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It is no secret that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon does not consider himself to be a professional wrestling promoter in the traditional sense. McMahon, of course, markets WWE as sports entertainment - with its performers referred to as Superstars rather than wrestlers.
"We make movies," declared McMahon when describing his company's product in the 1999 movie Beyond The Mat. McMahon has never much cared for the term "wrestling" and it was, in fact, said to be banned for many years.
This stance appears to have softened in recent times - to the point where WWE even promoted the bout between Edge and Randy Orton at Backlash earlier this year as "The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever".
With that said, McMahon remains firm on many other terms that he simply does not want to hear on WWE programming. Before he revealed himself on television as the owner of WWE and transformed into the heel "Mr. Mahon" character in late 1997, Vince handled commentary duties for the majority of WWE shows.
Vince McMahon is very particular about certain terms not being uttered on WWE television
Although McMahon stepped away from the announcers desk more than two decades ago, he still keeps a keen eye on the commentary teams for both RAW and SmackDown. McMahon will usually produce the teams headed by Tom Phillips and Michael Cole from backstage, reportedly interjecting when he hears something he does not like.
As you will see from this list, there are quite a number of phrases that McMahon has banned from WWE television - with some making far more sense than others. Here are five things that Vince McMahon does not like to hear on WWE commentary.
#5 Vince McMahon does not like the word "Fans"
Let's face it. If you are reading this then you are likely a fan of professional wrestling.
In the view of Vince McMahon, however, WWE does not have "fans". Instead, the company exists in its own "universe" of which the audience are as much a part as the Superstars themselves. It is this logic that saw the phrase "WWE Universe" coined to describe anything attached to WWE.
As soon as the WWE Universe was born, though, the term "fans" became outlawed on WWE television.
It is fair to say that viewers have never really got on board with being referred to in this fashion, with many finding it forced and inauthetic. Despite this, McMahon is fully behind the branding and does not want the audience being referred to as fans on television.
#4 The term "feud"
When WWE Superstars clash with one another on television, they are often said to be engaging in a "rivalry" or "settling a personal issue". One word that you will not hear used to describe this situation, though, is "feud" - as Vince McMahon is reportedly not a fan of the term.
The exact reasoning behind McMahon's dislike of the word is unclear, although it could be that he considers it to sound old fashioned.
Vince McMahon prefers the term "rivalry" to describe personal issues between Superstars
McMahon's chosen alternative to the word feud would appear to be the term rivalry. Indeed, when the WWE Network launched a series several years ago looking at the greatest feuds in wrestling history it was titled "WWE Rivalries".
The ban on this particular term is one of McMahon's less strange quirks. The absence of the word "feud" from WWE programming is nowhere near as jarring as certain other terms.
The fact that RAW and SmackDown announcers are instructed to say "heated rivalries" as opposed to feuds is unlikely to ruin anyone's viewing experience. However, McMahon's dislike of the term is still a curious oddity.
#3 Use of the word "hospital" is banned on WWE television
WWE Clash of Champions 2020 saw Drew McIntyre defeat Randy Orton in an Ambulance match to retain the WWE title. However, per Vince McMahon, that ambulance was never bound for a local hospital.
This because McMahon does not want the term "hospital" being used on WWE commentary. Instead, announcers have long been instructed to talk about performers having been transported to a "local medical facility".
A possible reason behind Vince McMahon banning the term
Ironically, McMahon was involved in several hospital-based segments during the Attitude Era. The most famous of these involved "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Mankind.
There has been some suggestion over the years that McMahon was forced to adopt this rule in order to prevent fans from actually contacting local hospitals to ask about the well-being of their favorite Superstar.
The generic term of "local medical facility" is far less specific and could, in theory, refer to any number of locations.
Even if the above is accurate, it is still awkward at times to hear WWE announcers having to avoid using the word hospital.
#2 A group of Superstars must never be called a "faction"
WWE has seen a number of factions formed in recent times, particularly on the RAW brand. However, you might have noticed that the likes of RETRIBUTION and The Hurt Business are simply each referred to as a group on WWE television. This, naturally, is by order of Vince McMahon.
Factions have a rich history in professional wrestling, with acts such as The Four Horseman, DeGeneration X and the nWo having a profound impact on the industry.
McMahon no longer approves of the word "faction"
At present, though, McMahon has decided that he is not a fan of the term, meaning that all multiple-Superstar stables are destined to be known as groups going forward.
Things were not always this way either. WWE actually released a DVD back in 2014 celebrating the "Greatest Wrestling Factions". The words "wrestling" and "factions" are, ironically, both terms you are unlikely to hear on WWE programming today.
It is, of course, possible that McMahon chooses to reintroduce "factions" to the WWE dictionary of words acceptable for broadcast in the future.
Quite why the WWE Chairman has turned his back on the term "faction" is unknown. It could be argued that it is a far more powerful sounding description than simply calling an act a group.
#1 WWE Superstars do not compete for "belts" or "title shots"
A WWE internal document leaked all the way back in 2008 saw Vince McMahon declare: "We don't have belts or straps. We have Championships." The memo also encouraged the announcers of the time to talk about the meaning behind what a WWE Championship represents - as opposed to the physical belt itself.
Vince McMahon apparently hates the term "title shot"
Fast forward more than 12 years and this policy has yet to change. Per McMahon, WWE Superstars compete for "Championships" and "Championship opportunities".
It is almost certain, then that you will not be hearing the phrases "title shot" or "belt" on WWE television. These terms simply seem not to exist to McMahon any longer.
Listen at the beginning of any recent Royal Rumble match. The announcer will always hype the prize for the winner as a "Championship opportunity at WrestleMania".
In some ways, the insistence on WWE announcers strictly avoiding these terms is nonsensical. However, it is unquestionable that McMahon has his vision of how he sees the company and, ultimately the final word on these things rests with him.
We are unlikely to see an end to several of these "Vince-isms" for quite some time.
