The importance of behind-the-scenes employees means that certain names have an impact on the power hierarchy. AEW has seen some issues emerge recently, with fans wondering if they have enough staff in place. WCW had the same problem with the inmates running the asylum over the past few years.
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10 Most Controversial Characters in WWE History
As the biggest wrestling company in the world, WWE has some A-list stars with huge egos. Here are the most controversial names in WWE history.
WWE is the promotion aiming to have the longest system of various producers and executives working behind the scenes. However, not everyone has a spotless record and can avoid the drama that follows them due to real-life issues. Each name came with stories for better or worse. The following backstage employees were the most controversial in WWE history.
10
Vince McMahon
McMahon has always been controversial
|
Years behind the scenes |
Most important job title |
Most controversial moment |
|
1969-2024 |
President and CEO |
Lawsuit to remove him from office |
WWE has been Vince McMahon’s brainchild for most of its inception since he took over from his father. McMahon has often had personal issues with names like Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan and many of his biggest stars over the years.
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10 Most Controversial People in WCW History
WCW was tumultuous on screen and behind the scenes with all of these controversial figures having their say.
The discussion about how Vince ran WWE has seen many names speaking out against the way he ran WWE over time. McMahon’s various allegations add even more controversy and have caused fans to question his motives during much of his time in power.
9
Jim Ross
Some wrestlers believed Ross played the role of favorite while managing talent relationships
|
Years behind the scenes |
Most important job title |
Most controversial moment |
|
1996-2005 |
Executive Vice President of Talent Relations |
Hire a close friend, Dr. Death |
Vince McMahon continued to use Jim Ross as a prominent on-screen commentator by making him vice president of backstage talent relations. Ross was responsible for hiring new talent and negotiating contracts for talent on the roster.
Steve Austin and Mick Foley showed that JR’s choices often succeeded in validating him. However, names like the hiring of Dr. Death Steve Williams sparked more controversy after Ross hired friends. Other names have had issues with JR after hating his bonus offers or new offers.
8
Jim Cornette
Cornette saying what she thought always led to interesting scenarios
|
Years behind the scenes |
Most important job title |
Most controversial moment |
|
1997-2005 |
OVW Reservations Manager |
Slap Santino Marella |
WWE has employed Jim Cornette in various roles as an on-screen manager and behind-the-scenes employee on the creative team. Cornette often clashed with Vince Russo and other names who strayed from the traditional approach to telling professional wrestling stories.
Cornette’s lack of shyness saw his backstage rants become a part of the television show when she would rant about things he didn’t like about wrestling. Cornette became even more controversial by managing OVW and getting fired for slapping wrestler Santino Marella for breaking character.
7
Bill DeMott
WWE fired DeMott from the Role Running Performance Center
|
Years behind the scenes |
Most important job title |
Most controversial moment |
|
2011-2016 |
Head coach |
Abuse allegations against several wrestlers |
The Performance Center plays a major role in the success of WWE today, hoping to develop new stars in this huge training facility. Bill DeMott, aka Hugh Morrus, was given the role of head trainer after developing a strong reputation for earning the trust of WWE.
Various wrestlers speaking out about the verbal and physical harassment they experienced under DeMott’s management became a huge story. WWE and DeMott agreed to part ways when the controversy became too big for WWE to give him the benefit of the doubt.
6
Bruce Prichard
Many wrestlers have clashed with Prichard as McMahon’s right-hand man
|
Years behind the scenes |
Most important job title |
Most controversial moment |
|
Senior Vice President |
Publicly defending Vince McMahon’s mistakes |
Vince McMahon enjoyed working with Bruce Prichard enough to make him an executive and an important player behind the scenes. Prichard spent decades as the second most important decision maker behind McMahon, but left the company after being released for about a decade.
WWE rehired Prichard only to see him play a significant role today, but controversy still exists that he is McMahon’s last remaining influence. Prichard’s podcast made him even more controversial by not shying away from burying those he didn’t like.
5
Stephanie McMahon
Peers and fans accused Stephanie of getting roles through nepotism
|
Years behind the scenes |
Most important job title |
Most controversial moment |
|
2000-2023 |
President and Co-CEO |
Being responsible for the recruitment of TV writers by WWE |
WWE saw Stephanie McMahon become a major voice behind the scenes when Vince McMahon prioritized her over Shane McMahon. Stephanie’s influence behind the scenes grew in the early 2000s, making big decisions with a leading creative role.
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10 Most Controversial Female Wrestlers of All Time
Whether deserved or not, controversy has followed these female wrestlers throughout their careers.
Stephanie clashing with Paul Heyman and holding power during her husband Triple H’s reign of terror sparked controversy following her name. Most WWE employees gained respect for Stephanie, but many felt that she did not deserve such a prominent role at a young age.
4
Russo wins
WWE employees either loved or hated working with Russo
|
Years behind the scenes |
Most important job title |
Most controversial moment |
|
1996-1999 |
Editor-in-chief |
Inventing Brawl for All |
Vince Russo took risks pitching ideas to Vince McMahon while working on the WWE Magazine editorial team. Many of Russo’s bold ideas led McMahon to adopt the “crash TV” storytelling strategy that led to the success of the Attitude Era.
Russo deserves credit for writing segments during an extremely popular era, but he often rubbed others the wrong way with his personality. Jim Cornette had countless arguments with Russo in WWE before the hostility grew even further. Russo even had a controversial return ending, with Stephanie McMahon putting the kibosh on his return to WWE.
3
Paul Heyman
Controversial reputation led to Heyman’s firing
|
Years behind the scenes |
Most important job title |
Most controversial moment |
|
Executive Director |
Dispute with Vince McMahon leading to firing |
WWE hired Paul Heyman to join the company in a broadcast role following ECW’s bankruptcy. Heyman quickly convinced Vince McMahon to join the creative team and ran SmackDown’s most popular scene after the brand’s first split.
Various changes led to Heyman running the ECW brand in 2006, but so much drama involving Heyman, Vince and Stephanie caused him to lose support. Heyman was fired and eventually returned to have more influence behind the scenes with less drama this time around.
2
Michael Hayes
Mark Henry’s incident with Hayes shows how controversial Hayes was
|
Years behind the scenes |
Most important job title |
Most controversial moment |
|
1999–present |
Vice President of Creative Writing and Bookings |
Suspension for saying a word to Mark Henry |
Michael Hayes continued to gain power behind the scenes in WWE after his role as broadcaster failed. Hayes earned a spot as a producer, eventually becoming one of the most important decision-makers behind the scenes, second only to Vince McMahon.
A controversial moment saw Hayes makes racist comments to Mark Henry, leading to suspension. Hayes found his name in the news for another suspension when he made Rosa Mendes drink as she struggled with alcoholism.
1
John Laurinaitis
Laurinaitis had the power, but certainly not the support of the people
|
Years behind the scenes |
Most important job title |
Most controversial moment |
|
2001-2022 |
Talent Relations Manager |
Being named in Vince McMahon’s trial |
Vince McMahon chose John Laurinaitis to replace Jim Ross in talent relations, which caused a lot of discontent among the talent. Laurinaitis had a reputation for lying and betraying others during negotiations since he had Vince’s full support.
Stories like the controversial firings of respected talent or the discovery of new female performers in modeling magazines have presented Laurinaitis in the worst light. WWE recently placed him in a top producer role ahead of the allegations against McMahon included Laurinaitis committing horrible actions Also.
