A Dark Look At WWE's Mr. McMahon From Netflix

Vincent Kennedy McMahon

Meeting the larger-than-life Hulk Hogan was a treat for a 12-year-old. But the era of saying your prayers and taking your vitamins wasn’t what it appeared. While all the little Hulkamaniacs clambered for the mighty Hulkster, the behind-the-scenes picture was another story. It is a story that's driven by the wrestling promotions owner, Vince McMahon.

Vince McMahon took over the company from his father and set out to make it the biggest game in town. He was successful. While he has played the role of Mr. McMahon, the evil and maniacal boss, he is accused of being the evil and maniacal boss in real life. How bad could he have been?

Sexual Assault and Sex Trafficking

For the second time, McMahon is publically accused of Sexual Assault. Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, filed a lawsuit alleging she was the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and trafficking while she was an employee. Grant also accused a former WWE executive and close associate of McMahon, John Laurenitis.

The 67-page lawsuit tells a horrific story of one person's experience with Vince McMahon and John Laurenitits and eludes to one top superstar performer. The accusations are of rape and sexual abuse in the workplace and around the wrestling environment. The allegations are shocking.

Is it believable?

Fans who want to know if Vince is the monster the allegations in the lawsuit paint him to be can watch the Mr. McMahon special on Netflix. After seeing the first half of the special people will likely be amazed that McMahon took part in this. It’s no surprise by the end of the second installment why, McMahon attempted to stop the release.

From the cover-ups and payoffs involving sex scandals with young boys to the steroid trial in 1994, Mr. McMahon gives us a good look at the early days of Vince McMahon building his empire. WWF/WWE is going to be painted as a negative environment, but the way its boss handles things and Mr. McMahon’s behaviors take a focal point in the documentary.

Did Mr. McMahon cross the lines? One of the things we get to see is the magic question: is Vince McMahon different from Mr. McMahon? In an era of blood, sweat, violence, and sex as part of their creative stories, he gave birth to the Mr. McMahon character. Sometimes, reality blurs with fantasy.

From Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels sharing their feelings on Mr. McMahon being of little difference to Vince McMahon in real life to others like Shane McMahon and Stone Cold saying it’s just Vince but exaggerated, it leaves one to believe that Vince McMahon’s character was that of the Mr. McMahon character.

What we know for sure is that this history goes back for some time. WWE would remove Vince McMahon from power. An investigation would uncover multiple payoffs to women to silence allegations of sexual harassment and sexual abuses within WWE.

Mr. McMahon was accused of rape before the lawsuit by Janel Grant. In the earlier years of WWE and Mr. McMahon building his dynasty, their first female referee stepped forward to accuse McMahon of raping her. Seeing some of the footage from those days, and looking at things through the years, Vince McMahon’s character of Mr. McMahon appears to have been underlying all the time.

Takeaways

Mr. McMahon was a monster on television. He played the heel character to perfection. He was the boss we all had and hated, and we loved to see Stone Cold Steve Austin or the guys from Degeneration X make his life hell.

As the tyrant in control of WWE Creative until he was finally eliminated from the business, much of what fans saw crossed lines. Many of the stories were abusive to women. Vince, on screen, often boasted about his sexual prowess.

We’re going to see a side of Mr. McMahon and learn about his childhood. His childhood could explain much of his life’s struggles. Some of those details could factor into the accusations about his treatment of women. We get to hear him talking about fighting, how much he loved physical fights as a kid, and how good he was.

McMahon’s affairs will take center stage, painting a picture of a man prone to sex and violence.

Now, Vince McMahon is again being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice since the Janel Grant lawsuit. If he’s found guilty in criminal court, it would be likely that he spends the rest of his life in prison.

Did Mr. McMahon bleed into Vince McMahon’s daily life? It’s possible. Or maybe he’s always been the monster that he’s portrayed to be in the Janel Grant lawsuit and other accusations. Only Mr. McMahon and the alleged victims are likely able to say.

One thing’s for sure. The era of Vince McMahon, or Mr. McMahon is over. The industry needed change, and it’s currently hotter than it’s been since perhaps the famed Attitude Era. Mr. McMahon’s future is uncertain, but he’s been under intense scrutiny and federal indictments before. This story will continue to play out for some time.

What do you believe? Is Mr. McMahon a real-life monster, or a victim of his wealth and bad behavior in his personal life? Drop your opinion in the comments.