Vincent J. McMahon
Encyclopedia
Vincent James "Vince" 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 Wide Wrestling Federation, which is now known as WWE.
, an Irish-American, was a successful boxing
, wrestling and concert promoter who had worked with legendary Madison Square Garden
promoter Tex Rickard and his mother Rose, was a New York
er of Irish
descent. He had an older brother, Roderick Jr., and a younger sister, Dorothy.
, 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, World Wrestling Entertainment, now WWE
) 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. (Despite its name, the WWWF 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 The Fabulous Moolah
claimed that he was also one of the first promoters to split gate proceeds with his wrestlers.
In 1982, McMahon sold the parent company of the WWF to his son Vincent Kennedy McMahon
and his company Titan Sports, Inc.
The younger Vince, 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." The younger Vince McMahon's competitive tactics were successful, and the WWF quickly became the most prominent exponents of "Sports Entertainment". Today, it is now known as WWE, formerly World Wrestling Entertainment. The elder Vince's grandchildren Shane McMahon
and Stephanie McMahon have also worked for the WWE, until Shane's resignation in January 2010.
with his first wife Vicki Askew in 1945. McMahon married his second wife, Juanita W. Johnston (1914 - 1998), and the couple lived in Fort Lauderdale
in the mid-1950s.
On May 24, 1984, McMahon died from pancreatic cancer
. He was 69 years old.
He is buried in Bonnell Cemetery in Greenwich, Connecticut
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
promoter. He is best known for founding the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
, World Wide Wrestling Federation, which is now known as WWE.
Early life
Vincent James McMahon was born on July 6, 1914 in Harlem, New York. His father Roderick James "Jess" McMahonRoderick McMahon
Roderick James "Jess" McMahon was a professional wrestling and professional boxing promoter, and the patriarch of the McMahon wrestling family. McMahon was the founder of the Capitol Wrestling Corporation, along with Toots Mondt.-Early life:Roderick James McMahon was born May 26, 1882, to hotel...
, an Irish-American, was a successful boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, wrestling and concert promoter who had worked with legendary Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
promoter Tex Rickard and his mother Rose, was a New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
er of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
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 IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, especially with the development of television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
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
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(later the World Wide Wrestling Federation, World Wrestling Federation, World Wrestling Entertainment, now WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
) came to dominate professional wrestling in the 1950s and 1960s in what was then the nation's most populous area—the Northeast
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
. His control was primarily in Baltimore, New York, and New Jersey. (Despite its name, the WWWF 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 The Fabulous Moolah
The Fabulous Moolah
Mary Lillian Ellison , better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah, was an American female professional wrestler. She began her career working with promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, wrestler and trainer Mildred Burke, as well as working alongside professional wrestler "Nature Boy" Buddy...
claimed that he was also one of the first promoters to split gate proceeds with his wrestlers.
In 1982, McMahon sold the parent company of the WWF to his son Vincent Kennedy McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
and his company Titan Sports, Inc.
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
The younger Vince, 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
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
in 1991, "he never would have sold his stock to me." The younger Vince McMahon's competitive tactics were successful, and the WWF quickly became the most prominent exponents of "Sports Entertainment". Today, it is now known as WWE, formerly World Wrestling Entertainment. The elder Vince's grandchildren Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon
Shane Brandon McMahon is an American executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of YOU On Demand. A former executive and professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment , he is the son of WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and former US Senate candidate Linda...
and Stephanie McMahon have also worked for the WWE, until Shane's resignation in January 2010.
Personal life
McMahon had his only son Vincent K. McMahonVince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
with his first wife Vicki Askew in 1945. McMahon married his second wife, Juanita W. Johnston (1914 - 1998), and the couple lived in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
in the mid-1950s.
On May 24, 1984, McMahon died from pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
. He was 69 years old.
He is buried in Bonnell Cemetery in Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
.
Accomplishments
- World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment
- Founder of World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (as the World Wide Wrestling Federation) (1963)
- WWE Hall of FameWWE Hall of FameThe WWE Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for professional wrestlers maintained by WWE. It was officially created on the February 1, 1993 episode of the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw television program...
(Class of 1996)
- Other accomplishments
- Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame (Class of 1984)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameWrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameThe Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to the sport. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is not...
(Class of 1996)
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- (Class of 2004)
See also
- Professional wrestlingProfessional wrestlingProfessional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
- World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...