Vince McMahon
Is he an amazing businessman who revolutionised the pro-wrestling industry, allowing wrestlers to be seen on a world stage and earn more money than they could have dreamed of? A man who has created a finely polished product containing the most talented athletes in the world?
OR
Is he responsible for the death of true pro-wrestling? By destroying the territories and buying out any major competition, has he created a product that is both boring and repetitive? Has he created an endless conveyor belt of identical wrestlers and storylines, all conforming to his ideals, stopping anyone fresh and unique from making a mark in this industry?
He’s both.
One of the sharpest of double edged swords…
Part 1:Groundbreaking admission when Vince publicly confirmed what everyone always knew
(or at least suspected) all along: pro wrestling is a work; not competition. I think that took a lot of the sting out of the resentment people felt when it seemed as if promoters were insulting their intelligence by claiming it was “real.”
Vince took wrestling out of the armories and county fairs and put in on MTV. The marketing of the LJN
dolls action figures was revolutionary, and laid the groundwork for t-shirts, posters, etc. – something that Verne Gagne was too late in figuring out. Merchandise grew the WWF cash machine.
Vince provided a platform that showcased the best in the WORLD; not just a town.
WWF introduced the big money contracts.
WWF upped the ante for the rest of professional wrestling.