JACK AYLMER: FROM FRINGE ENTERTAINMENT TO A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON.
PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HAS EVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF ONE ECCENTRIC CEO.
BUT, RECENT ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT MAY FORCE THE INDUSTRY ICON TO TAP OUT.
VINCE MCMAHON, JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY.
BORN IN 1945, THE MCMAHON FAMILY LEGACY WAS ALREADY DEEPLY INTERTWINED WITH WRESTLING BEFORE VINCE.
HIS GRANDFATHER RODERICK BOOKED MATCHES AT THE FAMED MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, WHILE HIS FATHER VINCENT J MCMAHON PROMOTED TOP INDUSTRY TALENTS LIKE HULK HOGAN AND ANDRE THE GIANT.
AFTER WORKING AS A COMMENTATOR FOR HIS FATHER’S THEN-WWWF FOR MUCH OF THE 1970S, THE YOUNGER VINCE MCMAHON EVENTUALLY PURCHASED THE FAMILY BUSINESS IN 1982 AND SET HIS SIGHTS ON TAKING THE SPORT TO THE NATIONAL STAGE.
IN A DEPARTURE FROM THE STANDARD SET BY HIS FATHER, VINCE WAS OFTEN A FIXTURE IN THE RING, TAKING ON THE ROLE OF A VILLAINOUS CORPORATE TYRANT DURING EVENTS.
WITH A ROSTER OF TALENTED PERFORMERS LIKE DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON, JOHN CENA, AND STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN, MCMAHON TOOK THE ONCE REGIONAL ATTRACTION TO FANS AROUND THE GLOBE.
THE SUCCESS HAS EARNED MCMAHON BILLIONS ACCORDING TO FORBES.
IT’S ALSO GAINED HIM PLENTY OF CRITICS – MANY HAVE COME FORWARD CLAIMING UNSAVORY BUSINESS PRACTICES
AND WORKPLACE HARASSMENT.
AN INVESTIGATION EARLIER THIS YEAR UNCOVERED SEVERAL NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS INVOLVING MISCONDUCT CLAIMS PAST EMPLOYEES HAD MADE AGAINST MCMAHON.
IN RESPONSE TO THESE REVELATIONS, MCMAHON HAS PLEDGED TO “ACCEPT THE FINDINGS AND OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION” WHILE TAKING A STEP BACK AS WWE CEO AND CHAIRMAN.
HOWEVER- HE’S NOT SHYING AWAY FROM THE SPOTLIGHT.
MCMAHON WAS STILL FEATURED IN A RECENT “FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN” IN AN APPEARANCE ONE WRESTLER CALLED QUOTE TONE DEAF AND EMBARRASSING.”
THERE’S NO TIMELINE ON HIS RETURN – AND IN THE MEANTIME HIS DAUGHTER HAS STEPPED IN AS CEO.
VINCE MCMAHON, JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW.