Jim Ross and JBL discuss Vince McMahon’s wrestling booking decisions

Former wrestling commentator Jim Ross and analyst JBL have shared insights regarding Vince McMahon’s booking decisions and character turns during his tenure in the professional wrestling industry.

Jim Ross recalled his 1996 heel turn in the WWF, noting that while the backstage locker room enjoyed his promos targeting McMahon, he personally doubted the creative direction. Ross expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of the angle involving replacement characters for Razor Ramon and Diesel, stating his instincts suggested fans would not accept the substitutes.

JBL commented on why Vince McMahon resisted turning John Cena into a heel character. According to JBL, McMahon learned from the commercial impact of Steve Austin’s heel turn in 2001 and sought to avoid similar risks with Cena. JBL also noted that McMahon believed he could successfully develop WCW talent into stars, a strategy JBL suggests was a mistake.