Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.
This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Callum Wiggins discuss Vince McMahon and his recent legal issues.
Following allegations Vince McMahon paid a former female staff member $3,000,000 in hush money, is there any way back for The Chairman?
Question 1: Has Vince McMahon irreparably tarnished his legacy with the recent allegations that surround him?
ALLSOPP: This is a hard question to answer, as Vince McMahon will always be deified by a large portion of the fan base. He essentially created Sports Entertainment, which means to some, he gets a free pass. But allegations like this have been prevalent and known for years, such as Nailz and Sable accusing him of sexual assault and harassment. He survived those, and I’m afraid to say his legacy will probably survive this too.
COLEMAN: I don’t think these latest allegations have tarnished Vince McMahon’s legacy. I simply think it’s added to it. Since McMahon has been the head of WWF/E, his company has been known to feature racist gimmicks, racist behavior on commentary (go back and listen to Jesse Ventura during any Tito Santana match he called, smh) sexist behavior, and xenophobia to a certain degree. Basically, McMahon can be called a lot of things, some positive, some negative, but no-one would call him a morally upstanding human being. He literally booked himself into an angle where Trish Stratus was his girlfriend whilst his real-life wife played the role of his sick, wheelchair bound wife onscreen. Quite frankly, I’m shocked nothing had come out sooner once the #MeToo Movement started. McMahon’s legacy will continue to be that of the greatest promoter and business man in the history of professional wrestling, who would literally had no limit on where he would go if he thought it could make him money.
WIGGINS: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA… Honestly, with everything that is known / speculated about Vince McMahon and the stuff that has gone down in WWE over the years, for it to end over an affair with a paralegal would be pretty minor in the grand scheme of things. The equivalent of stabbing someone to death and being arrested because you stole the knife.
So no, I don't believe this will tarnish his legacy, because those who already dislike McMahon just have another bullet in their chambers, while those who consider him a wrestling god will continue to bow down to him like the sycophantic halfwits they are.
Question 2: What do you think of Vince McMahon’s presence and actions on the last episodes of Raw and SmackDown? What message does that send to the fans and wrestlers within the company?
COLEMAN: I think it was a great display of Vince McMahon’s narcissism and ego. The message that was sent to the fans and wrestlers in WWE is that “I’m at the point where I’m too big to fail, I’m untouchable, and I’m not worried one bit about these investigations.”
WIGGINS: Vince McMahon's appearances on Raw and SmackDown are completely in accordance with his character. He's an egomaniac who always turns to the adulation of the WWE Universe when things turn sour, and is always ready to turn a tragedy or scandal into a short-term ratings boost. And, once again, he has been proven right in doing so on both counts.
ALLSOPP: One word - abhorrent. I cannot say more than that, as I was livid how he essentially stuck a middle finger up at the situation. But as we like to meme - ‘Because Fuck You, That’s Why’!
Question 3: Can Vince McMahon return to his position at the head of WWE? Will he always be in charge in some form or another, using the incumbent leader as a puppet?
WIGGINS: It will be hard to depose Vince McMahon regardless of what the investigation discovers, due to the incredible voting share he has on the WWE Board of Directors. It would take a serious threat to the money and WWE's reputation to force McMahon to permanently step down as Chairman. But, I believe either way he will continue to be the final say in all creative aspects, so even if he leaves the boardroom, we'll still be feeling his influence on our TV screens for as long as he wants.
ALLSOPP: I’d like him to use this as an excuse to walk away from the industry and live out the rest of his years as a family man. Wrestling doesn’t need him to survive, although I have no doubt his influence on the product would probably exist until the very day he passes.
COLEMAN: Depending on what the investigation reveals, I do think Vince McMahon can return to the position as head of WWE. If his appearances on WWE programming told us anything, it’s that fans, at least the ones in the buildings, don’t care one bit about the allegations or investigations. McMahon will run WWE until he dies, and even still, I wouldn’t be shocked if he put some kind of contingency in that when he dies, the WWE is to be sold and the buyer becomes the new leader!
Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?
Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!
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