12 Times WWE Buried Itself
3. The Constant Burial Of GMs By Heel Authority Figures
Not to over-simplify a scenario with a well-worn take, but really how many pay-per-views were sold thanks to on-screen management squabbles as opposed to the more traditional tales of a wrestler trying to settle a grudge or win a big gold belt?
There are notable rule-proving exceptions, but "exception" remains key; a philosophy constantly misunderstood by Vince McMahon at his creative worst.
Less about the quality of the segments (they were invariably poor) or the shoddiness of the performances (the material was abysmal), the biggest downer about segments featuring various underlings being bollocked by those slightly higher up the food chain was how often they occurred, and how long they went on for. It started with McMahon himself gleefully bullying Eric Bischoff at every opportunity. Other examples included John Laurinaitis bossing Teddy Long around, Stephanie McMahon's cruelty towards Vickie Guerrero and just about everybody hating Brad Maddox. Often there were assistants who took more grief from their browbeaten bosses, providing another level for the muck to slide down towards.
Never was the chief authority figure in the situation blamed for their own negligence, nor did they ever draw the line between why the actions of a fictional GM were supposedly making the show so terrible. Upward blame was a total no-no, while a creatively finished McMahon was repeatedly saying the quiet part loud without realising he was confirming what we all knew.