12 Times WWE Broke Its Own Golden Rules

5. Vince McMahon Wrestles "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

When a young Vincent Kennedy McMahon began working with his formerly estranged father, he had one dream - to become a pro wrestler. Vince's hopes were crushed when he elder McMahon forbade him from setting foot in the ring. Though there were already many successful wrestler/promoters in the history of the sport, McMahon personally felt that the men making the decisions should remain behind the scenes. Vincent Kennedy eventually became a broadcaster, but he apparently never gave up his dream of becoming a WWE superstar. After 26 years behind the announcers' table, a real-life dispute between McMahon and Bret Hart made the WWE Chairman a hated figure in pro wrestling. Seizing the opportunity, McMahon became an on-camera heel and soon entered into a feud with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin - a feud which would make WWE the top wrestling promotion in the world. Any good wrestling feud has to find its way to the ring, and on the April 13, 1998 Raw, McMahon made his debut in a WWE Championship match with Austin. Though Dude Love attacked the champion before the match could begin in earnest, McMahon had finally become a performer - and as a result, Raw's 83-week-long ratings losing streak at the hands of Monday Nitro was broken. Needless to say, McMahon would be getting back in the ring.