| Vince McMahon, Sr. | |
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| Ring name(s) | Vince McMahon, Sr. |
| Born | July 6, 1914[1] Harlem, New York |
| Died | May 24, 1984 (aged 69)[2] North Miami, Florida |
| Debut | 1935[3] |
| Retired | 1982[2] |
Vincent James McMahon, better known as Vince McMahon, Sr. (July 6, 1914–May 24, 1984) was an American professional wrestling promoter. He is best known for founding the American promotion, World Wrestling Entertainment, of which his son, Vincent K. McMahon, now serves as chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors.
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Early life
Vincent James McMahon was born on July 6, 1914 in Harlem, New York. His father Roderick James "Jess" McMahon, an Irish-American, was a successful boxing and concert promoter who had worked with legendary Madison Square Garden promoter Tex Rickard and his mother Rose, was a New Yorker of Irish descent. He had an older brother, Roderick Jr., and a younger sister, Dorothy.
Professional wrestling
He saw the tremendous potential for growth that the pro wrestling industry had in the era following World War II, especially with the development of television and its insatiable need for new programming. Similar to boxing, wrestling took place primarily within a small ring and could be covered adequately by one or two cameras, and venues for it could readily be assembled in television studios, lessening production costs.
McMahon's group, the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (later the World Wide Wrestling Federation, World Wrestling Federation, now World Wrestling Entertainment) came to dominate professional wrestling in the 1950s and 1960s in what was then the nation's most populous area—the Northeast. His control was primarily in Baltimore, New York, and New Jersey.[4] (Despite its name, the WWF was, like all pro wrestling promotions of its time, mostly a regional operation. It was, however, the one that came to dominate the most lucrative region). He had an eye for talent and for "booking" the matches that would lead to the most drama and excitement for the fans. In 1955, McMahon began airing his matches on television on Wednesday nights; the telecast originated from an old barn in Washington D. C. In her biography, wrestler Fabulous Moolah claimed that he was also one of the first promoters to split gate proceeds with his wrestlers.[5]
In 1982, McMahon sold the parent company of the WWF to his son Vincent Kennedy McMahon and his company Titan Sports, Inc. Vince Jr., much to his father's initial concern, set out to make it truly national and even truly worldwide in scope. "Had my father known what I was going to do," the younger McMahon told Sports Illustrated in 1991, "he never would have sold his stock to me."[6] Vince McMahon Jr.'s competitive tactics were successful, and the WWF quickly became the most prominent exponents of "Sports Entertainment". Today, it is now known as WWE, short for World Wrestling Entertainment. Vince Sr.'s grandchildren Shane McMahon and Stephanie McMahon have also worked for the WWE, although Shane recently resigned his post as Executive Vice President of the company.
Personal life
McMahon was married to Juanita, and the duo lived in Fort Lauderdale in the mid-1950s.[4]
On May 24, 1984, McMahon died from pancreatic cancer. He was 69 years old.
Accomplishments
- World Wrestling Federation
- Founder of World Wrestling Federation (as Capitol Wrestling Corp.) (1952)
- WWF Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)
- Other accomplishments
- Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame (Class of 1984)
See also
Notes
- ^ "Vincent McMahon Sr.". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/v/vince-mcmahon-sr.html. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ a b "Vince McMahon Sr.". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/vincemcmahon/bio. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ Peterson-Kaelberer, Angie (2003). The McMahons: Vince McMahon and Family. Capstone Press. p. 9. ISBN 0736821430.
- ^ a b Ellison, Lillian. First Goddess of the Squared Circle, p. 92.
- ^ Ellison, Lillian. First Goddess of the Squared Circle, p. 96.
- ^ Johnson, William Oscar (March 25, 1991). "Wrestling With Success". Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1119010/2/index.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
References
- Ellison, Lillian (2003). The Fabulous Moolah: First Goddess of the Squared Circle. ReaganBooks. ISBN 9780060012588.
External links
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