10 Most Cringeworthy Political Angles In WWE History
The President might be a Hall of Famer, but wrestling and politics don't always mix well.
Professional wrestling and politics go hand-in-hand. Both worlds see faces and heels (Trump & Clinton: you decide which is which) from opposing stables (the Republicans & Democrats) and work a program (the 2016 election campaign) with the hope of one day becoming Champion (or President).
The results are often loud, brash, and cartoonish, and while politics is obviously a far heavier topic than wrestling’s real-life pantomime, there are plenty of similarities. From Rhyno to Linda McMahon, countless wrestling personalities have dabbled in politics throughout WWE’s lifespan, and the company have never been shy in promoting politically-fuelled storylines and gimmicks.
WWE are an immensely patriotic company. They’ve demonstrated this not only through their Tribute to the Troops shows, but the glut of feuds pitting flag-waving all-American babyfaces against scowling foreign menaces. Whenever there’s a Sgt. Slaughter, there’s an Iron Sheikh to oppose him, and the trend shows no sign of dying anytime soon.
As expected, WWE don’t always do the best job in capturing the political climate and recreating it on Raw and SmackDown. Their presentation is often as subtle as a sledgehammer to the mouth, and WWE’s political angles are among the hokiest, most offensive content they’ve ever produced.
As the United States prepare to install a WWE Hall of Famer who was once took a Stone Cold Stunner as President, here are the 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.