On June 11, 2007, WWE aired a segment at the end of RAW that featured Vince McMahon getting into a limousine moments before it exploded. The show went off the air shortly after, with WWE.com reporting the angle as legitimate, proclaiming that McMahon was “presumed dead”. Although this was the fate of the fictional character of Vince McMahon, the real person was not harmed (ie his death was part of a story).
This being a seemingly obvious story, why have so many victims fallen? Many news outlets across the United States believed the story was real when it first happened and even longtime fans have questioned whether or not the death was real.
WWE will no doubt face backlash for this stunt, from the authorities at least, but the controversy sells and Vince McMahon may have pulled off a marketing coup. The controversy itself won’t bother Vince McMahon like he’s used to.
In the 1980s, Vince McMahon was accused of sexual harassment by former referee Rita Chatterton. Chatterton even claimed on the TV show Now It Can Be Told that in 1986 Vince McMahon raped her in her limousine after she refused him oral sex. No charges wherever it was done.
Vince McMahon was also accused of sexual harassment in 2006 by Boca Raton, a tanning bar worker. It was first thought to be a lie, as Vince McMahon was in Miami, however, it was later revealed that he was in Miami on the day the incident was reported, but not the day before, when it allegedly occurred. However, Vince McMahon has once again escaped any charge.
Vince McMahon has also been criticized for constantly placing himself in sexual angles with many WWE divas, including Sable, Trish Stratus, Stacy Keibler, Dawn Marie, Candice Michelle, Torrie Wilson, and Jackie Gayda.
McMahon’s World Wrestling Entertainment as a whole has been the center of controversy in the past, especially in the “Attitude Era” of what was the World Wrestling Federation, including D-Generation X for their sexual references and Stone Cold Steve Austin for his trademark. drinking beer and wagging the middle finger.
On McMahon’s DVD, Stephanie comments that she had to cut out a possible incest angle. According to her, Vince was going to reveal himself as the father of her baby; when she said no, he pushed for Shane to father her, but she rejected that idea as well. She also rejected Vince’s idea that his wedding to Triple H be broadcast live on PPV and said that the only reason Vince hired Eric Bischoff was so he could say that his longtime nemesis was a once worked for him.
Of course, his biggest case of controversy occurred in 1992. The WBF, owned by Vince McMahon, went out of business when alleged steroid abuse among McMahon’s wrestlers and bodybuilders came under scrutiny. McMahon was brought to trial in 1994, accused of distributing steroids to his wrestlers.
As a legal measure, his wife Linda was appointed CEO of WWF during the trial. He was acquitted of all charges, although he did admit to taking steroids himself in the 1980s. The allegation made Hulk Hogan, who had recently left WWE for WCW, its star witness, and his testimony at trial severely damaged the friendship of the two, despite the fact that Hogan’s testimony defended McMahon. After Hogan’s testimony, McMahon went before the media and stated that he wished Hogan hadn’t lied about him on the witness stand.
Vince McMahon may not be dead, but when he finally crosses over to the other side, his tombstone should say “controversy personified.”