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All the times WWE personalities have lies refuted in shocking doc

Heory
All the times WWE personalities have lies refuted in shocking doc

Netflix’s Mr. McMahon documentary is out. And, like any documentary whose subject attempts to pre-emptively trash it before its release, it is shocking.

Well, maybe not especially shocking to wrestling fans, who’ve seen Vince McMahon climb to unforeseen heights in the wrestling world through ruthless business tactics and occasionally depraved storylines. McMahon turned the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment) from a regional standout into a global powerhouse and monolith in American wrestling. Along the way, he used tactics ranging from underhanded to potentially criminal to become one of the world’s wealthiest men.

Along the way a documentary produced, in part, by The Ringer began to take shape. It started in 2019 and had to be reworked multiple times thanks to new scandals — including the sexual abuse lawsuit filed against McMahon last year that finally severed his connection to the company — before finally being released on Netflix Wednesday.

Pre-release reviews promised it wouldn’t be the standard puff piece used to promote the company’s personalities. While it may not be a complete retelling of McMahon’s leadership, it’s shocking nonetheless.

McMahon and his loyalists within the company were interviewed about times his decision making ranged from questionable to criminal. Instead of taking those claims at face value, filmmakers dug deeper to refute some of those arguments — some of which, it turns out, were incredibly easy to refute.

Let’s examine some of the truths stretched and outright lies in Mr. McMahon. Because we’re dealing with an alleged sexual predator and the company he ran for decades, some of the facts checked are not safe for work.

Apr 3, 2022; Arlington, TX, USA; Austin Theory takes a selfie with WWE owner Vince McMahon during WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

WWE rose above its competition — the since-shuttered WCW — by embracing what’s now known as the “Attitude Era.” That meant dialing up the violence and sexuality to press the limits of what could be shown on cable television. It also led to a litany of complaints about the content of WWE programming — content McMahon tried to explain you was family friendly when interviewed.

Netflix quickly pointed out this was not the case.

Apr 10, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Chief Executive Officer of WWE Vince McMahon addresses fans during WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Tyson was originally linked to the WWE before his upset loss to Buster Douglas. He eventually came to the company in 1998 as a special enforcer at Wrestlemania XIV. This was six years after he’d been convicted of rape and spent three years in prison.

Apr 3, 2022; Arlington, TX, USA; Stone Cold Steve Austin stuns WWE owner Vince McMahon during WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

This is like watching people outside get soaked and telling the world you don’t believe in rain. Austin may not suffer from symptoms of a job where collision and impact are a regular, repetitive necessity. This doesn’t mean it does not exist.

Apr 3, 2022; Arlington, TX, USA; WWE owner Vince McMahon enters the arena during WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

This is a lie that’s been told for decades. It’s not harmful, just very silly, WWE has long wanted the world to know Wrestlemania III was one of the biggest sporting events in the world. While it was huge, it wasn’t quite the ticket-selling juggernaut the company’s official numbers would have you believe.

Apr 3, 2022; Arlington, TX, USA; Pat McAfee (left) and WWE owner Vince McMahon wrestle during WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

McMahon claims he was never worried about unionization because “no one” would get behind Ventura, the future governor of Minnesota, as a leader. Despite this, Tony Atlas recounts how he called each member of his roster into his office to tell them they’d be fired if they went to a meeting to discuss a pro wrestling union the next day.

While historian and journalist Dave Meltzer admits unionization was unlikely then (and remains that way now) the idea it was “a sham,” as McMahon puts it, doesn’t pass muster.

Oh, and also, Hulk Hogan is a rat.

Apr 3, 2022; Arlington, TX, USA; WWE owner Vince McMahon during WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Patterson was a long-time figure in WWE as both a wrestler and executive, working as a booker and road agent. He was also accused of sexually harassing underage boys and of sexual misconduct in the locker room. This did not stop him from a career with the company that stretched over four decades.

Executive Bruce Prichard came to Patterson’s defense in the documentary. Only for wrestler Tony Atlas to bring up his own story of Patterson’s inappropriate behavior.

Hulk Hogans Real American Beer meet and greet at the Giant Eagle at the Strip Tuesday, August 20, 2024.

This isn’t refuted in the documentary — Netflix had bigger fish to fry — but it’s your run of the mill Hulk Hogan self-agrandizement. Hogan-Andre wasn’t the headliner that night in New York. It wasn’t even one of the final three matches on the card. Instead, the draw was a steel cage match between longtime WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino and former protege Larry Zbyszko, which effectively printed money at the time.