Vince McMahon’s name hasn’t been part of WWE programming in a long time, but that didn’t stop fans from making noise when he was mentioned during the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.
Stephanie McMahon was inducted during the 2026 Hall of Fame event in Las Vegas and became the first inductee to walk out and accept her honor. As she went through her list of thank-yous, the moment took an unexpected turn when she acknowledged her father.
When Stephanie mentioned Vince McMahon during her speech, the crowd inside the venue responded loudly. Fans could be heard cheering, and once she finished thanking him directly, chants of “Thank you, Vince!” broke out across the building.
That reaction stood out, especially considering Vince McMahon has been largely absent from WWE since his forced retirement and the legal issues tied to Janel Grant’s lawsuit. His likeness has also been removed from various parts of WWE programming in recent years, making the strong crowd response even more noticeable.
Stephanie wasn’t alone for the moment either. Linda McMahon was present during the induction, along with Triple H and Stephanie’s three daughters, who were there to support her as she received the honor. The family-heavy moment added another layer to the situation as Vince’s name echoed through the venue despite his ongoing absence from WWE.
The crowd chanting his name during such a major WWE event definitely raised eyebrows, especially since the company has kept distance from Vince publicly. Whether that moment means anything long-term remains to be seen, but hearing fans chant for him again inside a WWE setting was something few expected.
Did you expect fans to chant for Vince McMahon during Stephanie McMahon’s Hall of Fame moment, or did that reaction catch you off guard? Let us know what you think.