Classic WWE Attitude Era Promo Made Vince McMahon Cry When He First Saw It

WWE has long since moved on from the famed Attitude Era. That doesn’t mean fans don’t have very fond memories of the most successful period in American pro wrestling history. Anyone who watched Monday Night Raw at the time remembers those emotional promo videos featuring the company’s legends passing the torch to superstars like Steve Austin, Mick Foley, and The Undertaker.

Former WWE creative director of on-air promotions David Sahadi was behind those beloved promos. When he first came up with the idea, Vince McMahon didn’t understand it. Once he finally saw the finished product, McMahon was left in tears.

David Sahadi recently appeared on Talk N Shop with Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson. On the show, he talked about just how nervous he was that McMahon wouldn’t like his vision. Vince ended up being moved to tears instead.

“Kevin Dunn calls me, I’m doing the shoot in Albany, and he goes, ‘Vince called and can’t understand why you’re shooting these old guys.’ He didn’t understand it was a passing of the torch spot. He goes, ‘It better be f*cking good because he’s very upset.’ I’m like, ‘Trust me, he’s going to love it.’

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A week later when the spot was done, we called him into the audio room to listen on the big screen and play it out loud. 15 seconds in, it’s him, Shane (McMahon) and I think Pat Patterson, 15 seconds in [Vince] is like, ‘Oh God. Oh God. Jesus. Oh God.’ He walked out before the tag page even came up. I turn to Shane and said, ‘He hates it, doesn’t he?’ He goes, ‘No, you got him.’ I swear to you on my life, I walked outside this studio and Vince is sitting on the ground in tears, just drenched with tears and he’s saying, ‘Thank you so much.’ I walk up to tell Kevin Dunn that and Kevin does, ‘You did a good job. I can’t wait to see the spot.’

Twenty minutes later, I walk back to the studio and Vince is in the stairwell, sitting down with Pat Patterson and Shane and he’s still crying, saying, ‘Thank you, thank you so much.’ I think one reason why is effected Vince so much is that he saw it wasn’t just a passing of the torch from one wrestling generation to another, but also the legacy of his dad to him. I think he felt on a visceral and personal level. To make Vince McMahon cry, it’s one of my top spots of all time even though I’ve done far more creative thing, but there is emotion in that spot and it’s all about emotion.”

These spots are among the most well-remembered of the Attitude Era. Vince McMahon being moved to tears is a rare feat indeed. David Sahadi’s vision for the passing of the torch did just that.

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H/T Fightful