10 Most Tone-Deaf WWE Moments
7. Stand Up For WWE
Long before she'd join the Trump Administration following his 2016 election victory, Linda McMahon ran two high profile losing campaigns to become a U.S Senator. Her maiden effort in 2010 invited a media trawl through some of WWE's most controversial on and off-screen stories, taking her to task for some of her more outlandish moments as a character, as well as involvement in the accusations and events that lead to Vince McMahon's 1993 steroid distribution indictment and 1994 federal trial.
Unusually unprepared for a dirty tricks war of attrition, Vince himself appeared on television to support his wife's power-grab, asking fans themselves to galvanise against negative media attention. Leaning hard on their clandestine corporate "put smiles on faces" mantra, McMahon begged his adoring audience to combat any criticisms they saw on social media with reasons why they loved WWE, actually, thanks very much.
Attempting to turn smears on them into attacks on the fanbase, it was a cruel and calculated manipulation of a loyal audience they haven't always deserved. It even appeared to generate some steam amongst ardent fans, but was quietly dropped after her decisive loss.