With the latest Netflix series release showcasing the different eras of WWF from the late 1950s to modern times, one question rears its ugly head: Is the egocentric, ruthless, and business-oriented character created by Vince McMahon his actual personality? Professional wrestling will always be linked to the iconic name of Vincent Kennedy McMahon. From being just a ring announcer to becoming the biggest heel in the business, the former CEO of WWE transformed the industry from a regional scene in the upper Northeast of the United States into a global juggernaut.
Humble Beginnings
World Wrestling Entertainment has its roots in the 1950s, with its first show on January 7, 1953, under its original name, Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC). This wrestling promotion was founded by McMahon’s father, Roderick James “Jess” McMahon, who sadly passed away in 1954 due to complications from a heart attack.
The WWF was originally called the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and was formed on January 24, 1963. During its prime, superstar names emerged, like Buddy Rogers and Bruno Sammartino, who held the World Heavyweight Championship for seven years, eight months, and one day (2,803 days)—a record that still stands to this day—alongside Bob Backlund and Billy Graham, to name a few.
The WWWF gained popularity in the 1970s, filling major arenas like Madison Square Garden and Shea Stadium. Big names like Dusty Rhodes (father of current WWE Champion Cody Rhodes) and the top-earning wrestler of the time, André the Giant, started appearing, making the promotion outshine its competition.
Hostile Takeover
During the early days of WWE, Vince worked for his father as a not-particularly-good announcer, as he once admitted. There was a “gentleman’s agreement” between the owners that each promotion had its own territory, and they would stay out of one another’s. Vince disagreed with this, especially with his father, so much so that he purchased the company to run it the way he wanted. This is how the WWWF outgrew and out-earned its competition—by signing their biggest stars and running ads on local TV stations promoting their own show.
By the early '90s, two promotions remained: Vince's WWF and Eric Bischoff's WCW, until McMahon was able to once again outlast his competitors (despite their 83 weeks on top of the ratings) and even purchase the company outright, taking over all of WCW's assets and folding them into itself—which is why you see things like WarGames now a part of WWE's annual Survivor Series event and the upcoming NXT Halloween Havoc pay-per-view that was originally a WCW event.
Remarkably, this rivalry is similar to what we see today with AEW and WWE battling to see who dominates professional wrestling. While WWE continues to beat All Elite Wrestling in nearly every metric, Tony Khan's relatively young brand is also growing in its own right, having recently signed new television deals with Warner Bros Discovery
The McMahon Name is Tied to Controversy
Vince’s obsession with pushing the envelope has often backfired. The Canadian superstar Owen Hart tragically passed away during a show when a stunt, in which he was supposed to descend to the ring from the roof using a harness, went wrong. The harness broke, causing him to fall 20 feet to the ground, resulting in a fatal impact. Despite this tragedy, Vince adhered to the mentality of "the show must go on" and did not stop the event, even after the news of Owen’s passing was announced by Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler.
In the early 2000s, the horrific news of Chris Benoit’s murder-suicide emerged. Vince initially tried to frame it as an isolated incident. However, when the NFL scandal surrounding CTE came to light, revealing the devastating effects of the disease, Benoit’s autopsy showed that his brain exhibited the late stages of CTE. This condition was caused by his reckless wrestling style, including his iconic diving headbutt, a move delivered from the turnbuckle, which involved leaping forward head-first to strike his opponent.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive brain disorder believed to be caused by repeated head trauma. It is frequently linked to contact sports like hockey, football, and boxing. These injuries cause abnormal proteins to accumulate in the brain over time, leading to symptoms such as mood swings, memory loss, disorientation, and cognitive decline.
Ruthless Aggression
During the Ruthless Aggression Era in the early 2000s, Vince expanded on his ultimate heel character, incorporating an even more egocentric, misogynistic, business-first persona that propelled WWE to the next level. Under these gimmicks, many female superstars had to endure degrading treatment at the hands of Vince live on the show. Of course, Vince now says that they were different times with different ideas of what was socially acceptable, but it is very well known that it was seen poorly even back then.
