10 Problematic WWE Storylines That Have Aged HORRIBLY
6. Jim Ross' Attitude Era Return
Jim Ross experienced a pattern of disrespect so powerful during his multiple tenures with WWE that he himself normalised it just to remain professional.
When he was struck with a second bout of Bells Palsy in late-1998, Vince McMahon stopped short of firing him like he did in 1994, but bringing him back to television couldn't come without exploiting the condition for cheap - and ultimately dropped - heat.
Ross was cast as an angry old man having to kick the cat (in this case, Michael Cole) to get his job and sense of self-respect back. It all felt like Vince Russo or Vince McMahon himself having one big dig at the legendary commentator, especially when he was paired on-screen with Steve Williams several months after Bart Gunn had humbled him in the Brawl For All.
JR doesn't get anywhere near the credit he deserves for being a wicked heel performer. He ruled in 1996 with the most risible material imaginable, and was a bit of a blast with his own announce table and anti-Cole vitriol here. The root of it was as bullish and unpleasant as every other broadside McMahon fired at him over the years though, and it was dropped cold when top stars Steve Austin and The Rock both insisted on him being installed as the man to call their WrestleMania main event.