So, I have a confession: I’ve been a pro wrestling fan since I was three. Wrestling has been a constant in my life, from making the trek from my small Arkansas hometown to Dallas to watch Kerry Von Erich in his first title defense against Ric Flair to attending WrestleMania 24 and witnessing Flair’s retirement match in person. While I generally prefer the technical masterclasses put on by stars like Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada in New Japan Pro Wrestling, WrestleMania weekend is still a tradition in my household, and the Royal Rumble remains a must-watch event every year.
Over the years, my passion for wrestling has evolved into something more reflective, especially when I look back on the WWF (now WWE) programming I grew up with. Specifically, the “Attitude Era” of the mid-90s to early 2000s was a period of unprecedented popularity for wrestling, but it was also one marked by storylines that make me cringe today. It wasn’t just juvenile humor or over-the-top theatrics but something darker. The degradation of women, rampant bullying, and shock-value storylines pushed the boundaries of decency in ways that are impossible to defend. And yet, it’s in this era that Linda McMahon—who held a key leadership role in WWE— cemented her influence.
Linda McMahon wasn’t just the wife of WWE’s flamboyant chairman, Vince McMahon. She was WWE’s CEO for decades, overseeing its business operations during some of its most profitable and morally bankrupt eras. While Linda might want the public to view her as a no-nonsense executive who built a billion-dollar company, wrestling fans know the truth. The company she helped lead thrived on a culture of exploitation, misogyny, and cruelty. While Vince often gets the brunt of criticism, Linda played a central role in enabling it.
WWE’s Darkest Moments
To understand why Linda McMahon’s nomination to lead the Department of Education is so concerning, we need to examine the WWE’s history under her leadership. Apart from her short stint on a state board of education, she has no educational experience.
The Trish Stratus Storyline
One of WWE’s most infamous and degrading storylines involved Trish Stratus, (real name, Patricia Stratigias), a trailblazing women’s wrestler and seven-time champion. In 2001, during an on-screen feud between Vince McMahon and his children, Vince forced Trish to strip down to her underwear, crawl on her hands and knees, and bark like a dog in the ring while he berated her. To make matters worse, the storyline included a quasi-affair between Vince and Trish, with Vince flaunting their relationship before his on-screen wife, Linda McMahon, who was written into the storyline as sedated and confined to a wheelchair.
Linda McMahon wasn’t just WWE’s CEO at the time—she was directly involved in this storyline. The angle peaked at WrestleMania 17, when Linda, breaking free from her “catatonic” state, stood up and slapped Vince in a moment scripted to appear empowering. But no amount of theatrics could erase the degrading treatment of Trish, who had spent weeks being humiliated on live television, reduced to a prop in Vince’s on-screen power trip.
This storyline sent a clear message. WWE leadership, including Linda, was more than willing to exploit its women performers for shock value and entertainment. Millions of viewers witnessed this humiliation unfold, cementing the company’s reputation for valuing spectacle over respect.
The Katie Vick Storyline
In 2002, WWE aired one of the most disturbing storylines in wrestling history. Triple H (Paul Levesque, currently WWE’s Chief Content Officer) accused Kane (Glenn Jacobs, now the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee) of being responsible for the death of a woman named Katie Vick. The storyline reached its low point when Triple H acted out a skit where he pretended to commit necrophilia with a mannequin in a casket, broadcast for millions to see. It wasn’t just tasteless—it was revolting.
As CEO at the time, Linda McMahon could have stepped in to stop this before it aired. She didn’t, and there was no apology or acknowledgment of the harm done.
Lita, Kane, and a Forced Marriage
Between 2004 and 2005, WWE ran a storyline involving Amy Dumas, known in the ring as Lita, one of the company’s most popular performers. In the plot, Lita becomes pregnant after being sexually assaulted by Kane. Kane defeated Matt Hardy (Lita’s real-life boyfriend at the time) in a match that forced Lita to marry him. This storyline then escalated into a miscarriage angle, where Gene Snitsky caused the loss of Lita’s baby, famously declaring, “It wasn’t my fault!”
