10 Times Vince McMahon Berated People Backstage
5. Chewed Out Braun Strowman For Using One Of His Banned Words
As mentioned earlier, Vince McMahon had a list of banned words he didn't want anyone to say on WWE television. The list includes words like hospital, belt, strap, and even professional wrestling. He also didn't want anyone to use the words "title shot," as his go-to terms were title opportunity or title match.
Speaking to Lilian Garcia on her podcast, Lilian Garcia: Making Their Way to the Ring, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley recalled seeing Vince McMahon chewing out Braun Strowman for using the word title shot on TV. The segment in question happened on the 30 January 2017 episode of Raw, where Strowman asked then-Universal Champion Kevin Owens for the title shot he promised.
Foley heard McMahon tearing into Strowman for using that term and correcting him that title match was the right phrase. Understandably, Vince McMahon wanted WWE to be more of an entertainment company rather than a classic wrestling promotion, which is the reason he abolished even the terms pro wrestling or wrestlers from being used on television - but fans always questioned the reasons behind him banning terms such as title shot.