How WWE Tried To Vince-Proof Some Smackdown Plans

Vince McMahon has been making plenty of changes remotely via phone, as well as in person at the June 5 WWE Raw. However, there are some things we’d heard he was particular about – but that didn’t last for long.

Those that we’ve spoken to say that McMahon generally likes to make good on the advertised matches if possible, even if they weren’t his idea. Sometimes there are some exceptions, however, by and large, if it’s advertised, they try to see it through. On Smackdown, there were a plethora of matches advertised on June 9 that those who booked it were hoping to see through.

One source told Fightful that advertising matches on Smackdown one, two and three weeks ahead on the same show could have been an effort to “Vince proof” some plans on Smackdown. However, the main thing we heard he made changes to on the June 5 Raw were match orders, match times and some quick additional segments.

The following Monday, June 19 a world title match, a “pivotal storyline moment” and more were changed for the first 30 minutes of the show, with another match added. The following Friday, several matches were changed on Smackdown at Vince McMahon’s request. Smackdown had not previously experienced heavy changes to the level Raw had for some reason.

Ultimately, we’re told many of the matches that were promoted weeks ahead ended up happening, but we’re not told if there was any reason for that.

There was a ton of frustration around several changes to last week’s Raw and Smackdown episodes at almost every level of WWE.

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