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Vince McMahon

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This article is about Vincent Kennedy McMahon, current WWE Chairman. For his father, see Vincent J. McMahon.
Vince McMahon
File:Mrvincentkmcmahon.jpg
BornAugust 24 1945
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Vince McMahon
Mr. McMahon
Billed height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Billed weight248 lb (112 kg)

Vincent Kennedy McMahon (born August 24 1945) is an American wrestling promoter, occasional professional wrestler, on-screen personality, and former play-by-play announcer. He is the chairman of the board, co-founder and majority shareholder of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) and also is currently on the RAW brand.

Career

World Wide Wrestling Federation (1976-present)

Early in his WWF career, Vince was the in ring announcer and then later, became the play-by-play announcer for television matches; a role he maintained until November 1997. Throughout the 1970s, McMahon became a prominent force in his father's company, and pushing for the renaming of the company to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The young McMahon was also behind the famous Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki match of 1976, the year that his daughter Stephanie was born.

World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (1976-present)

In 1979, the WWWF became the WWF, and Vincent K. purchased the Cape Cod Coliseum, which held both hockey and wrestling events. In 1980, he incorporated Titan Sports, Inc., which would purchase the Capitol Wrestling Corporation from his father in 1982.

Against his father's expressed wishes, McMahon began a national expansion process that would fundamentally change business. By 1983, Vince had full control and ownership of the WWF and its future direction, having bought out all of his father's former partners, including the legendary Gorilla Monsoon. As part of the deal, Vince promised Monsoon lifetime employment, and Monsoon did in fact remain affiliated with the WWF until his death. Vince's father died in 1984, leaving his son behind to carry on his pro wrestling legacy. The first thing that he did as full owner of the WWF was to break away from the National Wrestling Alliance, as his vision of a new, national wrestling promotion was incompatible with their old-school promoting philosophy.

After Rocky III, Hulk Hogan began to expand on his new-found celebrity and returned to Vince McMahon's all-new WWF. Hogan won the WWF Championship on January 23, 1984—just weeks after his return—and McMahon helped engineer Hogan's immersion into the mainstream entertainment media, in which Hogan was portrayed as the ultimate all-American good guy. McMahon did not stop there, however, inviting rock and pop stars such as Alice Cooper and Cyndi Lauper to participate in WWF storylines in what would come to be called the "Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection". The popularity of the WWF increased exponentially as MTV often featured wrestling in its programming to follow the exploits of music stars and other celebrities in the wrestling world. McMahon called the incorporation of pro wrestling among other types of entertainment such as music and movies Sports Entertainment. With Hulk Hogan as the performer and McMahon as the promoter, the two worked to take the pro wrestling business to places that no one ever deemed imaginable.

Around the same time, McMahon publicly admitted the secret behind kayfabe in pro wrestling: that its outcomes were predetermined, moves planned and rehearsed, and that wrestlers played character roles much like Hollywood actors do. While general knowledge to most wrestling fans, this admission broke the final taboo of the old ways of wrestling and earned McMahon much ire among old-school fans, wrestlers, and promoters, who were already incensed at McMahon for his invasion into long-held NWA territories. Then-NWA Champion Harley Race was very vocal of his frustrations toward McMahon and the WWF; when promoting a show in his hometown of Kansas City, Race supposedly attempted to burn down a WWF ring. Interestingly, Race jumped ship to the WWF just two years later and became "King" Harley Race.

The culmination of the Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection was the first-ever WrestleMania event at Madison Square Garden in New York City. McMahon promoted the event across the country on closed-circuit TV (Pay-per-view technology was not yet sufficiently developed.), pouring all of his and his company's resources into what was widely seen in the business as a long shot. The investment paid off, and the inaugural WrestleMania was a resounding financial success. The show became an annual event, held every March or April. McMahon followed the success of the event by launching a series of other yearly pay-per-view events including Survivor Series, held roughly every Thanksgiving, SummerSlam in 1988 and the Royal Rumble in 1989.

