10 Genuinely Disturbing WWE Heel Beatdowns
4. JBL Makes Finlay Pay For His Big Little Lies
A darkly uncomfortable conclusion to an angle (and character) that had already died twice, Hornswoggle's grim beating at the hands of fake father Vince McMahon and his billionaire buddy John Bradshaw Layfield was uncharacteristically low on comedy.
The former 'Little B*stard' had been masquerading as a McMahon since hasty 2007 rewrites robbed Mr Kennedy of the spot and literally forced the Mr McMahon character to come back from the dead, but JBL's investigation found fraud afoot. As it transpired, Finlay was Hornswoggle's real father, with the pair intent on swindling some cash out of the evil owner. When The Chairman got wind of the scam, he arranged his own caged thrashing of the troublesome tyke, leaving Layfield to do the dirty work in front of the real Father.
A handcuffed Finlay tearfully begged the Texan to "take it out on me", but Bradshaw was unrelenting in his grim assault. The incident playing out to uncomfortable silence at the announce desk gave the moment greater heft, particularly when Bradshaw launched the short-stacked comedy character into the wall of the cage.
"That's enough, John", uttered Vince, showing insincere slivers of remorse for the brutality.