4 WWE Superstars Vince McMahon currently likes & 4 he doesn't

The addition of the Executive Director role for RAW and SmackDown hinted at WWE Chairman Vince McMahon taking a backseat in the creative process in WWE. But, that does not seem to be the case as the WWE head honcho is back to running the creative direction of the two brands, RAW and SmackDown.

Perhaps the falling viewership numbers, as well as the demise of XFL, which had a short-lived return, could have forced McMahon to take charge once again. And, with Vince McMahon in control, some Superstars will have more opportunities on RAW and SmackDown, while others may not get a big push.

Some new names have been brought to RAW and SmackDown over the last year or so, while others who did not have a prominent role to play have been given opportunities.

Let's take a look at 4 WWE Superstars Vince McMahon currently likes & 4 he doesn't:

#8 Likes - Matt Riddle

Matt Riddle is the latest Superstar to have been called up from NXT to SmackDown. The Original Bro has quickly become a fan favourite since signing with WWE in 2018. He was moved to SmackDown recently and immediately pushed to face AJ Styles, the current Intercontinental Champion.

Vince McMahon reportedly loves Riddle, including the reason why the former NXT Tag Team Champion doesn't wear shoes in the ring. The WWE Chairman has reportedly likened Riddle to WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, as per a report in WrestlingNews.

"Vince like guys like Shawn who have that rebel mentality and he sees some of Shawn in Matt. Matt can rub some people the wrong way, but he's a good guy, and he will do great when Vince calls him up. I think he's a future world champion. Vince will try to tweak him, but his personality will get him far."

It is evident that McMahon likes Riddle by the immediate push he has got, feuding with a legend like Styles on SmackDown.

#7 Doesn't Like - Shayna Baszler

Former NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler was expected to elevate the women's division when she was called up to WWE RAW earlier this year. Many predicted that she would be the next RAW Women's Champion, taking the title from Becky Lynch, at WrestleMania 36.

But, that did not happen, and even when WWE knew that The Man was set to take time off due to her pregnancy, they made Asuka the Money in the Bank winner, eventually winning the RAW Women's title.

Recent reports have indicated that Vince McMahon is not a fan of Shayna Baszler, who held the NXT Women's title for a whopping 416 days and won it twice - only one of two women to do so, the other being Charlotte.

The WWE Chairman changed his mind about giving Baszler a push as McMahon was not sure about Baszler's MMA style of work in the WWE ring. Shayna Baszler was supposed to be the winner of the Money in the Bank ladder match earlier this year, but those plans were changed by WWE.

#6 Likes - Asuka

Asuka has had quite a year in WWE. From being a hated heel to one that's become a loved babyface thanks to her antics on WWE RAW, and, of course, her great work in the ring. And it seems that Vince McMahon is a fan of the Japanese Superstar, who got her push on the Red brand when Paul Heyman was in charge of the brand.

A report by WrestleTalk recently report that Heyman's sacking will not affect Asuka and that McMahon is a fan:

"Many WWE fans online have been speculating that Vince McMahon may have soured on Asuka and may be planning to treat her as he has done since her main roster call-up once again. However, our sources have told us that WWE higher-ups, including Vince himself, are still high on Asuka and see value in her as a top player in the women’s division, especially in the absence of Becky Lynch."

Asuka has impressed in whatever she has been asked to do, right from commentary, to teaming with Kairi Sane, or feuding with Sasha Banks and Bayley.

#5 Doesn't Like - Ricochet

The highlight of Ricochet's young WWE career came earlier this year when he faced Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at WWE Super ShowDown in February. But, it's all gone downhill since then. After that loss to Lesnar, he lost his very next match, to Riddick Moss, which was quite a surprise.

Ricochet was one of the many Superstars that benefitted from a Paul Heyman push, but Vince McMahon doesn't seem to be a fan of the former United States Champion.

Here's what Dave Meltzer said was Vince McMahon's opinion on Ricochet:

"Ricochet is done. Yeah. It's Vince! You know, he may change his mind next week, but yeah, this week he's done. He's so done. This was a burial, without a doubt, like who knows, he gets these things in his head. With Cedric Alexander, he was supposed to get a big push and Vince just buried the guy, and now he's burying another guy."

Ricochet hasn't recovered from that yet, and is now a mid-card Superstar, teaming up with Cedric Alexander on RAW.

#4 Likes - Angel Garza

One Superstar who may have, in a way, taken Ricochet's place on WWE RAW is Angel Garza, who has featured prominently on RAW. Garza, who has been paired with Andrade over the last few months, even teamed with Randy Orton recently on RAW.

WWE Chairman, Vince McMahon, is reportedly a big fan of Garza, who was called up to RAW in February this year. The WWE Chairman sees a little bit of WWE Hall of Famer Eddie Guerrero in Angel Garza, according to reports from TalkSport:

"Angel Garza is the latest star to become a favourite of the WWE chairman and sources tell talkSPORT McMahon has even referred to him as ‘a young Eddie Guerrero’."

#3 Doesn't Like - Cedric Alexander

Another Superstar on RAW who has got the Ricochet treatment is Cedric Alexander. Pushed by Paul Heyman, Vince McMahon did not give Alexander a push, as per reports earlier this year.

And it seems that Alexander may not be happy about it, as he took a shot at McMahon on Twitter, while Alexander's wife, AEW wrestler Big Swole, also complained about Alexander's match on WWE.

#2 Likes - Otis

Two WWE Superstars who have won fans over, as well as Vince McMahon, by the looks of things, is Otis and Mandy Rose. The duo, who were a part of a romantic storyline, as Otis won over Rose, with the two kissing at WrestleMania 36.

And Otis, surprisingly, also went on to win the men's Money in the Bank ladder match. Earlier this year, there was a report that said "most of the Otis stuff is from Vince McMahon" as the WWE Chairman reportedly likes the character. Another more recent report confirmed it, with Otis reportedly a "total Vince McMahon project" and that both Otis and his Heavy Machinery tag team partner, Tucker, are favourites backstage.

#1 Doesn't Like - Lacey Evans

Lacey Evans debuted on RAW over a year ago, moving from NXT in early 2019. She quickly got into a feud with then RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch, and things were looking up for her, and she was also part of the historic first-ever women's match in Saudi Arabia.

But, she hasn't had the same kind of momentum that she had in 2019, this year. And Vince McMahon may not be pushing her anytime soon, with a recent report claiming that the WWE Chairman was "high on her" last year, but not now.

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