10 WWE Matches Vince McMahon Reportedly Loathed

Vince McMahon

10.⁠ ⁠Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair – Prime Time Wrestling

During the September 1, 1992 Prime Time Wrestling taping, Randy Savage defended the WWE Title against Ric Flair in a match that angered Vince McMahon enough for him to stop it, call both men backstage and order them to redo it. Flair later said Vince disliked the extra interference from Mr Perfect ringside and felt the effort was lacking. He also said Savage was upset about losing the title that night. They returned to the ring and worked the match as instructed. Vince had also been annoyed months earlier when Flair bladed at WrestleMania VIII against company policy.

9.⁠ ⁠The Revival vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson – Royal Rumble 2018

The Revival’s kickoff match against Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson at Royal Rumble 2018 lasted under ten minutes and appeared routine. Positioned between a 205 Live six-man match and Bobby Roode vs Mojo Rawley, it received little attention from viewers. Vince McMahon told Cash Wheeler that it was “the worst wrestling match” he had “ever seen” in his “entire life.” Dax Harwood later said on his podcast that he laughed at the criticism and treated it as a badge of honour. The match faded quickly from public memory despite the extreme reaction. Vince’s harsh response was likely influenced by his mood that day rather than the match itself.

8.⁠ ⁠Diesel vs. The British Bulldog – In Your House: Great White North

Diesel and the British Bulldog’s main event at the fourth In Your House event dragged for 20 minutes and ended in a disqualification. Bret Hart wrote in his autobiography that Vince McMahon threw down his headset at ringside and walked away muttering “horrible.” Kevin Nash was reprimanded afterward, and the poor performance helped accelerate his WWE Title loss to Bret at Survivor Series the next month. Backstage, Vince also yelled at producer Bruce Prichard during his tirade. Davey Boy Smith reportedly apologised after recognising how bad the match was. The bout is remembered as one of the weakest title defences of Diesel’s reign.

7.⁠ ⁠Cesaro vs. Gran Metalik – SmackDown, September 18, 2020

A report after the September 18, 2020 episode of SmackDown stated that Vince McMahon disliked Cesaro vs. Gran Metalik so much he wanted it stopped during a commercial break. The match continued but had four minutes cut on Vince’s orders. He ranted backstage at the monitor and was visibly frustrated throughout the segment. No specific reason for his reaction was ever confirmed. The match itself was considered acceptable but unremarkable by viewers. It became another example of how unpredictable Vince’s responses could be during the pandemic era.

6.⁠ ⁠Shayna Baszler vs. Natalya – Raw, May 18, 2020

Shayna Baszler said on the Oral Sessions podcast that Vince McMahon stopped her early Raw match with Natalya and had them redo it. He told them their MMA-influenced grappling “looked like you guys were just fighting each other.” Baszler was surprised, since that was the intent of their style. Natalya reassured her they would adjust the match to Vince’s preferences for the second attempt. This moment marked the start of Baszler working with Vince’s expectations in mind rather than focusing solely on match quality. It became an early example of her adjustment to main-roster presentation.

5.⁠ ⁠Rhyno vs. Tajiri – SmackDown House Show, August 31, 2003

At the August 31, 2003 Nassau Coliseum house show, fans chanted “boring” during Rhyno vs Tajiri. As instructed by agents, Rhyno held a rest-hold to let the chant pass. Vince McMahon, already annoyed after similar chants during World’s Greatest Tag Team vs APA, walked out and cut a promo calling the match boring. He ordered both wrestlers backstage and swapped the bout for a divas bikini contest. Rhyno later admitted he felt embarrassed by the incident. Vince increased his payoff afterward, which Rhyno took as an indirect apology.

4.⁠ ⁠Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins – TLC 2018

Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins’ Intercontinental Title match at TLC 2018 ran 23 minutes and was placed between Daniel Bryan vs AJ Styles and the women’s TLC main event. The crowd responded with chants of “This is boring!” and “We want Becky!” throughout the bout. Vince McMahon was reported to be furious with both the match and the audience reaction. The two had strong chemistry in the past, but this performance stalled under the card placement and pacing. The match became one of the most criticised outings of either wrestler’s WWE career.

3.⁠ ⁠Michael Cole vs. Jerry Lawler – WrestleMania XXVII

Jerry Lawler finally received a WrestleMania match at WrestleMania XXVII against fellow commentator Michael Cole. The match performed poorly, and Vince McMahon told Cole afterward it was the worst thing he had seen in 60 years. Cole lost a tooth during the match, adding to one he had already lost earlier in the day due to CM Punk joking around backstage. Lawler’s long-awaited moment was overshadowed by the match’s negative reception. The bout became one of the most criticised segments of that WrestleMania. Vince’s immediate reaction confirmed how badly it landed.

2.⁠ ⁠JeriShow vs. Legacy – Night of Champions 2009

Chris Jericho and Big Show opened Night of Champions 2009 by defending their tag titles against Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase. After the match, Vince McMahon “threw a fit” and tossed his headset across Gorilla Position. He disliked the slower pacing and felt the opener failed to energise the crowd for the rest of the event. The match involved two heel teams, which reduced crowd investment and likely contributed to the reaction. Jericho later discussed the incident in his books and on his podcast. The opener became an example of Vince’s strict expectations for first matches on a card.

1.⁠ ⁠Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens – WrestleMania 33

Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens’ United States Title match at WrestleMania 33 went on second, which Jericho found disappointing. After the match, Vince McMahon gave Y2J approval but responded “no” when Owens asked if they were good. In Jericho’s retelling, Vince later called it “the worst match in WrestleMania history.” Jericho suggested Vince may have been unhappy with Owens’ heel work at the time or felt Owens was carrying extra weight. The match was originally expected to have a higher place on the card, adding to the frustration. The exchange became one of the most discussed behind-the-scenes moments of that WrestleMania.