50 Absolute Worst Things WWE Has Done In The 21st Century
32. Heidenreich Targets Michael Cole (2004)
Not content with stomping all over the legacy of an all-timer tag-team (more on that later), big Jon Heidenreich liked to recite poetry and "physically intimidate" others during super-cringy backstage skits. That wording is what WWE used to describe Heiden-Heiden-Heidenreich's bizarre segment with play-by-play man Michael Cole on the 16 September 2004 SmackDown.
Some might explain it away using another term. You can probably work out which just by looking at the screenshot above.
Heidenreich pinned lil' Michael to a nearby wall, aggressively pushed his own body against Cole's, and started whispering sweet nothings into the mortified commentator's ear. Lord only knows what this was supposed to achieve, or why WWE's creative team thought it'd be wise to turn their new monster into somebody who sexually intimidated others whenever he got the chance.
There's no other way to wash this - Heidenreich forced himself on Cole and made it clear he could do anything he pleased with him. Nobody was running to help, but the skit thankfully ended before he could go any further. Incredibly, this wasn't really referenced again for too much longer. Michael went back to announcing like nothing had happened, presumably because WWE higher-ups got bored and didn't see any potential in the story.
Why book it in the first place then?! This was garbage shock TV for the sake of it. Ironically, Heidenreich called his outbursts "Disasterpieces". That phrase would perfectly sum up his entire run in the company. Pressing Michael Cole up against a wall backstage wouldn't even turn out to be Jon's worst moment (or Cole's for that matter).