WWE Gallery: How Every RAW Superstar Is Perceived By Vince McMahon

Where's the beef?

by Michael Sidgwick
vince mcmahon roman reigns promo
WWE.com

It's fascinating to ponder Vince McMahon's reaction to the sea change waving through the wrestling industry.

The days of the hoss are over, with Braun Strowman's 'Monster Among Men' moniker working as a truism because he is the last of his kind. Even Baron Corbin, rumoured McMahon pet project, is only tall. Internet memes poke fun at his otherwise doughy and undefined physique. The new stars are antithetical to his favoured norm, and you could argue that this, in a way, is McMahon's fault. So intent was the man on pushing those with massive musculature for years that he alienated many of the hardcore fans who were and are never going anywhere - and who now exist as the principal demographic. Those fans, conditioned through their very love of wrestling, subsequently rooted for the underdog. The Chris Benoits. The Eddie Guerreros. The CM Punks. The Daniel Bryans.

Support for Bryan grew so fervent between 2013 and 2014 that he came to both symbolise and usher in the next generation of wrestling talent. You can't imagine McMahon appreciating the irony. You also can't imagine McMahon being in any way enthralled at begrudgingly accepting that these slender shin pad-clad warriors are the new breed.

What follows is an attempt to read McMahon's mind and funnel his thoughts. Sadly, it may not quite be the satirical piece it was intended as.

56. Akira Tozawa

vince mcmahon roman reigns promo
WWE

"Didn’t we fire Jimmy Wang Yang?"

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!