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In a New Netflix Docuseries, Vince McMahon Tries—And Fails—To Hide Behind His Outsize Persona

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In a New Netflix Docuseries, Vince McMahon Tries—And Fails—To Hide Behind His Outsize Persona

As someone who has spent countless hours watching wrestling matches and documentaries about the world of professional wrestling, I found “Mr. McMahon” to be an enlightening and thought-provoking series that offered a fascinating insight into the life and career of one of the most influential figures in the industry.

In a simpler and more conversational manner, professional wrestling has always had an intriguing relationship with reality. The best example of this complex tie is called kayfabe, where performers pretend that everything inside the ring is completely real and audiences go along with this belief. However, this concept extends well beyond the ring.

According to author David Shoemaker, as presented in the second episode of Netflix’s latest documentary series Mr. McMahon, anything connected with wrestling shouldn’t be taken as truth.

From the beginnings of professional wrestling as a spectacle at carnivals, both performers and those behind the scenes have often deceived the public, media, and sometimes themselves for various reasons, from innocent to malicious. The lines between character and reality can become blurred for some. Promoters boost their strengths and hide flaws to generate revenue, enhance their reputations, and dodge controversy over wrongdoings. Vince McMahon, the founder and face of WWE, was particularly skilled at this manipulation. He successfully returned as WWE CEO and chairman in 2022 despite accusations of sexual misconduct, only to resign again in January 2024 following a lawsuit filed by former employee Janel Grant, who claimed that McMahon had sexually assaulted her, trafficked her, physically abused her, and subjected her to “extreme cruelty and degradation.

Delving into any facet of this business truthfully and comprehensively is a challenging task given the continuous need to maneuver through all the complexities. This is particularly true when the subject matter revolves around a company as image-conscious and historically manipulative as the WWE, which has been so for over four decades (or more if we consider its pre-WWF roots). Some sports journalists, like those highlighted in “Mr. McMahon,” have displayed courage and insight in their reporting. Similarly, the Vice TV series “The Dark Side of the Ring,” since its debut in 2019, has made significant strides outside the WWE’s influence. The show’s commentators, a blend of wrestlers, promoters, and experts, occasionally indulge in self-mythologizing, but have presented thoughtful investigations into serious WWE incidents, such as Chris Benoit’s tragic family killings and the infamous “Plane Ride From Hell.

Films that have managed to gain some level of access to the company haven’t made significant progress. Even well-known movies such as “Beyond The Mat” and “Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows,” released in the late 1990s, only provide brief looks behind the company’s veil. The majority of factual content related to WWE is produced by WWE itself, resulting in many idealized portrayals of stars and key events.

2020 saw an exciting announcement from WWE about a multi-part documentary series on controversial co-founder Vince McMahon, executive produced by Bill Simmons of The Ringer and directed/produced by Chris Smith, who’s known for hits like Fyre and Tiger King. As a cinema enthusiast, I wasn’t optimistic about their chances of cracking the WWE fortress. However, both Simmons and Smith have impressive resumes and a knack for compelling storytelling. Yet, there was little evidence that they could stand up to the mighty WWE machine.

Based on Mr. McMahon’s interviews with his primary figures, such as Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea and WWE Executive Director Bruce Pritchard (most of which were recorded before the recent sexual misconduct allegations against McMahon), it seems that none of his close associates anticipated any scrutiny. This could be the show’s strongest point. The years of lenient questioning for biased productions appear to have left McMahon unprepared for even basic journalism. He boasts and fabricates, distorts verifiable facts like attendance figures, presents weak arguments (he doubts that Mark Calaway, known as the Undertaker, sustained a concussion during his Wrestlemania 30 match against Brock Lesnar, suggesting instead that the star’s health issues were psychological reactions to losing), and assumes everyone will be sympathetic to him without considering fact-checking or follow-ups. All Simmons and Smith need to do to make this footage more than a self-indulgent homage to McMahon is to perform their essential duties, which they manage effectively.

Before the sexual abuse allegations against McMahon disrupted production in 2022, the tone of the series “Mr. McMahon” was expected to be different from the glowing portrayals WWE fans are accustomed to. Unlike previous productions, WWE Studios is no longer involved. The six-episode series delves into McMahon’s life story, starting with his impoverished childhood and tracing four decades of the WWF’s history. However, the crew frequently interweave interviews with industry leaders and experts, historical news, and footage from McMahon’s own programming to offer a more comprehensive understanding and often challenge what he claims. This approach provides a balanced perspective on his life story rather than the usual glorified portrayals.

The scope of the show’s topics is quite extensive, delving into several significant matters that Vince McMahon and his organization often try to downplay or avoid. These subjects encompass allegations such as labor exploitation and union suppression, the steroid trial, the controversy surrounding the ring boy scandal, sexual assault accusations against McMahon by referee Rita Chatterton, the mysterious death of Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka’s girlfriend, the double murder-suicide committed by Benoit, the alleged rape of Ashley Massaro during a WWE appearance at a military base and subsequent cover-up attempts, and the ongoing civil lawsuit and federal investigation into sexual trafficking against McMahon.

The array of interviewees featured in the series is generally well-equipped to delve into a wide range of topics, including their own experiences in the WWF. Notably, Anthony White, or Tony Atlas as he’s known in wrestling, and Bret Hart offer candid perspectives on their time with the WWF. Dave Meltzer from The Wrestling Observer skillfully dissects the history of the WWE in a manner that caters to both dedicated wrestling fans and newcomers. Scholars Sharon Mazer and David Shoemaker contribute significant cultural analysis. Seasoned columnist Phil Mushnick openly discusses his long-standing scrutiny of McMahon’s professional and personal missteps, while journalists Khadeeja Safdar, Ted Mann, and Joe Palazzolo share their findings from recent investigations into his alleged crimes.

Mr. McMahon is not perfect. While I appreciate that time constraints would make it almost impossible to properly investigate every scandal related to the WWE over the course of six episodes, some of them get little more than a fleeting mention here. (Netflix described the series in marketing materials as being culled from more than 200 hours of interviews with McMahon alone.) It’s significant that Snuka was acknowledged at all, but it’s a shame that there wasn’t the time, resources, or interest to investigate the long-standing rumors that the then WWF might have played a role in covering up his involvement in Nancy Argentino’s death. 

Certain phases of the World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) past have been delved into more deeply than others. The post-Attitude Era, for instance, could have greatly benefited from additional analysis through a cultural lens and insights from industry experts. It’s peculiar that the series appears satisfied to let modern figures like Cody Rhodes claim that the present iteration of the company is supportive and free from the problems that have marked its past, without challenging this claim as rigorously as it does other assertions. (Although it suits Netflix, which plans to stream WWE Raw starting 2025, that their show seems detached from anything problematic discussed in this series.)

Regardless of its minor shortcomings and narrow focus, this series offers a compelling examination of McMahon’s life and career. Over the years, I’ve witnessed numerous unexpected McMahon comebacks in wrestling, but I can’t rule out another one entirely. However, I think this series will indelibly impact his ability to shape his own story.

It’s possible that Mr. Vince McMahon thought he could charm and bluff his way through any challenge presented during this production when he decided to take part. However, as things progressed, it became apparent that the only individual he effectively managed was himself.

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2024-09-26 05:06

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