Jim Cornette, a wrestling personality, recently criticized Vince McMahon’s decision to feature a top SmackDown star on the final RAW episode of May. Cornette shared his thoughts on the May 29 episode on his show, “Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru.” He focused on McMahon’s choice to include AJ Styles in the RAW events despite Styles being a SmackDown star.
Appearance of AJ Styles on RAW
AJ Styles appeared on the RAW after Night of Champions 2023, coming out to congratulate Seth Rollins on his world heavyweight championship win. Styles then competed in the main event alongside Rollins against The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor and Damian Priest. Cornette believes that featuring Styles in a RAW match not only devalued the WWE Draft that took place weeks earlier but also highlighted McMahon’s inconsistency in adhering to the draft rules.
Cornette on Vince McMahon’s Involvement
Jim Cornette discussed Vince McMahon’s involvement in putting AJ Styles on RAW, stating that it was reportedly McMahon who made the decision. Cornette said, “So Vince called him and said ‘Put AJ on the show!’ and blew up their draft in two weeks.” This move sparked controversy and backlash among fans and industry professionals alike.
Cornette’s Relationship with McMahon
Jim Cornette’s relationship with Vince McMahon has been a complicated one. WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross mentioned on the “Grilling JR” podcast that Cornette had a contentious relationship with McMahon but respected him for creating an environment where people like Cornette and Ross could make a living working in pro wrestling. Despite their differences, Cornette’s appearance in the WWE Hall of Fame a few years ago indicates that these issues could sometimes be put aside for the sake of professionalism.
