10 Wrestlers Who Saved Other Wrestlers From Getting Fired

5. Stephanie McMahon Saves John Cena

Dave Trips
WWE.com

Stephanie McMahon counts as a wrestler.

She's obviously better known as an executive and (excruciating) onscreen authority figure, but her in-ring record is remarkably strong, insofar as silly theatre goes. Between the most involuntarily compelling only-in-America spectacle that was her match against her own father, and an absolutely incredible heel display at WrestleMania 34, she was sensational when she wasn't making Bully Ray blush with her incessant heat quest.

'Ruthless Aggression' is a strange term for an 'era' because it's something Vince McMahon obsessed over for about two weeks, and it just sort of took hold. It's probably as fitting a name for the period between 2002 and 2008 because, when it wasn't still the grossness of the Attitude Era, it was all over the place: the New Generation and ECW sat uneasily beside one another.

John Cena was the face of it, and since he was nearly fired for being mediocre and not remotely over, that says rather a lot. He was spared - and went on to become one of the biggest wrestling stars ever - because Steph overhead him freestyle rapping on a bus and couldn't believe he didn't need to memorise pages upon pages of material.

As if anyone should!

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!