10 Vince McMahon Moments That Are Disturbing Because Of What We Know Now

WM-TV-10-Vince-McMahon-Moments-That-Are-Disturbing-Because-Of-What-We-Know-Now_V0U0B7

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at on-air moments involving Vince McMahon that have since taken on a darker context in light of recent allegations levied against the former Chairman and CEO of the WWE.

#10: Openly Cheats on Wife with Trish Stratus

This storyline from 2001 featured Vince McMahon cheating on his wife Linda who, we should mention, was wheelchair confined in a catatonic state. At the time, it was seen as just another shocking plot twist – fitting right in with the soap-opera-heavy storylines of the era. Revisiting the on-screen affair now, complete with elaborate make-out sessions between Vince and Trish in front of Linda, it isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s downright exploitative. Given the real-life rumors of McMahon’s infidelity and shocking accusations of mistreatment toward women – as outlined in the Janel Grant lawsuit, his lurid affair with Trish takes on a much darker tone – one that potentially reflects real-world behaviors.

#9: Vince McMahon's "Kiss My Ass Club"

The "Kiss My Ass Club" was a recurring segment in WWE for a time where Vince McMahon forced various personalities to literally pucker up and kiss his backside in the middle of the ring. The humiliating power play saw wrestlers, and even commentators smooch his bare buttocks. While meant to showcase McMahon's character as a sadistic boss, these segments now appear as a disturbing abuse of power. Having been accused of forcing employees to engage in degrading acts in the real-world, there’s a much darker connotation to this so-called “club.” It’s a troubling reflection of how far McMahon was willing to go to humiliate others, both on-screen and off.

#8: Jim Ross’ Rectal Exam

For reasons never made clear, celebrated play-by-play announcer Jim Ross found himself the punchline to many of Vince McMahon’s cruel jokes. However, on a 2005 episode of RAW, things went too far, as Vince took part in a mock rectal exam of “Ross”– this while the real JR recovered from an actual colonoscopy treatment. In the extended segment, Vince (as Dr. Henie) along with his assistant (Nurse Slobber-knockers) pulled several items out of “JR’s behind.” Seeing as how Vince has been accused of disregarding the dignity of his employees, the segment only further shows his willingness to publicly humiliate those under his command. It all raises major concerns about the bullying culture at WWE during this period.

#7: Mr. McMahon’s Illegitimate Son

Just when you thought WWE couldn’t become any more of a soap opera, it was revealed in that Vince McMahon’s on-screen character had an illegitimate son, which, as it turned out, was none other than Hornswoggle. This was meant to be nothing more than scandalous entertainment and made for some genuine intrigue among fans. However, in light of recent allegations, it takes on a more disturbing subtext. The storyline implied that McMahon had engaged in an extramarital affair, which, we now know, mirrors his real-life accusations. While the storyline was fictional, it's unsettling to consider how it normalized questionable behavior, making it particularly tone-deaf in light of Vince’s private behavior where he’s been accused of forcing himself on females.

#6: Wrestling His Daughter

In 2003, Vince McMahon had a wrestling match against his own daughter. Yep, Stephanie McMahon, just days before her real-life marriage to “Triple H” Paul Levesque, stepped inside the ring to fight her father. In the “I Quit Match,” Vince tossed Stephanie around while repeatedly slamming her into the mat – even choking her with a pipe. While Vince had previously wrestled his son Shane, the idea of a father physically assaulting his daughter, even in a scripted context, is unsettling. It’s a brutal scene that raises questions about boundaries, especially with the public now more aware of McMahon’s alleged history of control and manipulation. Did we mention Vince once pitched a storyline where he’s revealed to be the father of Stephanie’s baby?

#5: Romance with Sable

Curiously, when valet-turned-wrestler Sable returned to WWE in 2003, she was immediately placed in a romantic storyline with her boss, Vince McMahon. This angle is particularly troubling given that just a few years prior, Sable left the company and promptly filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Vince an Co citing allegations of sexual harassment and unsafe working conditions. To bring her back and place her in this lurid storyline feels manipulative at best and exploitative at worst - especially given McMahon’s alleged history of using his position of power to engage in unlawful relationships with female employees. One can only wonder what the true motivations were behind this storytelling decision.

#4: Sexual Dance from Stacy Keibler

You’ve likely seen the meme created from this moment – a string of images showcasing Vince’s shocked look of amazement as it intensifies with each passing one. Well, it all stems from this segment in which Stacy Keibler was made to perform a seductive dance for Vince McMahon. This, naturally, was during an “interview” to see who would be his new personal assistant. The scene no doubt objectifies Keibler, placing her in a series of submissive positions next to her boss (both on-screen and in reality). It's part of a pattern of storylines that sexualized female performers for the benefit of McMahon's sexually charged character. In retrospect, it all echoes the alleged exploitative behavior behind the scenes.

#3: Torrie Wilson Takes Off Vince’s Clothes

In yet another controversial WWE storyline, Vince McMahon took part in some provocative segments with Torrie Wilson, one of WWE's top female performers at the time. During an episode of "SmackDown," Vince set up a risqué scene where he and Torrie were backstage together. Vince convinced Torrie to undress him, leading to a provocative moment where he disrobes, only for Vince’s wife, Linda, to catch them in the act. With real-world stories of Vince McMahon’s inappropriate behavior surfacing, scenes like this become disturbing evidence of his willingness to blur the lines between performance and reality, exploiting his position to engage in uncomfortable situations with female talent – in this case, Torrie Wilson.

#2: Candice Michelle is Vince’s “Sex Slave”

In 2006, WWE aired a storyline where Candice Michelle was portrayed Vince McMahon's "sex slave." This angle involved a plethora of suggestive scenes and implied sexual encounters between the two. At the time, it was viewed as somewhat edgy entertainment, albeit in bad taste. But, in light of recent real-world revelations, including damning accusations from Janel Grant where she alleges she was treated as a sexual slave for McMahon and his cronies, it's deeply unsettling. This storyline blurred the lines between fiction and reality in a way that now seems potentially indicative of a toxic culture rampant with mistreatment towards women in WWE at the time.

#1: Making Trish Stratus Bark Like a Dog

This now-infamous segment leading into “Wrestlemania X-7” was shocking even at the time, but it's especially disturbing today. In it, McMahon, portraying his villainous Mr. McMahon character, forces Trish Stratus to strip down to her underwear and crawl around the ring barking like a dog. The scene was meant to showcase McMahon's power trip and penchant for humiliation. But, it now appears as a gross abuse of authority. Given everything we now know about Vince, this moment takes on an extremely darker tone, suggesting a pattern of objectifying women in his employ. If this is how far McMahon went to demean women publicly, how far did he take it privately? We may soon get our answers in the court system…

Which on-air segment featuring Vince McMahon do you think has aged the worst? Share your picks in the comments below.