10 Controversial Moments That Landed WWE In Huge Trouble

Summary

The video script details 10 controversial moments in WWE history that led to significant backlash and trouble for the company. These incidents include tasteless jokes made by Mad Striker following Steve Irwin's death, the firing of Paul Heyman, Lars Sullivan's racist and homophobic remarks, Abraham Washington's scandal involving a reference to Kobe Bryant, Al Snow's action figure controversy, Jinder Mahal's racist promo, the WrestleMania 34 Battle Royal honoring The Fabulous Moolah, the Muhammad Hassan scandal, the WrestleMania 39 promo package using an image of Auschwitz, and Vince McMahon's use of the n-word. Each event sparked outrage among fans and sometimes led to corporate sponsors demanding action, forcing WWE to issue apologies and make changes.

Takeaways

• 😡 Striker's Insensitive Comment: A joke made by Striker on ECW TV in 2006 about not swimming with stingrays, shortly after Steve Irwin's death, caused a severe backlash and led to a WWE apology.
• 🤔 Paul Heyman's Unexplained Firing: In 2020, Vince McMahon's decision to fire Paul Heyman as head writer of RAW was questioned by fans and reportedly displeased the USA Network.
• 😠 Lars Sullivan's Controversial Remarks: WWE was criticized for not acting on Lars Sullivan's past racist and homophobic comments, leading fans to contact sponsors like Mars Wrigley for action.
• 😡 Abraham Washington Scandal: Washington's firing after a live mic incident referencing Kobe Bryant's 2003 case led to controversy and divided opinions among fans.
• 😨 Al Snow's Action Figure Controversy: An action figure featuring Al Snow with a decapitated head led to complaints, Walmart pulling the figure, and a debate on its appropriateness.
• 😠 Jinder Mahal's Racist Promo: A promo by Mahal mocking Nakamura's accent and comparing him to a stereotyped Japanese character led to immediate backlash and a WWE statement.
• 😡 The Fabulous Moolah Battle Royal Backlash: Plans to honor The Fabulous Moolah with a battle royal and trophy were met with controversy due to allegations against her, leading to sponsor pressure and a name change.
• 😡 Muhammad Hassan Segment: A segment involving religious and terrorist themes aired close to the time of the 7/7 London bombings, causing public outrage and leading to the character's removal.
• 😨 WrestleMania 39 Auschwitz Imagery: An inexcusable error by WWE's production team using an image of Auschwitz in a promo package for a match, which was met with widespread condemnation.
• 😡 Vince McMahon's Use of the N-Word: McMahon's past use of the n-word in a 2005 backstage segment resurfaced and was defended by WWE as a satirical skit, raising questions about the company's history with racism.

Q & A

What controversial statement did Mad Striker make on an episode of ECW TV in 2006?

Mad Striker made a tasteless joke about not swimming with stingrays, which was offensive as it was said shortly after the death of Steve Irwin, who died from a stingray injury.

How did WWE respond to the backlash from Mad Striker's comments?

WWE issued a statement and subsequent apology, acknowledging the remark was disrespectful to Steve Irwin's fans and family.

Why did Vince McMahon's decision to fire Paul Heyman in 2020 raise eyebrows?

The decision was controversial because Heyman was head writer during a well-received period for the show RAW, and his firing led to questions and dissatisfaction among fans and the USA Network, which aired the show.

What was the issue with Lars Sullivan's past comments that led to a fan-led campaign against WWE?

Lars Sullivan's past comments, which included racist and homophobic remarks, surfaced and led to fans emailing WWE sponsors to raise awareness, resulting in a strong negative response from the sponsors.

What was the controversy surrounding Abraham Washington's comments during his WWE run?

Abraham Washington made a reference to the alleged incident between Kobe Bryant and a hotel employee, which was controversial and led to WWE issuing a statement about his comments.

Why did the release of Al Snow's action figure cause a scandal during the Attitude Era?

The action figure, which included a decapitated head, was deemed inappropriate for children, leading to complaints and eventually Walmart ceasing to sell the figure.

What was the controversy surrounding Jinder Mahal's promo on Smackdown in 2017?

Jinder Mahal cut a racist promo, mocking Nakamura's accent and suggesting that all Japanese people look alike, which led to immediate backlash and a statement from WWE.

Why did the introduction of the Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 34 cause controversy?

The decision to honor The Fabulous Moolah, who had a questionable past involving allegations of taking wrestlers' pay and sexual exploitation, led to mass controversy and a petition demanding a name change.

What was the scandal involving the Muhammad Hassan character on WWE in December 2005?

The segment involving Muhammad Hassan and a group of masked men was controversial due to its similarity to the 7/7 terrorist attack in London, England, which occurred on the same day the episode aired.

What mistake did WWE make in a promo package for WrestleMania 39 that led to public outrage?

WWE's production team used an image of Auschwitz in a promo package for a match, which was seen as exploitative and insulting to the memory of the Holocaust victims.

Why did the use of the n-word by Vince McMahon in a 2005 backstage segment become a significant issue?

The issue resurfaced when WWE cut ties with Hulk Hogan for making racist comments, leading to questions about McMahon's past use of the n-word and the need for a public apology and explanation.

What was the common theme among the controversies listed in the script?

The common theme was the offensive nature of the comments or actions, which led to public backlash, required apologies from WWE, and in some cases, changes in programming or character development.