During his time running WWE Vince McMahon earned a reputation for wanting things done a very specific way, and nowhere was that clearer than at the commentary desk.
For decades current and former WWE announcers have spoken of being screamed at by the now former Chairman who demanded that they used certain verbiage, promoted certain stars and performed their role exactly as he asked.
However, this fearsome reputation also led to one wrestler turning down the chance to work as an announcer.
Diamond Dallas Page Knew Vince McMahon Would “Really Scream” At Him
WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page was forced to call time on his in-ring career in 2002 due to a serious injury. However, before he left the company he was offered the chance to become a commentator as a number of former wrestlers had done before him.
Appearing on Busted Open Radio Page explained that he did a trial that went well, and led to producer Kevin Dunn tipping him to commentate on SmackDown.
“When I left [in 2002], I was so burnt out, Kevin Dunn asked me to go and do a test to be an announcer … They wanted me to do a spot, so I did it. I went up there [to WWE HQ in Stamford, CT] and I did it. Kevin called me back, he goes, ‘I love it. We’re gonna start you, not with SmackDown, we’re gonna start you with the satellite for the first month or two. You get your feet wet, you’ll be on SmackDown. In no time, you’re gonna be on Raw.”
Page explained that he turned down the offer as he knew Vince McMahon would “really scream” at him, this was despite Dunn insisting that he could become “the next Jesse Ventura.”
It would be almost ten years before Page worked with WWE again, while the star was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017.
H/t to Wrestling Inc