Vincent Kennedy McMahon ran the WWE as chairman and CEO for 4 decades. He is one of the most important figures in the entertainment industry. He made the WWE and pro wrestling what it is today.
In 2022, World Wrestling Entertainment grossed 1.3 billion USD in global revenue.
It all started 1945 in Southern Pines, North Carolina, USA, where Vince grew up. Vince’s family was quite poor, raised by his mother and stepfather in a trailer park, young Vince didn’t know his father (WWF owner) Vince J. McMahon Sr. until he was a young teenager.
Vince (McMahon) grew up as Vinnie Lupton. 😮
Vince met his biological father at 13 years old. He fell in love with his dad immediately and his passion for pro wrestling began. Vince’s grandfather, Jess McMahon, was a boxing and wrestling promoter in New York in the 1920’s. Vince’s father, Vincent J. McMahon took the business over when Jess passed away in 1954. The WWF would soon follow (first know as CWC - Capitol Wrestling Corporation).
In the 1970’s, Vince was a busy man. He worked on producing stunts with Evil Knievel, helped put together Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki, and bought an arena in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts.
Vince bought the WWF from his dad in June of 1982. His takeover of professional wrestling began. He crushed all the regional wrestling promotions. Signing up all their talent and booking shows in towns that were previously not allowed due to professional agreements. Many people lost their jobs and closed up shop while a few others were made rich.
Vince McMahon brought in a more theatrical approach to wrestling with over the top characters and dramatic storylines. Superstars like ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan dressed and acted like real life super heroes. Kids idolized them.
The first Wrestlemania took place in 1985. There were 20,000 people who attended in Madison Square Garden, New York City. Wrestlemania 40 taking place April 6-7 2024 in Philadelphia will take place at Lincoln Financial Field (where the NFL Philadelphia Eagles play) and host almost 60,000 fans for both nights.
Many wrestlers from the 1980’s died from steroid abuse. Vince went to court in 1994 - suspected of supplying anabolic steroids to his wrestlers. He was found not guilty.
Wrestling went through a down period in the early 90’s. Gone were the days of simple good vs evil, it wasn’t exciting to eat your vitamins and say your prayers anymore. The new generation was coming up on Guns N’ Roses, gangster rap, Mike Tyson and blood sport video games. The world was changing.
Vince turned up the sleaze. He reinvented himself and the WWF as a more aggressive, crude, and adult oriented program. Characters like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock soon became household names.
Vince became the most hated bad guy in wrestling - Mr. McMahon. This happened around the time of the famous Montreal Screwjob involving Bret Hart. The biggest double-cross in wrestling history. It’s hard to separate the Mr. McMahon character from the man himself. It almost seems as they are truly the same.
He’s been behind Hogan, Warrior, Bret Hart, Stone Cold, The Rock, and The Undertaker. He’s also been involved in countless controversies and scandals. Love him or hate him, Vince McMahon is the ringmaster.
Epilogue
Since I wrote this book review in late 2023, a lot changed. Vince McMahon has more sexual allegations against him. Taking advantage of women who worked for him. It’s really disgusting to read about. Someone with so much power and influence should use it to try and make the world a better place, not use it for their own personal gratification. Vince has been removed from his positions in WWE and we may never see him again except for inside a court room/jail cell. Fuck Vince.
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