5 wrestlers Vince McMahon disliked at first but went on to become megastars

#4 Mick Foley

In an interview with Inside The Ropes, WWE legend Mick Foley revealed how Vince McMahon was not a fan of his initially and didn’t even want to bring him to WWE. Mick Foley credited Jim Ross as the person who wore Vince McMahon down and brought Foley into the WWE in late 1995 under a mask:

I was not supposed to be a star in WWE. I have it on good faith that Mr. McMahon wasn’t a fan of mine, at all, and I think the direct quote was, ‘Cactus Jack will never step foot inside a WWE ring.’ So as Mick Foley, I stepped inside as Mankind, and even then, it was just a concession to Jim Ross. Bruce Prichard told me this about four years ago, JR would bring up my name at every booking meeting as a potential talent, and finally Mr. McMahon in the fall of 1995 slammed his hands down on the table and said, ‘Alright, I’ll bring him in, but I’m covering up his face.' H/T: 411Mania

Despite Vince McMahon’s reservations, Mick Foley went on to become a megastar in WWE and a fan favorite. It was Mick Foley in the Mankind persona winning the WWE Championship that finally turned the ratings tide in the Monday Night Wars for good, with a little thanks from Tony Schiavone.