10 Times WWE Caved To Public Pressure
9. Caught Off Guard
Dave 'Fit' Finlay has been a virtual ever-present in WWE since jumping on board following WCW's collapse in 2001. A more valuable asset than bizarre industry survivor John Laurinaitis, Finlay was credited with coaching and guiding Trish Stratus, Victoria and others to assemble the finest company women's division ever whilst 'Big Johnny' ran a jumped-up frat party in Miami for his Diva Search hires.
It was Finlay that briefly bit the bullet in 2011 though, after a complete misunderstanding between WWE and the United States Army National Guard forced Vince McMahon to make a public relations point at the Irishman's expense.
Working as the lead producer on a March house show, Finlay instructed then-WWE Champion The Miz to interrupt a rendition of the National Anthem. An old-school heat generator, the move drew enough scorn from soldiers in attendance to encourage Vince McMahon to act on their behalf.
Finlay was quietly rehired in 2012 after the immense heat around his original sacking had died down. Considered an isolated incident, McMahon felt as though a message-sending sacking was the only way to illustrate tight company policy on the matter.