McMahon ventured outside of wrestling by founding a bodybuilding company called the World Bodybuilding Federation (WBF). At roughly the same time, some die-hard NWA territories run by Jim Crockett, Jr., badly bruised by McMahon's tactics of attempting to undermine Crockett's shows by threatening PPV carriers of withholding his WrestleMania if they showed Crockett's shows and placing his shows directly opposite of Crockett's (a tactic that Ted Turner and Eric Bischoff would later employ on McMahon), as well as WWF's garish comic book heroes, sold up to Ted Turner, thus creating World Championship Wrestling (WCW). WCW never really troubled the WWF at this juncture when it came to TV ratings or attendances.

However, around 1992, things began to change. The WBF went out of business as alleged steroid abuse among both McMahon's wrestlers and bodybuilders came under scrutiny. By 1994, things were slowly turning in WCW's favor, especially when they signed Hulk Hogan.

File:Vincemcmahontrial.jpg
Vince and Linda McMahon outside the courthouse in 1994.

McMahon was put on trial in 1994, accused of distributing steroids to his wrestlers. As a legal move, his wife Linda was made CEO of the WWF during the trial. He was acquitted of all charges but later admitted to taking steroids himself in the '80s. The prosecution made Hulk Hogan its star witness, and his testimony in the trial severely damaged the two's friendship even though Hogan's testimony defended McMahon. After Hogan's testimony, McMahon would go before the media declaring that he wished that Hogan had not lied about him on the witness stand. McMahon's rationale for stating such a comment was later revealed to be his attempt at vilifying Hogan before he entered WCW. Despite not being convicted, McMahon and the WWF took a major public relations hit. The WWF's popularity sharply declined from that point, mainly in part to even more poor ideas and matches being served up in Vince's enforced absence.

In 2000, McMahon again ventured outside the world of professional wrestling by launching the XFL. The league eventually began in February 2001 with McMahon making an appearance at the first game. The league, however, fared worse than the WBF and quickly folded. Also in 2001, McMahon acquired World Championship Wrestling and later Extreme Championship Wrestling in bankruptcy court, leaving McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation as the only major wrestling promotion left in North America.

In 2003, after being forced to rename the World Wrestling Federation to World Wrestling Entertainment in 2002, McMahon again ventured outside the wrestling ring and launched WWE Films.

Mr. McMahon

Mr. McMahon is the on-screen character of Vince McMahon, with the gimmick of an often egotistical heel boss. The character spawned from the real-life hatred many wrestling fans had for McMahon following the 1997 Survivor Series incident with Bret Hart.

Although Mr. McMahon was loathed for his actions as the evil owner of the WWF, the character proved to be one of the most memorable heels in professional wrestling history. Despite Mr. McMahon's evil intentions, many fans continue to respect the character for the history it's had, particularly with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who was Mr. McMahon's nemesis at the character's apex.

The character has several other gimmicks that have become integral parts of McMahon's on-camera persona, such as his throaty exclamation of "You're fired!" and his familiar "Power Walk"; an over-exaggerated strut that performed as he walks towards the ring, swinging his arms and bobbing his head from side to side in a cocky manner. This is usually combined with comments by Jim Ross, such as "There's only one man I know that walks like that." The Power Walk is used to get a reaction out of the audience (especially when he's a heel) but it also provides comic relief as well. WWE Superstar John Cena had joked on the RAW Exposed special that aired before WWE Homecoming, that Vince "somehow walks like he's got a broomstick shoved up in his ass". According to Jim Cornette, the power walk was inspired by one of Vince McMahon's favorite wrestlers as a child, Dr. Jerry Graham.

In Eric Bischoff's Book "Controversy Creates Cash", Bischoff claims that there would be no Mr. McMahon if it wasn't for Bischoff and World Championship Wrestling.

Vince McMahon Kiss My Ass Club

Following the collapse of the WCW/ECW Alliance at Survivor Series 2001, Mr. McMahon created the "Vince McMahon Kiss My Ass Club", which consisted of various WWE superstars or officials being ordered to kiss his backside in the middle of the ring. The first member of the "Kiss My Ass Club" was William Regal, who did it on the grounds of being rehired by the WWF as he had served as the commissioner of The Alliance. The following candidate was "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who assaulted McMahon rather than go through with the indignity. Laughing from ringside, Jim Ross was forced to take Austin's place. For betraying him at WrestleMania X-Seven, Mr. McMahon ordered Trish Stratus to also go through with it. The club was proclaimed closed by The Rock after he forced Mr. McMahon to kiss Rikishi's backside on an episode of SmackDown!

