Encyclopedia
Vincent Kennedy McMahon is an
American Billionaire
wrestling promoter, occassional
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. .
Early life
Vincent Kennedy McMahon was born in
Pinehurst, North Carolina. He attended Fishburne Military School in
Waynesboro, Virginia, where he became the first cadet in the school's history to be court-martialed. He was not convicted, however. He graduated from
East Carolina University in 1968 with a degree in Business Administration/Marketing. He had married
Linda Edwards in his junior year in 1966. His son
Shane McMahon was born in 1970.
Vince was raised as
Vinnie Lupton. His mother Victoria 'Vicki' Lupton remarried after her first marriage to famed wrestling promoter
Vincent James McMahon failed during
World War II. Vince also has a slightly older half-brother Rodney McMahon, who is understood to work in the steel industry in
Texas. He is never named on WWE programming as Vince is "highly respectful of his privacy."
Vince didn't meet his biological father Vincent J. McMahon until he was twelve. Living in a trailer park in
Havelock, North Carolina, he had only known a string of abusive stepfathers until his mother revealed that his father was Vincent J. McMahon. McMahon's company the WWWF and its parent company the
Capitol Wrestling Corporation had dominated pro wrestling in the northeastern United States during the mid-twentieth century when the wrestling industry was divided into strictly regional enterprises.
Father and son quickly bonded. The elder McMahon was willing to give his son, then a struggling traveling salesman, a shot in
Bangor, Maine. In 1971, he promoted his first wrestling card there. In 1972, in addition to promoting, McMahon provided play-by-play TV commentary for the WWWF, but promotion was his real interest.
Career
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 . The young McMahon was also behind the famous
Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki match of 1976, the year that his daughter
Stephanie was born. 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 the 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 , 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 . 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 , as well as WWF's garish comic book heroes, sold up to
Ted Turner, thus creating
World Championship Wrestling . 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.
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.
Mr. McMahon
In 1997, the WWF and its flagship show on the USA Network
Monday Night RAW is the Monday night professional wrestling [i] television program [i] for World Wrestling Entertainment [i] ...
were consistently losing the ratings war with WCW and its new show
WCW Monday Nitro was the weekly Monday night TV show [i] on TNT [i]...
, which premiered in September 1995. Despite the fans' loud yearning for less over-the-top gimmicks like The Patriot and
Doink the Clown, McMahon resisted, and the WWF's product quality continued to sink. WWF fans now witnessed McMahon – who to many was known more for being an enthusiastic
face announcer rather than the WWF owner, although despite being lesser known as owner of the WWF, no secret was made of it – "screw"
Bret Hart out of the WWF Title "for real." This also made Vince turn heel for the very first time.
After the 1997 Survivor Series and his participation in the
Montreal Screwjob, McMahon inserted himself into the WWF show as the hot tempered, unfair evil owner character "Mr. McMahon", who conspired and meddled in the affairs of other fan favorite wrestlers. He eventually led various heel stars in
the Corporation stable, which complemented the Austin vs. McMahon feud that saw popular beer-guzzling anti-hero
Stone Cold Steve Austin challenge McMahon's authority every week on
RAW and business really picked up again. In the spring of 1998, the WWF solidified itself as the wrestling ratings king and never looked back. As both a
face and a heel, the Mr. McMahon character would play a prominent on camera role, feuding with top stars such as
The Undertaker, The Rock and
Triple H. One storyline even involved him becoming
WWE Champion. Storylines would also involve the character feuding with members of his own immediate family -
Stephanie,
Shane and
Linda.
The new millennium and the birth of WWE
In 1999, McMahon took the WWF public; the McMahon family retained the vast majority of voting shares, however.
Forbes placed his net worth at
$1.7 billion.
In 2001, his company created a joint venture with NBC for a new professional
football league called the
XFL. The league folded after one season and is widely regarded as a colossal failure. He and NBC lost over 30 million dollars that year.
Also in 2001, the
North American wrestling landscape changed forever when the WWF purchased the assets of its long-ailing rival, WCW.
AOL Time Warner, then WCW's parent company, was looking to cut costs dramatically in the wake of its merger. McMahon eventually purchased the rights to ECW's video library and trademarks. With these purchases, WWE became virtually the only pro wrestling organization in North America. McMahon ruled North American wrestling virtually unchallenged until 2002, when veteran wrestling promoter Jerry Jarrett and his son, former WWF and WCW star
Jeff, created
Total Nonstop Action .
In May 2002 , McMahon
changed the WWF's name to
World Wrestling Entertainment in the midst of an ongoing lawsuit with the
World Wildlife Fund over the use of and trading using the WWF initials. Eventually McMahon hired his heated rival, former WCW President Eric Bischoff to play an on-camera, kayfabe role as
RAW general manager, effectively signaling the end of the WCW/WWF rivalry.
