10 Most Cringeworthy Political Angles In WWE History

10. Make Darren Young Great Again

The most recent example of politics creeping onto WWE television comes through Darren Young, a former WWE Tag Team Champion who has never found his footing on the singles scene. His latest gimmick came several months after the Prime Time Players’ dissolution, when, on a May 2016 episode of SmackDown, he and Bob Backlund (more on him later…) started the “Make Darren Young Great Again” campaign.

It was a direct play on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, and a clear nod of approval towards the current US President-elect. The forthcoming months saw further vignettes air, with Backlund taking-on a role as Young’s life coach, though WWE have never leaned too heavily on the story’s political aesthetic. It has largely revolved around Young’s adoption of Backlund’s Crossface Chickenwing, and an absolutely wonderful (read: atrocious) feud with Titus O’Neil.

It’s been awhile since Backlund and Young appeared on Raw regularly, but the angle rumbles on. Perhaps it was doomed from the start: Young’s a solid worker and a relatively charismatic guy, but when was he ever “great” in the first place? As entertaining as Backlund’s screwloose antics can be, Young’s campaign has flopped entirely.