So it's finally time to talk about something that's been building for a long time rewatching 1999 WWF programming.
Despite how awesome the actual reveal is, Vince McMahon as the Higher Power is a completely bonkers and literally the worst possible choice. This is the most Russoriffic thing to happen in WWF by a long shot.
Let's go into the history of it to see why.
One day in late 1998 Undertaker decides to go full evil. He brings back Paul Bearer and starts kidnapping random superstars and turning them evil. He steals the Acolytes from the Jackal and has them kidnap Dennis Knight and Mabel turning them into Mideon and Viscera. It's also revealed that the Brood have been working for him the entire time. His goal with his evil ministry? To get Vince to sign over the WWF to him and his "Higher Power" and to get Undertaker a Satanic Bride.
At the same time Vince has consolidated his power behind his Corporation. Shamrock, Test, Big Boss Man, Kane, Shane, The Corporate Champion The Rock, and eventually HHH and Chyna, and who can forget the Mean Street Posse? So they are mainly about keeping the belt on the Rock and off of Mankind and Austin. They screw Austin out of the Royal Rumble but mess up at the finish line and let him get the belt at Wrestlemania. Vince is distracted in those last few weeks by Undertaker trying to steal his daughter Stephanie. This distraction leads to Shane taking over the Corporation and kicking Vince out, plus all of his supporters like Shamrock and the Stooges. Eventually it is revealed that Shane is the one behind the abduction attempts and he merges the corporation and the ministry on the pilot episode of Smackdown and helps The Undertaker beat SCSA at Over the Edge 1999, a PPV remembered for something else entirely. Meanwhile other figures like Big Show and Mankind actually do help Stephanie and end up sort of aligned with Vince in a new Union to stop the Corporate Ministry...for all of two weeks as then they reveal the higher power to be Vince all Along. Vince...who helped Austin retain the belt at Backlash. Vince...who kidnapped his own daughter. Vince, who let his henchmen and himself get seriously beat up week in and week out.
Now if the story had stopped with Shane being the higher power, it would have been fine. The ultimate power play. Distract the old man by kidnapping his daughter. Take over his group with this outside one.
Now if the story had been Stephanie or Linda making a power play, that also could have worked. Maybe Steph really did want to be in control and set up a fake kidnapping, playing her brother against her dad. Maybe Linda was the real puppetmaster all along.
Jake the Snake? Sure. Eric Bischoff? Unlikely, but would have worked. Mankind? Maybe! Hogan? Macho Man? Ric Flair? Why not.
Vince...I mean come on. He screwed over himself for months just to...get revenge on Austin? When he could have screwed him weeks ago at Backlash? He pretended to be a good guy only to be a bad guy for no gain?