10 Embarrassing Times Wrestlers Tried To Be Badass

7. Shane McMahon Is Basically Muhammad Ali, When You Think About It

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Shane McMahon isn't a badass.

He does things the average person won't: reckless things that take not inconsiderable courage to do. He risks his wellbeing for your entertainment - he's too jumped-up a little sh*t to use the first person there - but, and not to undermine that entirely, because he is a bit brave, he essentially used the WWF environment as a big bouncy castle to show off his big balls.

The heel Shane was an excellent TV character back in the day, when he leaned on his rich brat disposition to play an entitled, slimy pissant. But his babyface badass role was laughably bad, insulting even, and this was most famously illustrated by the air punches he threw somewhere near the vicinity of Randy Orton in 2009.

Look at him. He doesn't just think he's hard. That's cringeworthy enough. The man actually thinks he's skilled. He's not throwing worked wrestling punches, which is just as well, because he can't. He's trying to box. He thinks he's Muhammad Ali.

He got the float like a butterfly part right at least.

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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 current Undisputed WWE 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!