10 Wrestling Moments That Broke The Internet

4. Stephanie McMahon Invents Commentary

Stephanie McMahon commentary
WWE

"For the first time ever, a voice - a female voice! - will be lent to a sports entertainment broadcast."

News of Stephanie McMahon insincerely screeching over the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble match united an ordinarily divided wrestling fandom: this was an idea as abysmal as it was insulting. Complaints were so vociferous and understandable that, brilliantly, the official WWE Network Twitter account knowingly provided despairing fans instructions with which to change audio settings.

Turns out, they needn't have bothered: Stephanie was absolutely anonymous at the booth, bereft of insight, passion and urgency. She didn't antagonise nor annoy those listening because she barely spoke at all, save for listlessly recounting the odd near-elimination. All she did was confirm the preexisting sentiment: she had no business being there. It could all have been far, far worse - which might, but won't, impart a lesson to those who met the news with something approaching an over-reaction: perhaps not everything is the end of the world. Perhaps our rage is better directed towards more worthwhile, political causes. Perhaps Stephanie McMahon isn't the worst person alive.

No. She is.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK 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 AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and 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!