The Persona
The line between the on-screen persona of Mr. McMahon and the real-life Vince has blurred, especially as serious sexual harassment allegations have come to light. In June 2022, WWE's board of directors launched an investigation into a $3 million hush money payment, which led to the discovery that McMahon had made $12 million in payments to four women. Two of these women alleged sexual misconduct.
Recurrent Incidents
In 1992, former WWF referee Rita Chatterton publicly accused McMahon of raping her in the summer time of 1986, an allegation that garnered great media attention however never resulted in a proper felony case. According to Chatterton, McMahon assaulted her in his limousine after a WWF event, and in spite of the seriousness of the claims, they were by no means pursued in court docket because of the statute of boundaries. This case has resurfaced a couple of instances over time, with Chatterton keeping her account.
In 2006, a tanning salon worker in Boca Raton, Florida, filed a police record accusing McMahon of sexual harassment. She claimed McMahon had again and again made undesirable advances and groped her in the course of a visit to the tanning center. Although the police investigated the problem, it did not result in any fees, and McMahon denied the accusations.
Additionally, in April 2022, the Wall Street Journal mentioned that McMahon had agreed to pay a total of $12 million over the path of numerous years to four women who had worked for WWE. These bills were part of non-disclosure agreements supposed to silence allegations of sexual misconduct. Two of these women alleged that McMahon coerced them into sexual relationships underneath risk of expert repercussions. One of the instances worried a former WWE paralegal who accused McMahon of forcing her into an intimate relationship and then demoting her after she attempted to end it. Another excessive-profile allegation emerged in 2018 whilst a former WWE talent claimed that McMahon compelled her into appearing sexual acts, and when she refused, her WWE agreement became terminated.
These times mirror a sample of accusations in opposition to McMahon that, whilst often settled thru personal preparations, have drastically tarnished his public image. Despite all of the denials and settlements, allegations have persevered over many years, with multiple ladies stepping forward to proportion their studies and a likely untold range of these remaining silent.
The Final Limit
Following the results of the investigation, Vince stepped down as CEO in 2022 but remained WWE’s largest shareholder. In November 2022, WWE's internal investigation into the hush money payments was completed, though the company did not publicly disclose its findings.
In January 2023, Vince returned as CEO amid rumors that the company would be sold. In September of that same year, WWE officially merged with the mixed martial arts promotion Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to create TKO Group Holdings.
In early 2024, under the Speak Out Act, former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut against WWE, McMahon, and former WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis. She claimed that McMahon had sexually assaulted and trafficked her, and she sought to void a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) related to the misconduct. Grant alleged that McMahon recruited individuals, most notably Laurinaitis, for sexual relations with her.
Perception of Pro Wrestling Under TKO
Even after the merger with UFC to form TKO Group Holdings, professional wrestling continues to face a unique challenge concerning its belief as compared to other sports. Unlike UFC, that is recognized as a legitimate fight sport with unpredictable results, WWE remains enjoyment-based totally, with pre-decided healthy consequences and scripted storylines. This scripted nature of wrestling locations it outside the world of conventional sports like football, boxing, or blended martial arts, wherein consequences are left to danger and talent. As a end result, pro wrestling isn't always dealt with with the equal seriousness or legitimacy.
For example, even as enthusiasts of UFC can legally area bets on fits in states wherein sports betting is permitted, making a bet on WWE events is incredibly confined or outright prohibited due to the scripted outcomes. This loss of having a bet legitimacy further separates pro wrestling from different sports beneath the TKO umbrella. BetMGM Bonus Codes are created for a huge form of sporting activities, but expert wrestling is considerably excluded, underscoring its standing as more of an enjoyment spectacle than a true aggressive game.
This ongoing distinction among WWE and different valid sports activities underneath TKO may keep to have an effect on how professional wrestling is viewed, in spite of its massive global audience and commercial success.
Aftermath
With this latest scandal, Vince finally stepped away from his beloved WWE. As chilling details continued to emerge in the following months, it wouldn't be far-fetched to think we may have seen the last of Mr. McMahon strutting to the ring, with his iconic "No Chance in Hell" theme playing in the background.
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