The Attitude Era of WWE was a time of rebellion and revolution, a time where the boundaries of respectability were pushed and sometimes completely shattered. It was an era where provocative storylines, edgy characters, and jaw-dropping moments were the norm. However, amidst all the chaos and controversy, there were some moments that stood out as particularly disrespectful.
It was also an era of many disrespectful moments. With factions like D-Generation X and stars like Steve Austin and The Rock, the era saw some of the biggest "putdowns" in the history of wrestling. This list will examine the 10 most disrespectful moments of the WWE's Attitude Era.
10 Everything Stone Cold Did To Vince McMahon
During the Attitude Era, Steve Austin's rebellious persona and in-ring antics often put him at odds with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. Austin's brazen behavior was characterized by a series of disrespectful actions, including giving McMahon the middle finger, attacking him with a bedpan, and even pouring cement into his Corvette.
These displays of defiance were indicative of Austin's unpredictable nature, which made him a beloved and controversial figure in the wrestling world. While some fans viewed Austin's actions as heroic, others saw them as a sign of disrespect towards authority. Regardless, his actions certainly added a burst of excitement to the WWE product, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
9 DX's Nation Segments
D-Generation X's Nation of Domination segment was highly disrespectful on many levels. Imitation is not always the best form of flattery and this segment proves that as fact. The promo, which aired in 1998, featured DX mocking the Nation in Blackface.
Although there are few things more upsetting than mocking in Blackface, the whole segment saw DX belittle the Nation as a faction. Owen Hart was made to look especially bad.
8 Gillberg
In the midst of the fierce Monday Night Wars, WWE and WCW spared no expense to ridicule each other's star attractions. WWE created Gillberg, a pint-sized version of WCW's hottest act Bill Goldberg. Gillberg, played by jobber Duane Gill, was the opposite of Goldberg in every way, losing all the time and coming out with sparklers. While the gimmick was initially amusing, it was overused to the point where fans wanted to see the real Goldberg instead. It was also very disrespectful to WCW and Goldberg, which was the purpose.
7 The Godfather's Ho Train
The Godfather, known for his colorful waistcoats and feathered hat, gained popularity in the Attitude Era for his entourage of beautiful women, affectionately called "hoes." One of his signature moves, the "Ho Train," was named after them. The Godfather revealed in an interview that it was Vince McMahon who came up with the idea to make the move more memorable.
The Ho Train led The Godfather to success as a WWE Intercontinental Champion and induction into the Hall of Fame. It was also extremely offensive to the women in his corner.
6 Cornette Mocks Michaels
In 1997, during a Christmas episode of Raw in Lowell, MA, D-Generation X donned bathrobes and flaunted their scantily clad bodies. Meanwhile, on commentary, Jim Cornette slyly quipped that Shawn Michaels cries every time he comes to town, referencing the wrestler's infamous "lost his smile" episode in the city from earlier that year.
The disrespect happened during a segment where Sgt. Slaughter made Triple H and Shawn Michaels wrestle for the European Championship, with Michaels feigning tears. It was a big low blow to Michaels who probably didn't even hear the sly line.
5 Vince McMahon Makes Trish Stratus Bark
When it comes to lists of the worst moments of Monday Night Raw, it may be the single most infamous moment. Then-rookie Trish Stratus was made to strip down to her bra and underwear in front of the arena and the rest of the world by the nasty, inebriated, and powerful Vince McMahon. She then was forced to bark like a dog. All because the Chairman had gotten bored of having her as his plaything and was only using her as a toy. It was painfully disrespectful to Trish and the audience.
4 The Montreal Screwjob
If Bret Hart would have dropped the WWE Championship to Shawn Michaels in the storyline, this moment would have been the end of an era, where The Hitman took his talents to WCW. Instead, the moment ended up being THE disrespectful moment that launched the Attitude Era.
Bret Hart was still a fan favorite at the time and it was very disrespectful to his on-screen character to have the belt taken from him without an official loss. It was also the first of many disrespectful moments for Mr. McMahon.
3 Triple H Ruins Stephanie's Wedding
Disrupting a wedding is sometimes seen as "romantic" on television. The Stephanie McMahon/Test wedding did not end in a romantic interruption. On the brink of tying the knot with Test, Stephanie was ambushed by none other than Triple H himself, who orchestrated a scheme involving the slipping of a substance into her beverage, a clandestine journey to a chapel in the City of Sin, and a forced marriage.
And yet, as if the situation was not already fraught with scandal, Triple H saw fit to imply that he had taken advantage of the inebriated McMahon as well. In story, it was disrespectful to Test and, arguably the most disrespectful Stephanie McMahon ever suffered on television.
2 Vince McMahon And Trish Stratus Mock "Sick" Linda
Due to the repugnant nature of the "bark like a dog" scene, it's easy to overlook its integration into a larger storyline. Equally as bizarre (and cringe-inducing) was the duo's visit to a catatonic Linda McMahon. Following the Chairman's spiteful proclamation of "I want a divorce!", Linda required institutionalization.
In an attempt at generosity, Vince paid a visit to his soon-to-be ex-wife, accompanied by his paramour, Trish. If that wasn't sufficiently appalling, the two engaged in public displays of affection directly in front of her was as disrespectful as anything during the era.
1 Al Snow's Dog
The Undertaker's hanging of The Big Bossman appeared to have caused a significant transformation in him. He proceeded to engage in a series of deplorable actions for the rest of the year, including being part of two of the worst cell matches in WWE history. One of his heinous acts involved kidnapping Al Snow's beloved dog, Pepper.
In exchange for the dog's return, Bossman demanded that Al meet him at a hotel. After sharing a meal with Snow, Bossman revealed that he had killed, cooked, and fed Pepper to Snow. It was one of the most disrespectful moments in the history of the WWE and Raw.