Vince McMahon – Controversy Personified
On June 11, 2007, WWE aired a segment at the end of RAW that showed Vince McMahon getting into a limousine moments before it exploded. The show went off the air shortly after, and WWE.com reported the angle as legitimate fact, proclaiming that McMahon was “presumed dead.” Although this was the fate of Vince McMahon’s fictional character, the real person suffered no harm (i.e. his death was part of a story).
This being a seemingly obvious story, why have so many been victims? Many news agencies across the United States believed the story to be real when it first occurred and even veteran fans have wondered if the death was real or not.
WWE will certainly face backlash for this stunt, from law enforcement at least, but the controversy sells and Vince McMahon may well have landed a marketing masterstroke. The controversy itself won’t bother Vince McMahon like he’s used to.
In the 1980s, Vince McMahon was accused of sexual harassment by former referee Rita Chatterton. Chatterton even claimed on the TV show Now It Can Be Told that in 1986 she was raped by Vince McMahon in his limo after she denied him oral sex. No charges where made.
Vince McMahon was also charged with sexual harassment in 2006 by Boca Raton, a tanning bar worker. It was first thought to be a lie as Vince McMahon was in Miami, however it was later revealed that he was in Miami on the day the incident was reported, but not the day before when it allegedly took place. Vince McMahon, once again, has escaped charges.
Vince McMahon has also been criticized for constantly putting himself in sexual angles with many WWE Divas, including Sable, Trish Stratus, Stacy Keibler, Dawn Marie, Candice Michelle, Torrie Wilson, and Jackie Gayda.
McMahon’s World Wrestling Entertainment as a whole has been the center of controversy in the past, especially in the “Attitude Era” of the World Wrestling Federation, including D-Generation X for their sexual references, and Stone Cold Steve Austin. for its trademark. drinking beer and wagging the middle finger.
On the McMahon DVD, Stephanie comments that she had to reject a potential incest angle. According to her, Vince would reveal himself as the father of her baby; when she said no, she pushed for Shane to be the father, but she also rejected that idea. He also rejected Vince’s idea of his wedding to Triple H being broadcast live on PPV, saying the only reason Vince hired Eric Bischoff was so he could say that his longtime nemesis worked for him.
Of course, his biggest case of controversy occurred in 1992. The Vince McMahon-owned WBF closed because alleged steroid abuse among McMahon’s fighters and bodybuilders came under scrutiny. McMahon was tried in 1994, accused of distributing steroids to his fighters.
As a legal measure, his wife Linda was appointed executive director of WWF during the trial. He was acquitted of all charges, although he admitted to taking steroids himself in the 1980s. The indictment made Hulk Hogan, who had recently left WWE for WCW, as its star witness, and his testimony at the trial seriously damaged the friendship. of the two, even though Hogan’s testimony defended McMahon. After Hogan’s testimony, McMahon appeared before the media stating that he wished Hogan had not lied about him on the witness stand.
Vince McMahon may not be dead, but when he finally passes over to the other side, his tombstone should read “controversy personified.”