WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long recently opened up on the “Road Trip After Hours” podcast about a memorable on-air moment when he forgot to say a Vince McMahon-approved key word during a live promo, sparking fear he’d face the wrath of WWE’s chairman. The word in question? “Episodic.”

Long recalled that Vince McMahon had personally penned the promo and stressed the importance of emphasizing the word “episodic,” which was integral to the segment’s message. “He had in this promo, I never will forget this word: episodic. That was the word, episodic,” Long revealed. “And they told me, said, ‘Vince says this is, this is what he really wants you to stress, this episodic’… and I thought I had that down”[1].

However, when the moment to deliver the line arrived during the live broadcast, Teddy experienced a blank-out on the ramp. “Brother, I stepped out on the ramp, and I swear, man, I just went blank. I could not remember episodic to save my life,” he admitted. As his mind went blank, Long’s immediate concern was Vince McMahon’s potential reaction: “All I was thinking about, Vince is going to kill me. That’s all I was thinking about on the ramp”[1].

Contrary to his fears, McMahon’s reaction backstage was not anger but amusement. “I walked back through, and he was standing up, and he was just dying laughing, man,” Teddy shared. “And I apologize. I just couldn’t get it out”[1]. The episode offers a rare glimpse of Vince’s lighter side, given his reputation for serious backstage demeanor, as highlighted in various reported sources and podcasts[2][4].

Teddy Long’s career is full of stories that exemplify his professionalism and humor in the face of high-pressure wrestling environments. As a longtime WWE fixture, including his role as SmackDown General Manager and manager of some of wrestling’s biggest superstars, Long’s anecdotes provide fans with a behind-the-scenes look at WWE operations and Vince McMahon’s involvement in crafting on-air promos[4].

This story not only humanizes WWE’s chairman, often known for his strict backstage reputation, but also exemplifies the unpredictability of live television. WWE insiders told Fightful that such live-moment slip-ups happen more often than fans realize, and Vince’s approval is often critical in shaping how segments play out on-air. Long’s experience underscores the trust Vince places in his talent and the importance of embracing the unexpected during live broadcasts.

In other contexts, Vince McMahon is known for being vocal when things go wrong, as documented in various backstage reports and videos featuring moments of his ire towards talent for on-air mistakes or breaking character[2]. Yet, the “episodic” incident reveals that McMahon can also show good humor about the inevitable human errors that happen in live sports entertainment.

According to sources close to the WWE locker room, Teddy Long remains a beloved figure for his steady presence and ability to handle high-pressure situations with grace and humor. This particular tale from the “Road Trip After Hours” podcast adds to his legacy, showing even veterans can have laughable slip-ups that live on in WWE lore.

Wrestling fans can hear the full story and other fascinating anecdotes from Teddy Long on the “Road Trip After Hours” podcast, where he reflects on years of iconic wrestling moments, his long tenure with WWE, and interactions with wrestlers and executives, including Vince McMahon.

As WWE continues to honor its past stars and legends, stories like this remind audiences of the human element behind the scripted action and highlight the camaraderie among wrestling personalities, even in moments of tension and pressure.

For more WWE news, backstage stories, and exclusive interviews, keep following trusted sources like WWE.com, Fightful, and wrestling podcasts that bring the untold stories from the squared circle.

Sources: WrestlingNews.co[1], Fightful, YouTube[2][4], Road Trip After Hours podcast.