On-camera return
After feuds with
Ric Flair, a returning
Hulk Hogan and the
Undertaker, McMahon's on-camera character would become less prominent for two years. However, the character resumed a more regular role after
WWE Homecoming. This time he allied himself with Shane, Linda and Stephanie McMahon. His on-camera persona resumed a feud with Steve Austin. Shortly after, he started a feud with
Shawn Michaels and eventually Triple H, which led to the return of
D-Generation X. During this feud he claimed that Michaels was saved from destruction at
WrestleMania 22 by God and formed his own religion . His on-camera storylines involved him firing Jim Ross and on-camera
RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff. Mr. McMahon began serving as the interim General Manager of
RAW, although he gave the primary duties to "Executive Assistant"
Jonathan Coachman.
Gimmicks
The "Mr. McMahon" character has several gimmicks that have become integral parts of McMahon's on-camera persona. The crowd has responded to him in chants such as "ASSHOLE". Some fans bow showing their honorable respect for Vince McMahon and what he has made the company of what it is today.
The Power Walk
When Vince walks down to the ring, he usually performs a certain "strut" in which is called by WWE Commentator Jim Ross as
The Power Walk. This is practically an overexaggerated strut that Vince performs while walking down the ring while swinging his arms- and this is usually aided with comments by Jim Ross such as "There's only one man that walks like that", or "The Power Walk means bad news for somebody". The Power Walk is used to get a reaction out of the crowd but it also provides comic relief for fans 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".
"Firings"
In wrestling storylines, one of McMahon's more notable gimmicks is his ability to terminate whomever he feels from either a position or the company. When "firing" an employee, McMahon's mannerism is usually an over-the-top utterance of "YOU'RE FIRED!" Typically, McMahon tends to take care of those who cause him trouble by actually wrestling them himelf, and only "fires" someone when there is no last resort . This is a list of those whom he has "fired."
The Vince McMahon Kiss My Ass Club
McMahon's other trademark gimmick is the "Vince McMahon Kiss My Ass Club." It refers to those people who have literally kissed Mr. McMahon's backside, often involuntarily, in order to either get or keep a job, or secure future championship opportunities within the company.
It is a trademark gimmick that is popular with the fans, regardless of the character status Vince McMahon may be playing. It is mainly used for
comic relief. However, some fans find this gimmick to be disrespectful to those involved, particularly to the long-time WWE alumnus Jim Ross.
William Regal was the first member of the club. This was so far the only ass kissing time that McMahon was a face.
WWE RAW is the Monday night professional wrestling [i] television program [i] for World Wrestling Entertainment [i] ...
announcer Jim Ross, the second member, was forced to join when McMahon spotted him laughing; the Undertaker seemed to come to Ross' rescue, but made his last heel turn to date when he shoved "Good Ol' JR's" face into McMahon's rear.
During McMahon's feud with Shawn Michaels, the "Heartbreak Kid" was forced to join the club after being knocked out with a steel chair saving Marty Janetty from joining the club at the hands of Chris Masters.
Shane McMahon shoved the unconscious Michaels' face into his rear. The elder McMahon tried to force Michaels to kiss his buttocks a second time at
WrestleMania 22, but this time, Michaels got the upper hand and it was Shane who suffered the indignity of kissing his unknowing father's rear.
Mick Foley is the most recent inductee of the club, having voluntarily joined in order to save the job of WWE Diva
Melina after Vince explained that it wasn't Foley who would be fired if he didn't kiss his posterior. Melina then gave Mick a low blow from behind, and the trio of Shane McMahon, Vince McMahon, and Melina fired Foley instead.
At Unforgiven on September 17th 2006, Mr. McMahon got his just deserved, so to speak, when DX forced his head into the ass of the
ECW Champion Big Show.
Controversy
On February 1 2006, McMahon was accused of sexual harassment by a worker at a
Boca Raton tanning bar . 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
.
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/Rena Mero and
Trish Stratus. 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 and gesturing his middle finger quite often.
The new
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.
Other media
In 2001, Vince McMahon was interviewed by
Playboy is an American [i] adult [i] entertainment [i] magazine [i], fo ...
for the second issue of Playboy Magazine in the year.
In March 2006 McMahon was featured on the cover of
Muscle & Fitness is an American [i] bodybuilding [i] magazine [i] founded by Joe Weider [i], now ...
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
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 , 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.
Personal life
Vince married Linda McMahon on August 6 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, and owns the $30 million WWE Learjet that is sometimes seen on television. His personal net worth is around 1.7 billion dollars as of 2006. Vince wanted to be a wrestler when he was young but his father wouldn't let him.
Vince has two grandsons: Shane and wife Marissa's sons, Declan James McMahon and Kenyon Jesse McMahon, and one granddaughter, Aurora Rose Levesque, daughter to Stephanie and "
Triple H" Paul Levesque. Which is ironic, because in a current storyline Vince is in a bitter feud with his own son-in-law
Championships and accomplishments
Won from Triple H on September 14 1999 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Vacated the title on September 20 1999
- 1997 Feud of the Year
- 1998 Feud of the Year
- 1999 Feud of the Year
- 2001 Feud of the Year
- 2002 Feud of the Year
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- He is a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
- 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
- 1999 Feud of the Year
- 1999 Best Non-Wrestler
- 2000 Best Non-Wrestler
Madison Square Garden walk of famer
References
External links
