You can love him or hate him, but you can’t ignore the fact that Vince McMahon is the reason why WWE exists as the largest wrestling promotion in the world today. In a bid to achieve his dream of making wrestling great, McMahon made many friends on the way and even more enemies. The WWE mogul is back as the Executive Chairman of the Board after temporarily stepping down from his position in July 2022 due to his hand in embezzlement. His checkered past continues to haunt him, as McMahon is still shrouded with controversies to this day.
Nobody can deny that Vince McMahon is ruthlessly ambitious. After buying WWWF from his father, McMahon set out to conquer the pro wrestling world with his vision, so much so that he was once in the crosshairs of other wrestling promoters. It is also no secret that the WWE patriarchy is as tough as nails. His physique at 77 substantiates his virility, strength, and power. However, the billionaire once had a target on his back.
Some wrestling promoters once wanted Vince McMahon dead
According to WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross, Vince McMahon was once a target for other wrestling promoters. In 1983, Vince McMahon separated WWF from the governing body of wrestling, NWA. After making WWF an independent territory, McMahon invaded areas that were off-limits to sign popular wrestlers from other promotions.
Para 1979, WWWF cambiaria su nombre a World Wrestling Federation, aparece el titulo Intercontinental y el señor Vince Mcmahon Jr compra Titan Sports, en 1983 Vince se separa de la NWA y empieza su expansion territorial por EE.UU, aqui nace la WWE actual.#WWEColombia pic.twitter.com/8Z4XZSS14N
— #WWEColombia Sociedad! (@WWEColombiaSoc) April 26, 2019
People who work or have worked with McMahon know what a control freak he is. In hopes of controlling the world of pro wrestling and driving other promotions out of business, McMahon started buying the time slots of other promotions.
This caught the ire of other promoters. At the time, Jim Ross worked with Bill Watts, playing the role of a referee and an announcer. Ross was also often involved in meetings with the kingpins of wrestling.
Vince McMahon tore both of his quadriceps muscles 18 years ago today trying to figure out who won the 2005 Royal Rumble in Fresno, CA at the Savemart Center 📍pic.twitter.com/UZm9RIvCRZ
— BEN (@benrgp) January 31, 2023
During one of the meetings, the agenda was to douse Vince McMahon’s existence from the world of pro wrestling as he was getting closer and closer to his goal of expanding his wrestling territory. Speaking on his podcast, Grilling JR, the Hall of Famer recalled overhearing promoters devising a plan in the restroom to assassinate Vince McMahon.
If you don’t believe that Vince McMahon is back you’re a fool and you’re gonna get a big shock when you find out who Uncle Howdy is. pic.twitter.com/UVgm8lfJjt
— Dan (@GolazoDan) January 29, 2023
At this point, JR pulled his feet up in his stall. According to him, some executives entered the restroom and discussed ways to wipe out McMahon for good. One of the executives also pitched the idea of hiring a hitman for $700 to get the job done. Thankfully, McMahon never suffered the fate of Julius Caesar and still made WWE great in spite of his enemies.
Vince McMahon’s life was once threatened by a gangster
Speaking with Fortune Magazine, the Billion Dollar Princess, Stephanie McMahon, revealed that Vince McMahon once encountered a notorious gangster in a hotel room. Stephanie described the gangster as a big and “oversized” man with an “unattractive” face.
She also added that Vince McMahon stood up to him and never gave up on his dreams. Say what you will about Vince McMahon, but, he is truly worthy of all praise and respect.
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