Ranking Every Incarnation Of The Mr McMahon Character From Worst To Best
3. Righteous
Showing rare chops as a babyface, Vince McMahon was surprisingly enjoyable as the token hero when he yet again inserted himself as the foil for a talent still struggling to find his feet as a singles star. 16 years before he'd employ the same tactic for Roman Reigns, he stood across from a Triple H yet to encounter Cactus Jack and truly become 'The Game' he claimed to be.
Written off of television in July thanks to The Undertaker's Fully Loaded defeat to Stone Cold Steve Austin, McMahon was back just after SummerSlam. And back in the unlikeliest of ways.
Overcome with pomp and pride, Triple H goaded Vince back to the ring in frustration, sacrificing his relationship with Shane in order to assert his dominance over the family. After imposing his will on both McMahon males for the bulk of the match, Helmsley fell foul of a Stone Cold Stunner from a vengeful 'Rattlesnake'.
Though Vince immediately surrendered his newly-won title, the plot had thickened enough to where Austin was able to grant Vince a return to day-to-day WWE business. Channeled against Triple H for the remainder of the year, fan acceptance of him as a face was such that daughter Stephanie's December heel turn was hugely evocative.
Such was life in WWE back then, he was a heel by both their sides yet again after a WrestleMania 16 turn on The Rock, and would never again be as credible a hero.