10 Times WWE Embarrassed Their Own Stars

2. Spirit Squad

DDP SARA
WWE.com

The Spirit Squad's eponymous quintessence was quickly evaporated when over-the-hill D-Generation X pranksters Shawn Michaels and Triple H literally shoved them in a box and sent them packing to OVW at the tail-end of 2006.

The skit benefited precisely nobody within WWE, with the possible exception of the protagonists, and was simply another manifestation of a backwards system which saw the company condition their fans to expect nothing from the John Laurinaitis-led developmental. OVW was a star-making machine in reverse, and by teaching the audience it was a mediocrity factory, few would blame them when the chaff rose to the top.

When the troupe's Kenny reappeared on TV repackaged as Kenny Dykstra, the stink of his previous run lingered; it was simply impossible for anybody to care, and nobody did. Years later, Triple H would re-contextualise himself as WWE's saviour, spearheading NXT in a philosophical new direction. In reality, he was fixing a problem he'd helped create.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.