Disclosure: Not something that I readily admit to, but I have been a follower of professional wrestling for over 60 years. I grew up watching Bruno Sammartino, Bobo Brazil, The Kangaroos, Buddy Rogers, and many other wrestlers. Even at an early age, I never fell into the trap that what I was watching was totally real. I admired the athleticism and strength of the wrestlers, but I knew that the results were predetermined. I was always interested in how matches and wrestlers were booked. I had a sense of what the business was all about.
I don’t think there is anyone who has had a bigger influence on the pro wrestling entertainment business than Vince McMahon. He certainly is a very controversial figure. So I was very curious to view the documentary about him, especially given the recent allegations of sexual abuse and deviant behavior against him.
Here are my observations and quick review about the documentary…
- There were no major blockbusters or surprises for this viewer. Bill Simmons, who produced the documentary, acknowledged that for the regular wrestling fan, that they may not find anything new in terms of information or disclosure. I was a little surprised at how the decision to have the Undertaker beaten by Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania was basically communicated at the last moment.
- I would not have wanted to be Shane or Stephanie McMahon. I certainly was not impressed to hear things about Vince as a father. The recent allegations against Vince may or may not be charges that are a surprise to them. I found it very creepy that Vince proposed an angle where Stephanie was pregnant and he was the one responsible.
- I’m not sure why Linda McMahon is still married to him. My guess is that she knew the type of man he was and realized that he was not going to change. Vince has alluded that he has a huge sexual appetite and this has lead to speculation and rumors of his infidelity.
- Vince was obviously an excellent businessman and a ruthless one at that. He was able to take a wrestling organization that was based in the northeast U.S. and make it a global organization. He was largely able to accomplish this by being a bully. He bullied his wrestlers, other wrestling promoters, the press and his employees.
- Donald Trump and Vince McMahon share many traits. Both are thin skinned to criticism, unabashed skirt chasers and know how to appeal and motivate the baser instincts and prejudices of their audience and followers. It certainly understandable why Trump and McMahon were natural business partners in various wrestling promotions.
- What one learns and watching the documentary is how McMahon manipulates his wrestlers and employees. Even those who he has treated very poorly have often commented on how they have a grudging respect for him. McMahon was always about “doing what was right for business” and if people were uncomfortable in doing what he demanded, he got rid of them. Wendy Richter and Bret Hart’s stories are instructive of this attitude.
- The non-wrestling fan may enjoy this documentary. McMahon is a fascinating character both on the mat and off it. He is a very successful entrepreneur. As a human being, he has his flaws and this documentary details many of them.
- The documentary did not go into any significant detail into the allegations against McMahon by a former female employee, who felt that she was his slave and asked to perform various deviant sexual act with McMahon and others. Maybe that will be examined in a part two of the McMahon documentary.
Esot-eric 