Although the gimmick was "officially" retired by The Rock, it has reappeared on various occasions. Mr. McMahon has ordered various others to go through with the indignity over the years, including Zach Gowen and Marty Jannetty. Prior to WrestleMania 22, Shawn Michaels became a member of the club after Shane McMahon forced him into it. Mick Foley also has the dubious distinction of being only the second member of the club to willingly kiss McMahon's backside. (Foley did it on the grounds that it would save Melina's job, however, she quickly betrayed him afterwards and Foley was subsequently fired instead.)

Mr. McMahon has been on the receiving end of the indignity on several occasions, as he's kissed the backsides of the aforementioned Rikishi, as well as The Big Show when D-Generation X shoved his face into it at Unforgiven 2006.

The gimmick has also spawned its own Internet based cartoon entitled "Mr. McMahon's Kiss My Ass Club - The WWE's Most Valuable Asset." The cartoon debuted on WWE.com on November 22, 2006.

Firings

In numerous wrestling storylines, Mr. McMahon uses his ability to terminate whomever he feels from either a position or the company. The termination is usually preceeded by the aforementioned throaty exclamation of "You're fired!"

This is a list of those whom he has fired on-screen.

  • Jim Ross - was scapegoated after friend, Steve Austin, assaulted the McMahon family at WWE Homecoming in 2005. Ross was later brought back at "Saturday Night's Main Event" and again at WrestleMania 22, until finally returning full time.
  • Kane (Kane was quickly rehired the same night.)
  • Shawn Michaels - was fired as WWF commissioner, although Shawn notified McMahon that he couldn't be fired as per his contract.
  • Earl Hebner - was actually fired by Triple H for fast-counting him and costing him the Federation championship, although, the decision was supported by McMahon.
  • Mick Foley - numerous times; once as Dude Love, once as WWF commissioner, and most recently, following a segment of the aforementioned "Kiss My Ass Club."
  • Paul Heyman - as an announcer for RAW.
  • Hulk Hogan - after it was proven that Hogan was indeed "Mr. America."
  • Kurt Angle - as General Manager of SmackDown!
  • Eric Bischoff - Twice, once in 2003, although was quickly rehired, and most recently in December 2005.
  • Stone Cold Steve Austin - after he failed to declare a victor in an Undertaker/Kane match in October 1998.
  • Marty Jannetty - for failing to join the aforementioned "Kiss My Ass Club" and for failing to break Chris Masters "masterlock."
  • Every WWE fan - prior to firing Jim Ross, McMahon vented his rage by hiring everyone in the world for the sole purpose of firing them seconds later.
  • A pyro technician - who caused a freak explosion of one of the fireworks, leading McMahon to initially believe that it was God who caused the explosion.

Controversy

On February 1 2006, McMahon was accused of sexual harassment by a worker at a Boca Raton tanning bar ([1]). The worker said that he "groped her and harassed her". The charge was thought to have been discredited as McMahon was at the post-Royal Rumble company meeting in Miami during the alleged event. However, Dave Meltzer reported that confusion about the alleged day occurred due to a Florida newspaper reporting that the accuser had stated that the incident took place on Sunday when it in fact is reported to have taken place Saturday. Meltzer reported that "The confusion is because the alleged victim told police the story on Sunday, but apparently not that it happened on Sunday." The Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that police reports say that the reported incident took place Saturday ([2]). On March 27, a Television station in Florida reported that no charges would be filed against Vince McMahon as a result of the investigation into allegations that he groped a tanning salon attendant.

McMahon has also come under fire for constantly placing himself into sexual angles with many WWE Divas, including Sable, Trish Stratus, Stacy Keibler, Dawn Marie, Candice Michelle, and Jackie Gayda. McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment as a whole has been the center of controversy in the past, especially in the "Attitude Era" of what was the World Wrestling Federation. The sexual references and the ever popular and also controversial group of D-Generation X has been the center of this as well as Stone Cold Steve Austin for his trademark drinking of beer (sometimes the beer was labeled as "Steveweiser") and gesturing his middle finger quite often. (Though the latter was initially not liked by McMahon himself, according to Austin on the A&E Biography featuring Austin.)

