'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Vince McMahon has played a vital role in the rise of professional wrestling. The Chairman and CEO of WWE has not only transformed his company into a global brand but because of his efforts, the entire wrestling industry is flourishing at the moment. The fact that WWE continued to produce shows even when the whole world came to a standstill demonstrates just how popular this business is.
Over the years, Vince McMahon has executed many masterstrokes that have helped him become a billionaire. His company possesses the most talented roster in pro wrestling right now. Meanwhile, pay-per-view events like WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, Super Showdown, and Crown Jewel have set the standard for major wrestling events.
Although Vince McMahon is the primary reason for WWE's success, he has been unable to treat all of his employees justly. As noted, WWE has a stacked roster, but that has hurt the company sometimes. The creative team has had too many options, so the Superstars who don't receive proper booking feel dissatisfied.
Earlier, most pro wrestler's dreamed about joining WWE and stay with the company forever. However, of late, the trend has changed a bit. Wrestlers have got have more alternatives now, and they can dare to quit WWE if they are unhappy with the company.
Recently, some former WWE Superstars have even taken jabs at their ex-boss after leaving the company. Here's a list of five instances where a former WWE star took a shot at Vince McMahon.
#5. Curt Hawkins takes a shot at WWE Chairman Vince McMahon on IMPACT Wrestling
Curt Hawkins signed with WWE in February 2006 and stayed with the company until 2014. He earned a new contract two years later and returned to SmackDown Live.
Hawkins worked the "Face The Facts" gimmick as a jobber. In 2017, he infamously accrued a long losing streak that ended at WrestleMania 35. The New York-based Superstar reunited with his pal, Zack Ryder, and the duo defeated The Revival to capture the RAW Tag Team Championships at The Show of Shows.
Unfortunately, they didn't have an impactful reign as champions. WWE demoted them again before releasing them in April 2020. While Ryder has joined AEW, Hawkins returned to IMPACT Wrestling.
In one of his promos on IMPACT!, Brian Myers fired shots at Vince McMahon for releasing him during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"You've known me a while," Myers said. "Haven't I always played by the rules? Done everything I've been told? Listen to the veterans? Well, where did it get me in this business? Fired! With a wife that's 6 months pregnant sitting at home. I'm so sick of being referred to as somebody's 'good hand'. It disgusts me that major decisions in this business are being made by some out of touch 70-year-old man in some goofy production meeting! Not anymore. I'm taking my career and this business into my hands. You, and all of Impact Wrestling have been put on warning. I am the most professional wrestler, Brian Myers."
#4. Former WWE 24/7 Champion Eric Young takes a shot at Vince McMahon
After spending over a decade at TNA, Eric Young joined WWE NXT in 2016. On the black and gold brand, he became the leader of a faction called SAnitY that also featured Nikki Cross, Alexander Wolfe, and Sawyer Fulton. After Fulton got injured, Killian Dain took his place in SAnitY.
The stable enjoyed success as they won the NXT Tag Team Championships. WWE surprisingly split the group upon their arrival on the main roster as Wolfe, Dain, and Young joined SmackDown and Cross remained with NXT. The trio never gained any momentum on the blue brand. Ultimately, Eric moved to WWE RAW, separating him from SAnitY.
The Ontario-based Superstar didn't do much on the flagship show and WWE released him due to budget cuts in April 2020. Young returned to IMPACT Wrestling and later spoke to Chris Van Vliet about Vince McMahon. The former 24/7 Champion opined that Mr. McMahon had failed as a leader.
"If you have a 3-hour television show, pro-wrestling television show, and you can't find something for me to do then you are failing as a leader. Plain and simple. You failed your company. You failed the shareholders, you failed the fans and you failed yourself."
He also said that it was impossible to be creative in WWE as he felt that he was fixing other people's mistakes the whole time.
#3. Former WWE Intercontinental Champion Luke Harper takes a shot at Vince McMahon
Brodie Lee, fka Luke Harper, is the reigning AEW TNT Champion. The Exalted One has performed brilliantly in WWE's rival company so far. The six-foot five-inch tall Superstar was on the verge of becoming a top babyface, but WWE didn't push him at the right time.
After a long stint with The Wyatt Family, Harper turned on his master, Bray Wyatt, during his rivalry with Randy Orton. The fans were behind the former Intercontinental Champion and wanted WWE to add him to the WrestleMania 33 match along with Wyatt and Orton.
Unfortunately, Harper returned to the tag team division along with Rowan. As the Bludgeon Brothers, the duo won the SmackDown Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 34. However, Rowan's untimely injury derailed their momentum.
WWE didn't use Harper much while his partner was off the television. They had a brief reunion in 2019, but WWE disbanded the team for good after their loss to Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan. Rowan switched to RAW, while Harper left the company.
During an AEW Dynamite episode, Brodie Lee took a jab at his ex-boss while addressing Christopher Daniels.
"You are not the first, out of touch old man who didn't believe in me, but I'll make d**n sure you are the last," he said.
#2. Chris Jericho takes a shot at Vince McMahon for firing WWE veteran Lance Storm
Former AEW World Champion, Chris Jericho, was an integral part of WWE for many years. After stints with ECW, WCW, and NJPW, Jericho earned a WWE contract and made his RAW debut in 1999.
Le Champion has enjoyed a legendary career with many famous character changes and memorable feuds in WWE. Although he has been away from the company for a while now, Jericho still holds the record for the most Intercontinental Championship wins (9) in WWE history.
The 49-year-old left WWE in 2018 and returned to NJPW. After an epic rivalry with Kenny Omega and a run as the IWGP Intercontinental Champion, Jericho joined Tony Khan's new pro wrestling company, All Elite Wrestling. AEW has become stiff competition for WWE's third brand, NXT, on Wednesday nights, recently reaching one million viewers.
Like Eric Young, Zack Ryder, and many others, Lance Storm lost his job when WWE made budget cuts.
The WWE veteran was naturally disappointed, and his friend Jericho offered support to him with a tweet criticizing Vince McMahon. Jericho has deleted the tweet now, but you can see his statement here.
#1. Jon Moxley takes a shot at Vince McMahon for lazy booking in WWE
Jon Moxley, fka Dean Ambrose, was one of the most popular Superstars in the WWE. After an incredible run with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns as a part of The Shield, Moxley became one of the company's top babyfaces.
Although WWE favored Roman as their top star in 2016, Moxley continued to excel with the company. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury in December 2017 that sidelined him for months. The Ohio-based Superstar returned motivated and in great shape.
WWE booked his heel turn to perfection, but the follow-up to his attack on Rollins disappointed many fans. Moxley's new gimmick didn't connect well with the fans, and ultimately, he decided not to sign a new contract.
While Moxley has fired shots at WWE many times after leaving the company, he labeled Vince McMahon as the biggest problem in a recent interview with Dave Meltzer.
"It's one person. Three letters. VKM. That's the problem. Until he's gone or relinquishes control, it's just not gonna change. When I watched the show during the pandemic era, when I watched the show, you see him before, especially during the pandemic era, I'm just like, 'Oh Thank God, I'm not there.' Jesus Christ. What would I be doing on that show right now? Can you imagine? You think it would be any good, like come on."