Around this time, WWE blurred fiction and reality by incorporating Lita’s real-life affair with Adam Copeland (current All-Elite Wrestling star Edge) into the storyline. This led to extraordinary personal harassment from fans, and at the same time, WWE cashed in on the chaos.
Jim Ross and Bell’s Palsy
Legendary commentator Jim Ross (known as “JR”) was mocked repeatedly on WWE programming for his Bell’s Palsy, a medical condition causing facial paralysis. Vince McMahon himself performed a grotesque parody of Ross undergoing surgery, turning the announcer’s real-life struggles into a joke. This wasn’t a one-off incident—it was part of a recurring pattern of cruelty that permeated WWE’s culture.
Vince McMahon, Sexual Misconduct, and Trafficking Allegations
In recent years, Vince McMahon has faced mounting allegations of sexual misconduct. A federal lawsuit now accuses him of involvement in sex trafficking, citing years of abuse and hush money payments to silence victims. The details are horrifying, with real life somewhat mirroring WWE storylines and plots that Vince also orchestrated, and they point to a deeply ingrained culture of exploitation within WWE.
Which begs the question: What did Linda McMahon, WWE’s longtime CEO, know about all this? Vince’s alleged misconduct didn’t happen in a vacuum. As the leader of WWE’s operations, Linda was either complicit or willfully ignorant. Either way, it doesn’t inspire confidence in her judgment or her ability to lead with integrity.
A Change in Leadership, A Change in Culture
It’s worth noting that some progress has been made in WWE’s culture since Vince and Linda McMahon stepped away from the reins. Under the leadership of Paul Levesque and Stephanie McMahon, the company has taken significant strides toward elevating its female performers and abandoning the exploitative practices of the past. Gone are the days of bra and panties matches, and women are no longer relegated to being props in degrading storylines.
Today, women are treated as main event performers, headlining the company’s biggest shows on an equal level with the men. This cultural shift was best exemplified at WrestleMania 37 when Bianca Belair (Bianca Crawford) and Sasha Banks (Mercedes Varnado) headlined in a historic match and one of the best I’ve ever seen. Their match wasn’t treated as a novelty or token gesture—it was billed and celebrated as the marquee event it deserved to be.
The shift proves a vital point: WWE didn’t have to be the way it was under Linda McMahon’s leadership. The toxic culture that degraded women and exploited performers wasn’t inevitable. It was a choice—a series of decisions made by those in charge. While the current leadership deserves credit for undoing much of that harm, it’s impossible to ignore the damage done during Linda’s tenure or to excuse her for allowing it to happen on her watch.
Why This Matters for Education
Education is about creating safe, inclusive environments where children can thrive. It’s about teaching values like respect, empathy, and critical thinking. As a public education advocate, I can’t help but wonder how LindaMcMahon’s leadership of WWE aligns with the values we expect from someone in charge of America’s schools.
WWE’s culture under Linda McMahon was the antithesis of what we need in education. The company normalized bullying, degraded women, and prioritized profit over people. If Linda McMahon failed to create a safe and respectful culture in her company, how can we trust her to advocate for students, teachers, and schools?
Wrestling Fans and Accountability
As a lifelong wrestling fan, I’ve learned to separate my love of the spectacle from my criticism of its flaws.However, when someone like Linda McMahon steps into the public arena and asks for our trust, we have to hold her accountable for the choices she made as a leader.
Wrestling fans know the truth about WWE’s history. We know that Linda McMahon’s legacy is deeply tied to the company’s most shameful moments. Public service requires integrity, accountability, and a commitment to the greater good. Linda McMahon’s record suggests she falls far short of those standards.
Leadership matters in the ring or the classroom, and so do the values behind it.
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Note: All of the above anecdotes can be found on YouTube. Due to their offensive nature, we chose not to link them in the above.
You can let your Senators know that Linda McMahon should not be confirmed by sending an email here.
Rob Rogers is a political strategist, public education advocate, and lifelong wrestling fan. He serves on the board of Advocates for Public Education Policy, a Colorado-based nonprofit dedicated to advancing equity in education. In a few weeks, you’ll find him anxiously watching the countdown clock during the Royal Rumble.
