Vince McMahon: King of Wrestling, Entertainment and Media

Bio (credit WWE official website)

You may call him every bad name in the book, you may boo and hiss at the very sight of him, but make no mistake about it, if Vincent Kennedy McMahon were not the ruthless, driven, cocky Chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE would not be the pre-eminent global provider of entertainment that it is today.

It all started in 1982 when Mr. McMahon made the decision to purchase what was once called the World Wide Wrestling Federation from his father, Vincent, Sr. The senior McMahon had tried to persuade his son to not enter the business, but as would become a legendary McMahon trait, Mr. McMahon was defiant and he not only entered the “family business,” but he revolutionized it.

In March of 1985, McMahon embarked on what would become the very event to make sports entertainment the global phenomenon that it is today. It would be called WrestleMania and it was such an overwhelming success that 20 years later, it is still the biggest annual event in sports entertainment. In a mere three decades, Mr. McMahon’s passion and vision has made this industry what it is today and the vision has not faded one bit as he is still at the top of his game.

While other corporate executives choose to keep a low profile or not be a part of their own product, Mr. McMahon is right there in the mix, appearing regularly on WWE television and even mixing it up in the ring. He participated in some of the most highly-anticipated matches in WWE history and his rivalries with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan parallel some of the most heated matches in the long history of sports entertainment. He is even famous for taking action against his own family when they stand in his way and has tried on numerous occasions to drive his own wife, son, and daughter out of the industry. Unfortunately for Mr. McMahon, the passion he displays is an inherited trait and the battles within the McMahon family continue to this day.

You say his actions against members of his own family and fan-favorite Superstars are too much to bear? Keep in mind that before Mr. McMahon, sports entertainment was a regional series of wrestling territories with no national television exposure and little public fanfare. It was Mr. McMahon’s vision that brought about the very first WrestleMania and all of the subsequent major events in sports entertainment that continue to take place to this day.

So excuse Mr. McMahon if he does not care about the boos. Excuse him if he does whatever it takes to rid those who speak out against him, whether it is Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Undertaker, or another member of the McMahon family. Excuse him if he simply does not care…he is Mr. McMahon and he has earned to right to do just about whatever he wants. And if you have a problem with that, he will prove to you that you never cross the boss!

Links:

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Press Release

"McMahon" DVD, Available August 22nd, Offers Inside Look at the Dichotomy of Vince McMahon
August 4, 2006

STAMFORD, Conn., August 4, 2006 - Just who is Vincent Kennedy McMahon? Is he the outrageous owner and Chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. who appears on WWE® Raw® and Smackdown®? Or is he the philanthropist and family man who also focuses on what would be best for his company? Perhaps they are one in the same? The comprehensive DVD "McMahon," being released August 22nd, will offer the first ever in-depth look at both sides of Vince McMahon and how his vision has changed the scope of sports entertainment.

"McMahon" chronicles the time from McMahon's entry into the family business to the current character Mr. McMahon and private citizen Vincent Kennedy McMahon. As the DVD illustrates McMahon's adjustment from on-air announcer/off-screen owner to the tyrannical on-screen Mr. McMahon, viewers can make their own assessment of what is fact and what is fiction. With never-before-seen candid commentary from WWE employees and talent as well as family, friends, and competitors, "McMahon" attempts to make sense of what perceptions of Vince McMahon are true and what are merely extensions of the character he plays on television.

What compelled Vince McMahon to go against his own sensibilities to portray the sinister and cutthroat Mr. McMahon? How did his family react to his request of them to become on-air characters, as well as some of the more outrageous storylines McMahon has asked them to be a part of? What do the WWE Superstars think about McMahon and what he expects of his employees? What experiences have caused McMahon to re-evaluate how he views the world around him? "McMahon" attempts to provide the answers to those questions and more in this 2-disc DVD set.

Also included in this release is a bonus disc with four hours of extra material featuring Mr. McMahon®'s brutal battles with Hulk Hogan™, Stone Cold Steve Austin™, Undertaker®, Ric Flair®, and his son Shane™.

Though others such as Donald Trump, Mark Cuban, and Richard Branson have also displayed the flair and presence of the original company owner-cum-public face, what makes Vince McMahon successful in both personae is entirely unique. "McMahon" provides a detailed picture of why Vince McMahon transcends all others.

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