Gifford and Kotb write comedy segments for Raw on a regular basis, as they are usually just as cringe worthy and embarrassing.

Gifford wasn’t totally upset with her time at the WWE‘s flagship broadcast. Regarding her time backstage, she declared that the wrestlers were “the sweetest gentlest giants” and called them polite. This is a much different opinion than what was written in her 1992 autobiography.

Gifford’ former co-host Regis Philbin was a self-confessed wrestling fan and would often have wrestlers on Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee as guests. A large excerpt of Gifford’s biography bashes wrestlers such as Rick Rude and The Bushwhackers for being “disgusting.” Clearly she was unable to suspend her disbelief. Philbin should have informed her that these men are playing characters and it is crucial that they make fans believe how they are on WWE (WWF at the time) programming is how they are 24/7. “Kayfabe” was still crucial in the early 1990s, and apparently Gifford wasn’t buying the shtick. It sounds like the current wrestling product makes Gifford much more comfortable.

The appeal to the non-wrestling fans continue next week, as Real Housewives star NeNe Leakes will fulfill guest host duties as wrestling fans everywhere bury their heads in their hands and continue hoping that it will get better.