The Mr Mcmahon Docuseries Review Part 1
Warning
This article contains references to Sexual Assault, and abuse. Reader discretion is advised
Intro
As the years have rolled on, the industry has seen some sizemic changes, but the one thing that has always been same, is its complete lack of honesty, this is something that has unsettled to no end, in recent times. Earlier today the Netflix documentary series Mr Mcmahon was released, and as I sit here on a Wednesday evening. I do this having just watched the first three episodes, and I can't really explain how I'm feeling, so I decided to put this down in words.
Episode 1 Junior
In the build up to the release of this Docu Series, rumblings had emerged that former WWE Vice Chairman, and owner of the company. Vince Mcmahon, wasn't happy with the outcome of the series, this prompted him to try and buy the series from Netflix, and after the denial to sell, to even Ari Emanuel, the owner of WWE under the TKO banner, it came out today. The first installment, was a revisited trip through history, as Vince talked about how when he bought the company from his dad, he took his own vision, and turned into a monumental success, but this didn't happen overnight, he bought out most of the terroritories, taking their biggest stars with him, and making them into celebrities. Vince didn't have an easy childhood, his dad was absent for many years, and didn't re enter the picture, until he was twelve years old. Vince suffered abuse at the hands of his stepfather, and at this point I realised, that the corolation between abused, and abuser, in some cases are true. As we would later find out. This episode also deals with the issue systemetic racism, and why the culture has changed for todays market. Talking heads like Dave Meltzer, gave some great insight into how this period of time, went on to become prominant, as the future of the company, would end up relying on one yearly event. Wrestlemania, the build to that years Mania, had it flaws, like when Hulk Hogan Choked out a talk show host, but overall with the help of the global expansion. MTV, and. Cyndi Lauper. Mania 1 was a hit, and Vince Mcmahon was off to the races. Vinces dad, passed away, at the age of 69, and the day before that, he told his son that he loved him. for the first time. Ok my thoughts. If we go back to the abuse that Vince suffered, at the hands of someone who was supposed to protect him, you can see a pattern, that should've been stomped out, with love and attention, sadly this wasn't given untill it was to late.
Episode 2 Heat
As the television boom of the 1980's continued. The WWE would venture into primetime tv, as. Saturday Nights Main Event, became a stallwart show, that tried to pull in some of the Saturday Night Live audience, and as the industry continued to get richer, it was the talent, who were put to the test, having to work over 300 days a year, which when you think about it, that's crazy by todays standards. It was around this time, when Jesse The Body Ventura, wanted to unionise wrestling, because back then, they didn't have healthcare, which meant that their rights were bare minimal, when it came to injuries. Bret Hart touched on this, in his Wrestling With Shadows Documentary. Mania 2, was a live broadcasting disaster, due to technical issues, when the show of shows, came from three differant locations. This caused Vince to think outside the box, and head over to the UK, where Andre The Giant was filming one of the greatest films ever made. The Princess Bride, and made this pitch to Andre, about Mania 3. Him vs Hogan. The taboo that has had a nasty echoe throughout the years, for WWE is attendence records, and how they are known to lie about their own records. The venue that would host Mania 3, was said to hold around 93.000 fans, when actually the attendence, was close to 78.000, this has been argued to death over the years. The high end of controversy, continued into the rest of the decade when real world events, were the backdrop for a controversial heel character. Sg Slaughter. As the late 80's rolled into, the early nineties, this would be a story, that would the WWE hit an emotional core with fans. Good vs Evil. Hogan would leave the company, to focus on a film and tv career, just a couple of years later. It was also around this time when Steroids would become even bigger part of the show, when Dr Zahorian became the WWE's ascociated physian, appointed by the athletic state commission, this is a man who since has served time in prison, for dealing steroids, this brought out the lies of Hulk Hogan, who would go on to testify against Vince in court, when he was indicted on felony charges relating to steroids. Phil Mushnick, a writer for the New York Post, was brought in to write about Pro Wrestling. Vince took what he wrote as a smear campaign, when what was really benneath the surface, was even more degrading. Tony Atlas, was a great talking head throughout this, as he shared some horrible secrets, about how women were treated. The death of Jimmy Snuka's girlfriend was brought up, and how he killed her, to the piedafile ring that was being run from within the company, this scandal would go on to be known as. The Ring Boy Scandal. This. Was something that Vince got taken to task over, as the industry realed over why this had happened, as multiple men came forward, and told their stories. The perpatretors were let go, with one coming back months later. Under a year later. Vince would be indicted on Steroid charges, he one the case, when it appeared that the U.S Goverment, couldn't find a solution, to put Vince away. The trial would go on to have a detrimental effect on business, as the attendences for their live gates, suffered in the United States, as the competion was about to heat up. Earlier on, the Rita Chatterton case, was brought into the light. In the eighties, she accused Mcmahon of serious sexual assault. This. Would have an emotional toll on her, as the industry turned it's back on someone, who really was a pioneer. Ok my thoughts, as this episode rolled on, I could feel the disgust start to form, from the back of my throat, as the sickening details were laid bare for the world to hear. It's always my way, to listen to victims, and when they need it, to listen. The way that the industry treated victims back then, was nothing short of horrific. It's like I always say. Talk. Listen, and. Learn, because in order to become human, we have to act human, it's really not that difficult. To Hear Vince mark this off as casual sex, made me sick.
Episode 3 Screwjob
In the mid 1980's The Screwjob of Wendi Richter, was something that had played out in front of a world audience, to humiliating effect. Vince said that she had become difficult, which has been disputed over the years. Fast forward to 1994. Vince had been cleared of any wrong doing, but business for the WWE, was down, so he thought on his feet, putting time into the new generation, a younger group of stars, who were itching to leave their mark on the business. From. Kevin Nash. Razor Ramon. The Undertaker. Shawn Michaels, and. Bret The Hitman Hart, who lead from the front as the champion, but as some of vince's handpicked favourites left the company, for greener pastures. Bret stayed true, to the cause, as Ted Turners operation WCW was beating WWE in ratings, week in, week out. But the fear of losing Bret, became clear, so Vince signed him to a 20 year old contract, this was seen as a mistake, so Vince decided to cut ties with Bret. I'm not going to go into detail, about the details of the screwjob, because it has been talked about to death. Bret opened up, and said that he was wise to all of this, as the events of Survivor Series 1997 unfolded. My thoughts on this episode. I even though I think that the Montreal Screwjob has been over talked about, from year to year. I still like hearing about the old stories from this time, and hearing about how this had a negative impact on the locker room, was an interesting insight.