- 5 months ago
Not everyone stayed silent about Vince McMahon.
Welcome to WatchMojo.WORLD, where we’re looking at the wrestlers who tried to warn us about Vince McMahon, from shocking allegations to behind‑the‑scenes controversies that later came to light. These wrestling icons weren’t afraid to speak the truth, even when it came at a cost.
Which wrestler do you think exposed Vince the most? Let us know in the comments.
Welcome to WatchMojo.WORLD, where we’re looking at the wrestlers who tried to warn us about Vince McMahon, from shocking allegations to behind‑the‑scenes controversies that later came to light. These wrestling icons weren’t afraid to speak the truth, even when it came at a cost.
Which wrestler do you think exposed Vince the most? Let us know in the comments.
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00:00She says that Vince McMahon knew about it and that WWE functionally covered it up to protect the business.
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at professional wrestlers who spoke out against former WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon prior to his recent criminal allegations.
00:15And I'm not worried about Vince's feelings. He's never cared about mine. I don't have any problem with everybody kicking his head around the parking lot.
00:22Chyna
00:24The late Joan Marie Lauer, better known to wrestling fans as Chyna, had a tumultuous relationship with the WWE, and Vince McMahon in particular.
00:32Following her dismissal from the company in 2001, Chyna blasted her former place of employment in various media interviews.
00:39At Jerry's Deli, eating lunch, and a fax mysteriously went to Jerry's Deli, and it was from the WWE, and they said they wouldn't be needing me anymore.
00:49The ninth wonder of the world claimed that she was blacklisted by McMahon following her breakup with Paul Triple H Levesque, who was carrying on a relationship with Stephanie McMahon, Vince's daughter, at the time of her exit.
01:00Nobody, whether you're a celebrity or whether you're not, likes to be cheated on, especially when it's with the boss's daughter.
01:06She also alleged that Vince had an iron grip on talent relationships, both inside and outside of the ring, revealing his power to force individuals into uncomfortable and problematic storylines.
01:17I've definitely seen pressure of losing weight, getting implants, taking steroids. I've seen that way too many times.
01:27CM Punk
01:28It turns out CM Punk's infamous pipe bomb promo in 2011 was more than just a scripted rant.
01:34I have a lot of things I want to get off my chest.
01:38It contained real criticisms of his then-boss Vince McMahon and WWE's corporate culture as a whole.
01:44Punk called out McMahon's nepotism and accused him of being, quote, out of touch.
01:49And I'd like to think that maybe this company will be better after Vince McMahon's dead, but the fact is, it's gonna get taken over by his idiotic daughter and his doofus son-in-law and the rest of his stupid family.
02:02After leaving the company in 2014, Punk went further in a tell-all podcast with former friend Colt Cabana.
02:09He described McMahon's erratic behavior and negligent approach to wrestlers' health.
02:13He claimed Vince and others pressured him to perform while injured and ignored serious medical issues.
02:19Punk's outspoken nature no doubt made him a credible voice in exposing McMahon's questionable practices.
02:24Let me tell you a personal story about Vince McMahon, all right?
02:28Do we do this whole bully camp?
02:30Sable
02:38Valet-turned-wrestler Sable became a breakout star in the WWE's Attitude Era.
02:45However, she would go on to engage in a legal battle with Vince McMahon and the WWE in 1999.
02:51The World Wrestling Federation that I signed up to be a part of is not the World Wrestling Federation that I left.
02:56She sued the company for over $100 million, citing sexual harassment and unsafe working conditions.
03:03Merrill also claimed in the Just Settled lawsuit that the WWF wanted her to partake in a lesbian storyline and other wrestlers threatened to disfigure her face.
03:13Sable alleged that McMahon pressured her to participate in sexually explicit storylines against her will.
03:19She also claimed that Vince fostered a hostile work environment where female wrestlers were routinely objectified and harassed.
03:26The lawsuit was settled out of court, and the star returned to the company in 2003,
03:30where she was curiously placed in a romantic storyline with her boss, Vince McMahon.
03:38Jesse the Body Ventura is notable for being one of the first wrestlers to challenge McMahon's dubious practices publicly.
03:46In the mid-1980s, Ventura attempted to unionize wrestlers due to what he felt were unfair working conditions and lack of benefits.
03:54There was definitely a need for union wrestling.
03:57That's what Jesse Ventura was trying to do.
03:59With Jesse later learning, it was Hulk Hogan who, quote,
04:01ratted out his plans to Vince.
04:03However, Ventura would go on to successfully sue McMahon for unpaid royalties, winning a significant settlement.
04:09He's making money off it and not paying me a thing for all that he's making.
04:15So we went to court.
04:16In numerous interviews since then, the former governor of Minnesota has criticized McMahon's monopolistic control over the industry
04:23and his exploitative treatment of talent in general.
04:26Chris, always remember one thing.
04:29I beat Vince McMahon in court.
04:32Paul London.
04:33Paul London and Brian Kendrick.
04:36These guys are a great team.
04:39Paul London provided a critique of Vince McMahon in his post-WWE career.
04:43London went on to describe McMahon as someone who manipulated wrestlers both emotionally and professionally.
04:49He recounted instances of McMahon's now infamous erratic behavior, including sudden mood swings and arbitrary decision making.
04:55London also alleged that McMahon fostered a culture of fear and sycophancy among WWE staff.
05:01The wrestlers' candid revelations provided a rare glimpse into the day-to-day reality of working under McMahon's leadership at the time.
