50 Absolute Worst Things WWE Has Done In The 21st Century
13. Piggy James (2009)
Michelle McCool was apologetic and uncomfortable with the material WWE handed her, but both she and LayCool partner Layla had a job to do. They were bratty, stuck up heels - the sort who'd pick holes in their opponents any which way they could. In that respect, bullying Mickie James for her appearance wasn't something new to the biz. However, something personal was going on behind the scenes that made the storyline unsavoury.
WWE chiefs believed Mickie had put on weight and wasn't taking care of herself. In other words, she wasn't starved half to death or stick thin like they thought she should be as a "Diva". James looked healthy, and was certainly in better shape than most human beings walking the planet on her worst day. That didn't stop the writers from coming up with the dire "Piggy James" angle so they could needle Mickie and embarrass her in public.
James has been professional when talking about this in years since, but she still thinks it was crappy and was hurt by the story at the time. Behind the curtain, McCool and Layla repeatedly said sorry to their peer for body shaming her on episodes of SmackDown. The story was mean-spirited and reflected bonkers thoughts backstage amongst some (were they blind?!), but it was also clumsily told in front of the cameras.
Fans didn't take to the storyline at all, and no amount of comeuppance for LayCool could change that. Pro wrestlers know they're putting themselves out there in front of the world, but the least they should expect is some backing from the folks in charge of guiding their careers.
This was bullying.