5 Best Vince McMahon backstage reactions: Reunion with WWE star after 22 years, what happened when he met Braun Strowman

While WWE fans have more of a voice now than ever before, Vince McMahon’s opinion is still the one that matters the most.

If the WWE Chairman likes a certain superstar’s match or segment, there is a good chance they will receive more opportunities on television. Similarly, if McMahon dislikes something that happens on his own programming, it is safe to assume there will be repercussions.

The number of out-of-character interviews with current and former WWE stars has increased drastically in recent years. As a result, real-life stories regularly emerge about high-profile WWE names, including Vince McMahon.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five of McMahon’s best backstage reactions in WWE.

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#5 When Vince McMahon found out Braun Strowman was a Rosebud

Before debuting as a Wyatt Family member in 2015, Braun Strowman initially appeared on Vince McMahon’s main roster as one of Adam Rose’s Rosebuds.

Strowman spoke on the Notsam Wrestling podcast in 2019 about his short stint as a Rosebud, which included an incredible reaction from Vince McMahon.

The former Universal Champion recalled how the WWE Chairman swore backstage and demanded that he never perform in the Rosebud role again.

“The only reason Vince McMahon ever knew who I was [and] ever saw me was because I was a Rosebud. That’s how Vince saw me. He goes, ‘Who is that and why the f*** is he doing that?’” Strowman said.

In 2014 and 2015, local wrestlers and Performance Center recruits performed as groupies, aka Rosebuds, who accompanied Adam Rose to the ring for his matches. Several future WWE megastars first appeared on WWE television as Rosebuds, including Alexa Bliss and Becky Lynch.

While some Rosebuds were able to disguise themselves, that was not possible for six-foot-eight Braun Strowman. The towering superstar stood out amongst his fellow Rosebuds, particularly during Rose’s win over Damien Sandow on the May 26, 2014 episode of RAW.

#4 Vince McMahon praised The Miz’s father after WrestleMania 35

In 2019, George Mizanin and Vince McMahon had a pleasant conversation backstage after their sons competed against each other at WrestleMania 35.

Speaking on the Jobbing Out podcast, Mizanin said Vince McMahon praised the role he played in Shane McMahon’s win over The Miz.

WrestleMania 35 featured crowd-pleasing wins for Becky Lynch, Kofi Kingston, and Seth Rollins, but the WWE Chairman apparently enjoyed Mizanin’s performance more than anything.

“Vince McMahon came up to me and said it was his favorite part of the whole of WrestleMania, which is one of the greatest compliments I have ever gotten,” Mizanin said.

One of the most memorable moments from the match came when Shane McMahon tried to put The Miz through the announce desk. As Shane looked set to land an elbow drop, George Mizanin stood in front of the table to prevent the move from happening.

Moments later, Mizanin entered the ring and clenched his fists in a fighting stance, creating a meme-worthy moment in the process. Shane then caught The Miz’s father with a knee strike, breaking one of his ribs, before repeatedly kicking him in the corner of the ring.

#3 Vince McMahon “loved” accidental United States title change

Vince McMahon originally booked Shinsuke Nakamura to retain his United States Championship against R-Truth on the January 29, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown.

Unfortunately, due to a miscommunication between R-Truth and referee Mike Chioda, Truth unexpectedly won the title and went on to hold it for 35 days.

Chioda told WSI’s James Romero that he expected Vince McMahon to react furiously backstage. However, although the finish did not go according to plan, McMahon “loved” the impromptu title change.

“Vince loved it. R-Truth tells me the wrong f***ing finish. ‘You said you were only getting schoolboyed once!’ And he was like, ‘Oh, my bad, dawg, I’m sorry, man.’ He had the US title or something, 24-hour title… US title, I think. So it was kind of funny. I thought I was gonna get a bunch of heat coming back and Vince was like, ‘That was phenomenal, I loved it!’ I’m like, ‘What? Okay, great,’” Chioda said.

R-Truth, who has a good relationship with Vince McMahon in real life, immediately defended the United States Championship against Rusev. In the weeks that followed, Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura formed an alliance, while R-Truth hardly appeared on television before losing the title to Samoa Joe.

#2 Vince McMahon laughed hysterically at Xavier Woods playing the trombone

As WWE’s top decision-maker, Vince McMahon knows almost everything that is going to happen on his shows before they begin. One exception, however, came in 2015 when Xavier Woods played the trombone at ringside during a New Day match.

In 2020, Woods said on The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling podcast that a cameraman spoke to him during a commercial break. According to the cameraman, Vince McMahon was “screaming laughing” backstage and wanted Woods to keep playing the instrument.

“He said, ‘Vince is dying laughing in the back, he loves the trombone, keep playing it.’ Vince had tears in his eyes and he was screaming laughing, he loved it that much. When we got to the back he said, ‘Forever, forever, you will always be bringing out the trombone to the ring with you,’” Woods said.

Woods explained that he took the trombone (aka Francesca) to the ring because he did not know if he would ever get the opportunity again.

The New Day member decided to play the instrument during the match in an attempt to make Big E and Kofi Kingston laugh. As it turned out, his musical skills made Vince McMahon laugh more than anyone.

#1 Vince McMahon “freaked” after seeing Jameson for the first time in 22 years

Vince McMahon hired comedian John DiGiacomo to play a WWE personality in the late 1980s and early 1990s. DiGiacomo, known to WWE fans as Jameson, managed The Bushwhackers and appeared on The Bobby Heenan Show.

Speaking to Pro Wrestling Defined’s Jonathan O’Dwyer in 2021, DiGiacomo revealed that his son appeared on WWE television at Extreme Rules 2014.

While backstage at the pay-per-view, the former WWE comedy character bumped into Vince McMahon for the first time in 22 years. The WWE Chairman “freaked” and gave him a big hug after realizing who he was talking to.

“Vince looks up at me from being down on one knee. He says, ‘You must be the father?’ I said, ‘Yeah, Vince, you recognize me?’ He’s like, ‘Ah yeah, you look so familiar.’ So I made the Jameson face, like this [cross-eyed], and he freaked. Big hug, lifted me off the ground, ‘Oh my God!’ Telling me, ‘I’ve gotta take you around. There’s still people here in TV from when you were here. They’d love to see you. Oh my God!’” DiGiacomo said.

DiGiacomo’s son played the role of the demonic child who helped Bray Wyatt defeat John Cena in a steel cage match. The appearance was set up by an agent, according to DiGiacomo, and not through his WWE connections.