5 big WWE storylines that backfired

#3 The greater power - 1999

Vince McMahon was revealed to be the greater power

The biggest WWE storyline in the spring of 1999 revolved around the Undertaker's ministry of darkness. The ministry was a satanic cult group that performed sacrifices and rituals during episodes of Raw and on pay-per-views. The ministry would kidnap talent and this included Stephanie McMahon, who the Undertaker tried to make his unholy bride on an episode of Raw.

The group would go on to be known as the corporate ministry after Shane McMahon joined. A big subplot to the storyline was who Undertaker's greater power was, on the big reveal episode of Raw on June 14th, 1999, a mystery man stood in the ring covered in a cloak. It was Vince McMahon underneath, he then screamed down the camera "it was me Austin, it was me all along" which is now one of the most iconic lines in WWE history.

Whilst this moment is memorable, it killed the storyline and the corporate ministry. It simply did not make sense for Vince McMahon to be the greater power given what had happened to his daughter Stephanie. The moment was also overshadowed by Steve Austin being announced as the new 50% CEO of the WWE.

The corporate ministry would disband shortly after, it was clear that McMahon taking control of the group diluted Undertaker's power and the main focus became McMahon vs Austin again.

The greater power had the potential to be one of the most intriguing storylines in WWE, but McMahon's involvement and the shift in a direction completely killed its momentum.