10 Worst WWE Moments Of 2009
1. Piggy James Is Thinly-Veiled Bullying
Mickie James has managed to brave face this and look at things through a different lens in years since, but she was 100% hurting back in late-2009 when WWE pulled a cruel stunt. On the 20 November '09 SmackDown, Layla introduced a parody of 'Old MacDonald Had A Farm' starring her heel tag partner Michelle McCool. What happened next left Mickie in tears.
McCool called out for "Piggy James", and said that she owned a farm perfect for "Piggy". In-ring, James did her best to sell the moment as wicked. Backstage, Michelle (in particular) had told Mickie how uncomfortable she was with the whole idea, but they'd been told to repeatedly poke fun at her weight in segments and during matches. It was outright bullying.
Listen, wrestlers work storylines that sometimes make light of their real personal lives. That's nothing new, but this wasn't something James was happy to sign off on. It's the fact that this was something coming from the top of the tree that sucks too. WWE management were publicly shaming Mickie because they genuinely thought she was overweight.
It was ridiculous, and shameful.
Later, Layla also wore a fat suit and pig nose whilst pretending to play the "Piggy James" character. The story prolonged into 2010, so it was a problem for a while. Again, wrestlers are encouraged to have thick skin because they're playing TV personalities who are there to be verbally torn down, but this was blatant bully boy behaviour from higher ups and the creative team.
It's mind-boggling that Mickie James from 2009 was deemed overweight. Eye tests all round.
What other moments from WWE's 2009 belong here? For more wrestling, check out 10 Worst WWE Moments Of 2008 and 10 Wrestlers That Got BANNED From AEW!