50 Absolute Worst Things WWE Has Done In The 21st Century
8. Vince McMahon Ridicules JR’s Bell’s Palsy (2012)
The above image perhaps sums up Vince McMahon's attitude towards Jim Ross. An iconic announcer who thrilled millions from behind the desk on TV, Ross was hardworking and switched on in the office. He was a credit to WWE and extremely loyal, but McMahon couldn't resist the urge to bully or ridicule JR whenever he had the chance.
On the 11 June 2012 Raw, Vince encouraged Hornswoggle to do his best impression of Jim. Then, he took over and contorted his face before barking Ross's familiar, "Stone Cold! Stone Cold! Stone Cold!" refrain. Mocking his commentary style and friendship with Steve Austin wasn't the problem, but twisting his face to make light of JR's health battles with Bell's Palsy was another story entirely.
It was also confusing, because McMahon would go on personally pen a letter to Ross encouraging him and letting him know he was welcome in WWE. Which one was it? He was either a punching bag ripe to be degraded on television or a valued employee who had a lot left to offer. It couldn't be both, but welcome to the mind of Vince McMahon. Maybe he was using a fourth brain to add to the trio he droned on about during a Netflix documentary.
Apparently, some within WWE thought McMahon had stepped over the line by poking fun at JR's Bell's Palsy. Both Vince Russo and Ed Ferrarra had rightly taken a lot of flak for doing the same thing years earlier in WCW, but neither of them had the close, lengthy relationship Vince did with Ross.