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Jim Cornette shares insights on Vince McMahon's evaluation style

Jim Cornette discusses the ruthless talent evaluations during his time in WWE.

June 25, 2025 at 02:19 PM
blur ‘Cold As Ice’ Jim Cornette Talks About How Ruthless Vince McMahon Was About Evaluating WWE Talent

Jim Cornette shares his insights on Vince McMahon's blunt evaluation style in WWE.

Jim Cornette reveals Vince McMahon's cold approach to talent evaluations

In a recent podcast episode, Jim Cornette recounted his years working with Vince McMahon, detailing the ruthless nature of talent evaluations in WWE. Cornette dug up old notes from 1997, showing his candid assessments of wrestlers like Sable, demonstrating how McMahon valued honest feedback. Cornette stated, "Vince wouldn't have been upset if I’d have written about his own family as the shits on TV." He emphasized McMahon's detached approach to evaluations. Despite being critical of some rising stars, Cornette also endorsed talents like Billy Gunn and Road Dogg, noting McMahon's willingness to act on solid recommendations. This reflected McMahon's focus on refining the wrestling product and his readiness to move on from performers who didn't meet expectations.

Key Takeaways

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Vince McMahon preferred blunt honesty in talent evaluations.
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Cornette's evaluations from 1997 show a fierce approach to criticism.
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McMahon was willing to fire even family if performance did not meet standards.
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Success in WWE was about refining talent and creative experimentation.

"Vince wouldn’t have been upset if I’d have written about his own family as the shits on TV."

This highlights McMahon's emphasis on honest feedback from his staff.

"With Vince McMahon, you could say any goddamn thing."

Cornette stresses the blunt nature of performance evaluations under McMahon.

"He was as cold as ice about that stuff."

Cornette emphasizes McMahon's dispassionate approach to talent evaluations.

Cornette's revelations highlight a striking facet of WWE's operations under McMahon. The expectation of brutal honesty in talent assessments illustrates a meritocratic approach, albeit one that could feel harsh to some. McMahon's indifference to personal feelings shows a commitment to performance over sentimentality, impacting how talent is developed in the industry. The ability to pivot quickly if something isn’t working has allowed WWE to adapt to audience preferences, but it also raises tough questions about job security and the pressure on performers to deliver constantly. The wrestling world will likely continue to navigate this complex dynamic between creativity and competitiveness.

Highlights

  • Vince valued honesty over soft feelings in talent assessments.
  • An effective evaluation could lead to a fresh start for the talent.
  • McMahon was cold as ice about performance standards.
  • Success was about tinkering and experimenting with talent.

Risk of backlash over talent evaluations

The brutal honesty required in talent evaluations could spark criticism about the treatment of performers in the industry.

Cornette's insights remind us of the high stakes and harsh realities of professional wrestling.

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