10 Moments You Can’t Believe WWE Left On The Network

2. Trish Stratus Barks Like A Dog

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On the March 5, 2001 RAW, the WWF ran the most criticised angle in its dubious, necrophilia and incest-strewn history.

Vince McMahon had entered into an affair with Trish Stratus at the height of his sex-crazed megalomania, before discarding her like literal sewage. On said RAW, Trish begged for McMahon's forgiveness. She didn't do anything to upset him; she was "a toy" McMahon had tired of playing with, but she apologised nonetheless. McMahon, however, wouldn't accept the apology until Stratus told him "in dog language" just how sorry she was. Even on repeat viewing, the sight of her crawling on all fours and shouting "Woof!" is abhorrent stuff. And that's before McMahon made her strip to her underwear.

The angle was blasted at the time; longtime UK partner Sky Sports aired RAW on tape delay at the time and refused to broadcast it. It was also exhumed by the mainstream media years later when Linda McMahon ran for senate. Linda excused it by reminding ABC’s Christiane Amanpour that it was presented before the company operated under a PG rating, but which right-minded adult would enjoy or even condone it?

And yet, it still exists, unedited and in full, on the WWE Network - a telling and repellent reminder that WWE's Be A Star campaign was and remains a hollow and laughable PR exercise.

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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!