Joe Gacy recounts Vince McMahon's reaction to controversial NXT promo

Former WWE wrestler Joe Gacy has shared details regarding a stressful period during the NXT 2.0 era involving a controversial promotional segment. In a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, Gacy recounted his experience following a September 2021 promo that utilized terms such as “safe space,” “microaggressions,” and “male privilege.”

The segment drew external media attention, including a headline from Fox News. Gacy stated that Vince McMahon was initially upset by the media coverage and that Shawn Michaels informed him he would be temporarily removed from television.

However, Gacy explained that McMahon's stance changed after he watched the actual footage of the promo. Following this change of heart, Gacy was tasked with performing a new, lengthy three-page scripted promo on short notice. Gacy described the experience as the most stressful time of his career.