Ex-WWE Star Calls Out Vince McMahon for Controversial Storyline: Blame Laid on WWE’s Former Head
A former WWE Women’s Champion has positioned the responsibility for one in all WWE’s most debatable storylines at once on Vince McMahon. This revelation comes amid ongoing scrutiny over the former WWE CEO’s leadership and innovative decisions, in addition to his involvement in several different controversies.
Vince McMahon’s “Mr. McMahon” Documentary Shines Light on His Leadership
In the Netflix docuseries titled Mr. McMahon, a six-part exploration into Vince McMahon’s career and private lifestyles, visitors were given a better have a look at the long-standing controversies surrounding his reign as WWE’s head. The documentary also shed mild on more recent allegations, together with the sexual harassment and sexual trafficking lawsuit introduced by means of Janel Grant in opposition to McMahon. Although the series did now not delve deep into the allegations, there have been remarks from Wall Street Journal reporters providing visitors extra info. McMahon’s prison group also made it clean that he denied the accusations.
Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, McMahon resigned from the TKO Board of Directors, observed through the eventual sale of his WWE inventory. These movements efficiently cut ties between McMahon and the business enterprise he constructed, a surprise to many given his a long time-lengthy reign at the top.
But perhaps what has caught enthusiasts’ attention even greater are the revelations approximately his innovative selections, with former WWE stars now talking out.
The Piggy James Storyline: A Creative Low for WWE
One of the most notorious storylines in WWE’s records revolves around former WWE Women’s Champion Mickie James. In overdue 2009 and early 2010, a storyline on SmackDown saw fellow Women’s Champions Michelle McCool and Layla, together called LayCool, mock James for her weight. The storyline escalated with McCool and Layla calling James “Piggy James,” with offensive skits offering livestock used as a backdrop for the bullying.
Though Mickie James in the long run had her revenge with the aid of defeating McCool at Royal Rumble 2010 to win the WWE Women’s Championship, the match has in large part been overshadowed by means of the cruel taunting. For many lovers, the “Piggy James” storyline crossed the road, and remains one in all WWE’s most arguable segments.
Layla Points the Finger at McMahon
Recently, Layla, a key participant within the storyline as one half of LayCool, appeared at the They Made Their Way to the Ring podcast. In a candid communication, she discovered that the “Piggy James” storyline wasn’t her idea or her partner’s, Michelle McCool’s, however came directly from Vince McMahon.
“The first name, which was Mickie James, is very controversial, so I’m not even going to say it,” Layla said, hesitating to repeat the hurtful nickname. “Mickie James… Vince actually came up with that. We had nothing to do with that. We got a lot of heat for it. That wasn’t our creation at all.”
Despite the backlash from lovers and wrestling insiders, Layla emphasised that the storyline become a part of WWE’s large effort to push barriers and stir controversy. McMahon, acknowledged for his formidable and regularly controversial creative selections, seems to have spearheaded this unique attitude.
Layla also mentioned other taunting names they used during that period, such as “Smelly Kelly” for WWE star Kelly Kelly and “Unfed Redhead” for Maria Kanellis. “I think that was Michelle. I want to say Michelle came up with that one,” Layla added, though she noted that some of the names had escaped her memory. “They fit in that era and time. They fit, they were offensive, they did their job.”
Her reflection highlighted the complexity of WWE’s storytelling during that era, where characters were pushed to extremes in an effort to evoke strong emotional responses from fans. “You guys weren’t supposed to like us. You’re supposed to hate us, but find us funny, but also take us seriously and we’re obnoxious,” Layla explained, underscoring the fine line they were asked to walk between humor and offense.