The WWE run of Jim Cornette featured him contributing both on-screen and behind the scenes. Cornette was viewed as one of the greatest managers and promos in the business when joining the company. Vince McMahon also trusted him to help provide some unique insight behind the scenes as another mind putting together the shows.Cornette has become a polarizing figure in wrestling since then after burning bridges with every major promotion and having various shoot interviews (now a podcast) with controversial takes. The time of Cornette being involved in the business working with promotions has ended, but he is still a major figure. Cornette’s WWE run is part of the reason why he’s so fascinating today.
10 Was Still Promoting SMW When Hired
The ‘90s saw Jim Cornette trying to make Smoky Mountain Wrestling one of the wrestling fixtures with WWE, WCW and ECW. Cornette received a role in WWE while still getting the option to continue promoting hs smaller SMW events.
SMW never reached the level Cornette hoped, but the relationship with WWE helped many careers. Kane, Sunny and D’Lo Brown were some of the names to get WWE opportunities thanks to their work in SMW. Cornette also was the first American promoter to realize the potential of Chris Jericho when bringing him in.
9 Was "American Spokesperson" For Yokozuna
WWE signing Jim Cornette placed him in a few different roles for the promotion, but he was most known for being an all-time great manager in other promotions. Cornette continued that chapter of his legacy with a few noteworthy talents being managed by him.
The biggest role for Cornette as a manager saw him joining Mr. Fuji at the side of Yokozuna. Cornette used the term American spokesperson to describe his role with Yokozuna. The WWE Championship reign of Yokozuna needed someone to cut promos for him, with Cornette thriving there.
8 Had To Apologize For Insulting Kevin Dunn In Front Of Others
Kevin Dunn is known for playing politics backstage in WWE and has been Vince McMahon’s right-hand man for decades due to it. Jim Cornette is one of many former WWE employees to speak negatively about Dunn’s presence in WWE.
One noteworthy interaction between the two came when Cornette mocked Dunn’s buck teeth and threatened to attack him during an argument about The Patriot. Vince McMahon forced Cornette to apologize to Dunn in front of everyone for threatening him in a workplace environment.
7 Struggled With NWA Invasion Faction
WWE had a unique idea when the NWA brand was smaller on its own, but it had some relevance from the success before the WCW transition. Jim Cornette was given the NWA faction attempting to invade WWE since he represented the old school of pro wrestling.
Jeff Jarrett, Dan Severn, Barry Windham and the Rock n Roll Express all represented the NWA with Cornette at their side. The group failed before it had a chance due to WWE portraying them as lower mid-carders. Cornette was viewed as one of the few reasons the audience still took notice of their segments.
6 Controversial Ending With Santino
The end of Jim Cornette’s WWE stint featured his time running Ohio Valley Wrestling. Cornette used his experience to try to run the developmental program for WWE. However, the controversial reputation of Cornette continued to follow him.
Santino Marella breaking character and laughing during a serious segment caused Cornette to snap. WWE wasted no time firing Cornette after the incident of him slapping Santino across the face. Cornette has not worked with the promotion since then, outside of the Hall of Fame appearance and small WWE Network projects.
5 Rivalry With Vince Russo Started On WWE Creative Team
Few personalities in wrestling have had as much hatred between them than Jim Cornette and Vince Russo. Two non-wrestlers having personal issues for years in a world where the wrestlers usually have the heat show how deep the disdain is.
Cornette despised everything Russo brought to the table when joining the creative team. Vince McMahon eventually named Russo the lead creative writer during the Attitude Era, and it caused more tension with Cornette. Both men had the same story in TNA years later unable to work together with Cornette eventually threatening Russo.
4 Was Part Of A Commentary Team With Shane McMahon
A forgotten part of Jim Cornette’s WWE run featured his time at the commentary table. WWE tried to go with a brand-new commentary team of Cornette and Shane McMahon in the early stages of the secondary Sunday Night Heat show.
WWE was trying to get Shane acclimated to the on-air portion of WWE television. Cornette was the choice to partner with him due to his experience and talking ability. Their run didn’t last too long as Shane moved into bigger on-screen storylines.
3 Wanted To Leave Main Roster For OVW Role
Many fans were curious about WWE not using Jim Cornette on air anymore when he started running the Ohio Valley Wrestling developmental. Cornette could have helped new talents of the 2000s as a manager, but this was partially his decision.
The stress and little control of the main roster role led to Cornette wanting to do something else. Cornette becoming the lead booker and part-owner of OWV helped the likes of Batista, John Cena and Randy Orton in their early careers before they were called up.
2 Insulted WWE Talent During Unscripted Shoot Promos
Jim Cornette’s shoot interviews and podcast show his reputation of not having a filter with many fans enjoying his rants. This started decades ago during the early battle of the Monday Night Wars when WWE wanted to do something outside of the box to compete with WCW.
Various segments featured Cornette ranting about things that upset him in the wrestling business. Most insults were thrown at WCW for their aging roster and generally embarrassing PPV main events. However, Cornette held nothing back and insulted WWE on their own show, including calling out Shawn Michaels’ backstage behavior when he was the top star.
1 Managed Underrated Top Heel Faction Of New Generation Era
Few fans ever discuss Camp Cornette when talking about WWE’s most successful factions. Camp Cornette will never be argued above D-Generation X, the Hart Foundation and The Shield historically, but they deserve more recognition.
Jim Cornette managed heels Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, Vader, Yokozuna and a few other heels in the mid-90s. Most of those names had noteworthy title shots on PPV against Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels and Diesel. Cornette’s managing skills essentially gave WWE heels for main event matches when they badly needed challengers.