10 Most Surreal WWE Matches Ever

1. Vince McMahon Vs. Stephanie McMahon - No Mercy 2003

Vince Stephanie McMahon
WWE.com

"You've become a disrespectful little b*tch!"

"You want me to take Daddy's Little Girl, and crush her in my hand, and throw her on the mat, and leave her a bloody pulp?"

And that is how WWE sold No Mercy 2003, live on pay-per-view: with the promise of a billionaire father half-killing his daughter for all the world to see. This was real only-in-America stuff, the opening salvo of which set the blackly hilarious tone: as Stephanie gently ushered concerned mother Linda out of the ring, Vince smacked Stephanie across with back with a brutal forearm, drawing an involuntary, guilty guffaw from the 254,000 pathomaniacs glued to the telly. McMahon was in imperious form, screaming "You like that?", with all its unsettling connotations, as he threw his daughter around the ring. It was surreal then - and the sight of Stephanie McMahon selling enthusiastically is f*cking surreal now.

"Mr. McMahon cannot call himself a father," winced Michael Cole on commentary. He d*mn sure could call himself a promotor, and a performer, after this: this was advanced drama from the most basic components - and Vince's beg-for-mercy fake-out bit was cinematic stuff for this Big Top circus.

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Contributor
Contributor

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!