Ranking Every Incarnation Of The Mr McMahon Character From Worst To Best

2. Self-Righteous

Vince McMahon William Regal Kiss My Ass
WWE Network

An unprecedented and unexpected level of indignation inadvertently turned Vince McMahon into the biggest heel in an industry he already purported to rule over. The mere fact that it was inadvertent perhaps highlights just how behind the curve he still was in 1997, but McMahon's cry for help in the infamous 'Bret Screwed Bret' interview with Jim Ross just under a month removed from the explosive Montreal Screwjob categorically cemented him as the most hated figure in all of professional wrestling.

What followed in the aftermath was perhaps the most absorbing period of Vince McMahon's on-screen career.

An unknowing evil, he dabbled first with being an affable owner, before understanding the acute distaste he'd generated from his own audience. An unusual trait for Vince in any capacity, his subtlety then became his greatest strength.

Gently meddling with a betrayed and bedraggled Owen Hart as well as taking The Rock's side a little too often against Stone Cold Steve Austin, Vince was quietly signposting where his character's loyalties would ultimately lie, not least in ignoring D-Generation-X's rampant disregard for just about everybody and everything else at the time.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett