Mark Henry has looked back at the night when a future Hall of Famer was fired by Vince McMahon.
Throughout 1998, the World’s Strongest Man faced off against Vader on TV, PPV and at live events in a battle of the heavyweights. Looking back on his matches with The Mastodon, Henry stated that at times Vader did not make things easy for him and that McMahon noticed.
Appearing on Huge Pop with Donnie DaSilva and Jimmy Korderas, the former World Champion stated that Vader would not help him out when pressed slammed as he did not want to take the move:
Brother, go back and look at me and Vader. Vader was 417 pounds and they listed him at 450. He felt like he was 450. Brother, that was rough. Moving weight. It’s not a barbell. It was awkward.
No. No (Vader was not helping me out when it came to press slamming him). He didn’t wanna do it, God rest his soul, and… I feel bad because he’s not here to defend himself and I would say this even if he was alive, because I know he would understand. But he didn’t want me to press slam him.
Continuing, Henry stated that McMahon warned Vader that if he did not go up for the move the next night he would be fired. Despite the fact that Vader did go up for the move, he was still fired by McMahon, but was brought back later:
So he intentionally dead-assed me, and then Vince (McMahon) told him, ‘We’re gonna do it again tomorrow and if you don’t go up tomorrow, you’re fired,’ and we were in San Diego and I pressed him and then when I put him down, I came to the back, walked through Gorilla, ‘Thank you Mark. Good job. Leon, come here.’ I see him crying.
Vince fired him anyway on the spot. Because he sabotaged the show the day before. He just wanted him to come back the next day and do what he wanted him to do. Don’t mess with the old guy… and the thing is I don’t blame him, but he did hire him back. It was a punishment.
Also in the interview, Mark Henry addressed AEW rumours.
WWE Hall Of Famer Looks Back On Major Angle That Vince McMahon Refused
One Hall of Famer who had a complicated relationship with McMahon was Jesse Ventura, who famously angered the former Chairman when he tried to unionise the wrestlers. During a recent interview, Jesse Ventura detailed an angle that he called “Too big for Vince McMahon.”
In recent news, Mark Henry spoke about his son’s wrestling future.
H/t to Post Wrestling.