25 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE Ruthless Aggression PPV
8. Vince vs. Stephanie Is Still Awkward
The family didn't want to hear it back then, but their in-house melodrama peaked long before 2003. That didn't stop Vince McMahon from looking out the muscle fit vest and working an ‘I Quit’ and ‘Loser Gets Fired’ double helping stip for his father vs. daughter battle at No Mercy '03. After all, Vince vs. Stephanie was a match WWE had never done.
They probs should've kept it that way.
A 10 minute brawl saw Vince choke his own flesh and blood with a steel pipe. Also, nothing Linda McMahon was involved in post-WrestleMania X-Seven worked. On the subject of things peaking, she did when she stood up from that wheelchair in Houston. The place went bonkers for Linda hoofing Vince in the spuds. Honestly, it was a Hogan-meets-Austin pop for the ages.
There isn't much enjoyment to be gleaned from Vince vs. Stephanie unless you're a McMahon super fan who can't get enough of their long-running power struggle storylines. The whole thing could be deemed awkward, being brutally honest, and Linda's attempts to sell concern as her husband choked the life out of their daughter with that aforementioned weapon should be filed under 'worst ever'.
Nope, not good. Not very good at all.
Arguably, more McMahon drama had its place, and both inside the ring here could defo be ranked as major stars on SmackDown at the time. Regardless, this is precisely the kind of showdown most get kinda embarrassed about when pals ask why they like this wrestling stuff.
Perhaps WWE had to tick this box, eh? That doesn't mean it worked.