05:08In later years, London recounted uncomfortable instances where his then-girlfriend Ashley Massero was seemingly distraught over being harassed by Vince.
05:15But I do remember, specifically, many times when she would be crying to me because Vince was propositioning her to fly on the jet with them.
05:28Ronda Rousey.
05:29Despite her relatively short tenure in WWE, Ronda Rousey made a sizable impact in the land of sports entertainment.
05:36The ex-UFC women's bantamweight champion hasn't held back in her criticism of Vince McMahon and the company culture, though.
05:46Rousey has hinted at her frustration with McMahon's creative control on social media,
05:50later expanding on these comments by suggesting that Vince's vision for women's wrestling was outdated and limiting.
05:56Instead of, like, enabling us to have a great match, we were, like, fighting against him in order to have a great match.
06:01In her book, Our Fight, Rousey further delivered a scathing critique of her former boss,
06:05questioning where his on-screen villainy ends and his real-life unethical behavior begins.
06:10She also condemned WWE's past exploitation of women, particularly the company's numerous bra and panties matches.
06:17But Vince being gone really changes things a lot. I do love Triple H, and I love Steph.
06:20Alberto Del Rio.
06:22The first Mexican-born world champion in WWE history,
06:26Alberto Del Rio's relationship with the company and McMahon in general
06:29soured dramatically after his first release from the company in 2014.
06:33In subsequent interviews, Del Rio accused his former boss of fostering a racist environment within the WWE.
06:40He claims that McMahon allowed and even encouraged racial stereotypes,
06:44be it in character development or storylines.
06:47Del Rio also alleged that McMahon protected certain employees
06:50who made racially offensive comments outside of the ring.
06:52Del Rio's own behavior has since been called into question, however,
07:08and he has gone on to show empathy for Vince McMahon during his current issues.
07:12Bruno Sammartino
07:14Sold out Madison Square Garden 187 times.
07:19One of professional wrestling's biggest stars,
07:21Bruno Sammartino became one of Vince McMahon's most vocal critics.
07:24After departing in 1988, Sammartino, who once held the world championship for seven straight years,
07:31spent years speaking out against Vince's direction of the company.
07:34He was not shy about accusing Vince of promoting steroid use.
07:37Let me tell you, Larry, if you can't keep this guy to shut his face,
07:41because he doesn't want me to talk.
07:42I was there still with the WWF ones, the head was there.
07:46They used to line up a long line.
07:47We used to laugh for everybody.
07:49Let him do this.
07:49Of the goodies.
07:50And they used to laugh.
07:51And then the solid came.
07:52But even when they became illegal,
07:53McMahon here, live shipment.
07:55He also called out the company's salacious storylines during the Attitude Era.
07:59However, Bruno accepted an invitation into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.
08:04Please welcome the great Bruno Sammartino.
08:10Stating he was satisfied with the way the company had addressed his concerns about drug use and vulgarity.
08:16Bret Hart
08:17Real-life feuds with Vince McMahon don't get more legendary than the one between Vince and Bret the Hitman Hart.
08:24Hart's falling out with McMahon following the infamous Montreal Screwjob in 1997 led to years of public criticism.
08:30I can feel it.
08:32Like everything is coming to me now.
08:33It's like, they did it.
08:35They did screw you.
08:35Hart accused McMahon of breaking promises and manipulating talent for personal gain,
08:40ultimately labeling him as a man who will prioritize business over any human being.
08:44Couldn't have given a man more than what I gave Vince McMahon.
08:48None of that meant anything.
08:49In his autobiography and in numerous media interviews,
08:52Hart further detailed McMahon's ruthless tactics and questionable moral character.
08:56Bret has since spoken out following Janelle Grant's damning accusations against Vince,
09:01making it known that he has, quote, zero respect for McMahon.
09:04And I came right up between Vince's arms and it was like, um, you know, when you hit the bell, when the thing goes up.
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09:28Ashley Massaro
09:29Following her tragic passing in 2019, it was revealed that WWE star Ashley Massaro tried to warn the world of Vince McMahon's unlawful acts.
09:38A previously unreleased affidavit by Massaro alleged that McMahon uncomfortably pursued her after her Playboy cover release,
09:45even attempting to isolate her in his hotel room.
09:48After the Janelle Grant allegations, Ashley Massaro's attorney released a previously unreleased statement from Massaro
09:57that claimed that Vince McMahon made sexual advances on her, that Vince was well known for this sort of thing.
10:02After she says she rejected his advances, Massaro claimed McMahon sabotaged her WWE career by writing damaging promos.
10:10From her point of view, Vince responded by writing stories whose sole purpose was to just embarrass her.
10:15You're gonna cry now?
10:17Vince, don't do this!
10:18You're gonna cry!
10:20You're gonna cry!
10:23Massaro's affidavit, which was only made public in 2024,
10:26also included disturbing accusations that WWE officials, including McMahon himself,
10:32were aware of her being violated during a 2006 tour of Kuwait,
10:35but instructed her to remain silent on the matter.
10:38She accused WWE of not responding seriously to her allegations when she told them.
10:44She says that Vince McMahon knew about it,
10:45and that WWE functionally covered it up to protect the business.
10:49Do you recall any other wrestlers calling out Vince McMahon prior to his current legal plights?
10:54Share their warnings in the comments below.
10:56This is one of the most brazen examples in a company setting that I've seen
11:01where an executive isn't really taking a lot of steps to hide the behavior.
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