10 Times Vince McMahon Berated People Backstage
When people got on Vince McMahon's nerves - and received a verbal SmackDown for their troubles.
As much as Vince McMahon was notorious as an on-screen character, he was also an intimidating figure backstage due to his ruthless leadership style. He had a vision for the company, and didn't take it lightly when anyone veered away from it. While many claimed he became out of touch over the years by sticking to the same vision that limited the company and wrestlers' potential, he stuck to his gut.
He had no room for compromise when it came to putting on the shows and never shied away from showcasing his unique way of enforcing discipline and creativity, no matter how harsh it might be, which resulted in him getting into heated arguments with his performers and staff on multiple occasions over the years.
He berated top stars for failing to meet his standards and chewed out writers over creative directions. Vince McMahon's backstage antics have been the stuff of legend within the pro wrestling fraternity, and these ten instances would highlight the dynamic between McMahon and his employees and how people felt his wrath throughout his time as the head honcho of WWE.
10. Mickie James For Her Gesture At WrestleMania 22
Mickie James debuted on the WWE main roster in late 2005 with the gimmick of Women's Champion Trish Stratus' biggest fan. She got to partner with Stratus on multiple occasions as the storyline progressed, with James' character becoming over-obsessed with Stratus.
The storyline then turned into a lesbian angle when James kissed Trish Stratus under the mistletoe and then proceeded to proclaim her love for Stratus at the 2006 Royal Rumble. The storyline soon evolved into a rivalry between the two superstars after Mickie James turned on Stratus when the latter asked for some time apart, leading to a Women's Championship match at WrestleMania 22.
At the event, James defeated Stratus to win the Women's Championship for the first time, but James went a bit overboard during the match when she grabbed Stratus by the crotch and made a provocative gesture towards the camera. While talking to Wrestlecast Radio, Mickie James revealed that Vince McMahon was furious backstage when she walked through the curtains, yelled at her for the crass gesture, and ordered that the moment be edited out of future video releases.
However, this did not affect James' push, as she held the title for 134 days and became a 6-time champion by the time her first reign with the company ended in 2010.