The McMahon DVD features commentary from Stephanie where she says that she had to nix a potential incest angle. According to her, Vince was to reveal himself as the father of her baby and when she said no, he pushed for Shane to be the father. Stephanie turned that idea down also. She also said no to Vince's idea that her wedding to Triple H be aired live on PPV and that the only reason Vince ever hired Eric Bischoff was just to be able to say that his longtime nemesis once worked for him.

In addition to the controversies mentioned above, Vince McMahon also came under public scrutiny ([3], [4], [5]) when he referred to John Cena as "My Nigga" during a backstage segment of the 2005 Survivor Series.

Other media

In 2001, Vince McMahon was interviewed by Playboy for the second issue of Playboy Magazine in the year.

In March 2006 (at age sixty) McMahon was featured on the cover of Muscle & Fitness magazine, displaying a well-chiseled physique. In the months after its publication, it could be seen in McMahon's office during backstage segments. A large version of the cover was used as a weapon during McMahon's match with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 22 and was defaced by D-Generation X upon their reunification during an episode of RAW.

McMahon DVD

File:McMahonDVD.jpg
The McMahon DVD cover features a split image of McMahon in a business suit and in wrestling attire.

On August 22 2006, a two-disc DVD set showcasing McMahon's career was released. The DVD is simply titled McMahon. The box art symbolizes the sometimes blurred reality between Vince McMahon, the person, and Mr. McMahon, the character.

The DVD includes the following McMahon matches:

While much of the DVD paints McMahon in a good light (the chapter on the XFL gives the impression it was a daring idea not a massive failure), several segments did point out some of his drawbacks. Greg Gagne accuses Vince of destroying his father Verne and the American Wrestling Association, almost everyone besides Vince talks of how horrible the Katie Vick angle was and many wrestlers discuss how stubborn Vince can be and how he refuses to listen to others. Many people also talk about how Vince is a kind-hearted man who will do anything for the business.

Personal life

Vince married Linda McMahon on August 26 1966 in New Bern, North Carolina. The two met in church when Linda was 13 and Vince was 16. They were introduced by Vince's mother, Vicky Askew. They have two children: Stephanie and Shane, both of whom work for WWE. He has a $12 million penthouse in New York City, a $40 million mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut, a $20 million vacation home in Boca Raton, Florida[citation needed], and owns the $30 million WWE Learjet that is sometimes seen on television. He is worth approximetly 1.7 billion dollars. Vince wanted to be a wrestler when he was young but his father wouldn't let him (he was told that promoters do not appear on the show and should stay apart from his wrestlers). Vince has two grandsons: Shane and wife Marissa's sons, Declan James McMahon & Kennedy Jesse McMahon. He also has one granddaughter Aurora Rose Levesque, daughter to Stephanie and "Triple H"

finishers

Corporate Elbow (After pulling off an elbow pad and throwing it into the audience, The Rock bounces off the ropes and then performs a feint leg drop and instead hits a high impact elbow drop) Atomic Leg Drop(Diving Leg Drop)

Championships and accomplishments

  • 1997 Feud of the Year (vs. Eric Bischoff)
  • 1998 Feud of the Year (vs. Steve Austin)
  • 1999 Feud of the Year (vs. Steve Austin)
  • 2001 Feud of the Year (vs. Shane McMahon)
  • 2002 Feud of the Year (vs. Ric Flair)
  • He is a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (inducted in 1996)
  • 1987 Best Booker
  • 1988 Best Promoter
  • 1998 Best Booker
  • 1998 Best Promoter
  • 1999 Best Booker
  • 1999 Best Promoter
  • 2000 Best Promoter
  • 1998 Feud of the Year (vs. Steve Austin)
  • 1999 Feud of the Year (vs. Steve Austin)
  • 1999 Best Non-Wrestler
  • 2000 Best Non-Wrestler
  • Other Accomplishments

References

  • Assael, Shaun and Mooneyham, Mike (2004). Sex, Lies, and Headlocks: The Real Story of Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment. New York, New York: Three Rivers Press. ISBN 1-4000-5143-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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