41 Most Disgusting Promotional Tactics In Wrestling History RANKED

12. 2022 - Vince McMahon Grabs An Onscreen Pop On Day Sexual Misconduct Allegations Are Reported

Vince McMahon SmackDown Live
WWE

On June 15, 2022, the Wall Street Journal reported that Vince McMahon had paid $3M to a former paralegal - later revealed to be Janel Grant - who had a sexual relationship with both Vince and John Laurinaitis. (The depraved scale of said “relationship” would become grimly apparent in January 2024).

This was the first phase of Vince McMahon’s downfall. In the same article, it was reported that Vince had also entered NDA agreements with further former female talents amid a hailstorm of historical sexual misconduct allegations.

In what was widely perceived to be a wholly uncommitted bid to deflect attention away from the brewing scandal, on June 17, it was announced that Vince had stepped down from his roles as Chairman and COO pending a Board investigation. He remained as head of creative, underscoring how little the corporate move mattered. By 2022, Vince had long ceded control of key high-level corporate responsibilities to the likes of George Barrios, Michelle Wilson and later, Nick Khan.

Vince, a carny to the very end, interpreted the scandal not as something to be ashamed of, but rather an opportunity to pop a rating. It was announced earlier in the day that he would appear live on the June 17 SmackDown.

He opened the show to his ‘No Chance In Hell’ theme. He appeared on the stage with his arms stretched outwards in defiance, soaking up the pop. The fans largely cheered for him. He grabbed the mic and reminded fans of WWE’s signature: Then. Now. Forever. Together.

This was hardly a complex code to solve. Vince told everybody watching that he intended to rule over WWE for eternity, regardless of what anybody thought of him. He felt - and how depraved is this, considering what he was alleged to have done - untouchable.

As he exited through the curtain, Fightful reported, he said “F*ck ‘em”. Before it all unfolded as it should have, Vince twice introduced John Cena on Raw, using him as a shield of sorts. Funny how Cena let him, no?

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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!