Vince McMahon is often described as a self-made billionaire. He was not always the legendary “Mr McMahon” the evil CEO of WWE that plays with the fate of his wrestlers. McMahon has built an empire based on sports entertainment, where using your bet 10 get 30 free bet sign-up offers, could get you a handsome return on a match.
Early Years
On 24 August 1945, Vincent Kenedy McMahon was born in Pinehurst, North Carolina to his mother Victoria and father Vincent James McMahon. While Vince McMahon was still an infant his father left the family and took his older brother with him. Vince’s childhood was spent growing up with his mother. Vince and his mother were often the victims of abuse.
Vince only met his father for the first time at age 12, who was at that time working for the Capitol Wrestling Corporation as a promotor. This sparked the flame of interest in Vince to explore the wrestling world.
In 1968, Vince McMahon graduated with a business degree at the University of East Carolina and joined the CWC, owned by his father, as a promotor after a short stint as a travelling salesman. During the 70s Mcmahon became an integral part of his father’s company and became the driving force in renaming this to the World Wrestling Federation. In 1982, Vince McMahon took over the CWC from his sickly father who later passed away in 1984.
The Rise To Greatness
When Vince McMahon, bought the WWF, wrestling and their promotors had an understanding that each promotor kept to their respective territories. However, McMahon has a different dream for his company and began to promote his company in territories outside of his own and acquired wrestlers from other companies.
In 1984, McMahon signed Hulk Hogan as the frontman for his new dream and together they reached audiences that had never before shown an interest in wrestling, with shows such as Wrestlemania drawing in huge crowds.
After struggling against the WCW in the 1990s, used a new brand strategy to pull the WWF to prominence by focusing on a more adult-orientated audience. McMahon downplayed his role to merely that of a commentator but was then ousted and soon started playing a role as the villainous Mr McMahon, who started a feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin, rocketing the WWF back into popular culture.
McMahon continued his rating war with WCW and in 2001 finally acquired control of the company, soon after Extreme Championship Wrestling filed for bankruptcy and McMahon and the WWF were left as the only major wrestling promotor.
In 2002 the WWF had to change their name to WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) after having lost a court case against the World Wildlife Fund over the use of the WWF trademark. Soon after this rebrand, the WWE moved to the “Ruthless Aggression Area” with high levels of violence, profanity and sex. This era held sway until 2008 when the WWE moved to a more TV-PG-friendly rating where they could “give the audience what they want in a far more sophisticated way”. This move allowed the WW to acquire more sponsorship due to the wider appeal to audiences.
McMahon and Controversy
As with most celebrities, McMahon has had his share of controversy, which almost earned him an eight-year stint in jail. In 1993 he was accused of acquiring and supplying steroids for his wrestlers via a Dr. George Zahorian from Pennsylvania. Some of the high-profile wrestlers featured names such as Holk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior and even Vince himself.
The trial received national attention with Hulk Hogan called on to testify. However, the case was hampered by procedural errors and all but one was thrown out. The star witness Kevin “Nailz” Wacholz was revealed to have a personal vendetta against Vince McMahon and the case was finally dismissed and McMahon acquitted.
McMahon’s Legacy
Vince McMahon is undoubtedly the most influential person in shaping professional wrestling into the monster that it has become. He was a pioneer in reality television, making himself the central character in the WWE by playing the “heel”. McMahon is often described as a pioneer and visionary when it comes to the marketing and storytelling of wrestling, being instrumental in bringing wrestling to women and children by listening to his audience.
Although McMahon has his detractors, many sing his praises. McMahon has been described as a caring father figure, giving many talented people a break that has propelled their careers to unforeseen heights such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
No matter your impression of Vince McMahon, there can be no argument that he has left a lasting impression on sports entertainment.
