Vince McMahon changed WWE finish seconds before match began, legend recalls (Exclusive)
Vince McMahon was in charge of WWE's creative direction for four decades before being replaced by his son-in-law Triple H in 2022. Harvey Wippleman, a WWE on-screen personality in the 1990s, recently recalled how his former boss changed a match finish at short notice.
In 1994, Wippleman faced legendary ring announcer Howard Finkel in several Tuxedo matches at WWE Live events. They also battled it out in the same match type on the January 9, 1995, episode of RAW, with Finkel securing the win.
Wippleman told Sportskeeda Wrestling Senior Editor Bill Apter that Vince McMahon once told Finkel he would win one of the matches. However, he changed his mind at the last minute and told Wippleman he was winning instead.
"Vince tells Howard, 'Okay, you'll be going over. You're gonna be beating Harvey tonight,'" Wippleman said. "Then they play Hulk Hogan's music or whatever. Howard goes to the ring all fired up. Then Vince goes, 'I changed my mind. You're going over. Don't tell Howard.' I said, 'Oh my God!'" [7:40 – 7:57]
Watch the video above to hear Wippleman provide an update on Jerry Lawler's health as the WWE Hall of Famer recovers from a stroke.
How the match ended after Vince McMahon's late instruction
Unaware he was supposed to lose, Howard Finkel kept fighting back and refused to stay down whenever Harvey Wippleman hit him.
Wippleman had the difficult task of forcing Finkel to lose without informing his opponent how the match should end:
"Finally, I stomped him on the head, not hard like to hurt him but where he'd have to sell, right? I went down like I was gonna choke him and said, 'Stay down,' and he did and I beat him. I didn't tell him what Vince said. Vince said, 'Don't tell Howard.' I just said, 'Just stay down.' But what a rib. You know Vince and [McMahon's former right-hand man] Pat [Patterson] were both back there laughing their butt off." [8:08 – 8:30]
Wippleman, also known as Downtown Bruno, managed superstars including Giant Gonzalez, Kamala, and Sid Justice. The 58-year-old still works for WWE as an ambassador.
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