Netflix Gets Highly Anticipated Documentary On Infamous King Of Wrestling
Controversial co-creator of the WWE wrestling empire, Vince McMahon will be the subject of a new documentary titled Mr. McMahon, streaming on Netflix beginning September 25. The docuseries will cover the rise and fall of McMahon, including the growth of his wrestling company to an international giant in the entertainment industry. The docuseries will examine McMahon’s private life as well as his career, with interviews from family, business associates, and journalists who covered his resignation.
Mr. McMahon
McMahon was one of wrestling’s biggest personalities, joining in on the backstage drama and getting in on the action in the ring occasionally. His run as the boss of the WWE was a tumultuous one, including his final dismissal under allegations of sexual misconduct and federal investigation.
The Mr. McMahon series producer and director intends the film to peel back the veneer of the television character that McMahon played to reveal the real person behind all the bluster.
Wrestling Theatrics
On-screen hijinks were McMahon’s bread and butter, which is part of why fans loved to hate him over the years, an illusion which Mr. McMahon takes aim at. He knew how to create a spectacle for the cameras, having learned the art from his dad, who was a wrestling promoter.
His most famous TV moments include a set-up where he was attacked while recovering in the hospital from an incident in the ring by Stone Cold Steve Austin dressed as a nurse and getting his head shaved by Donald Trump in the ring.
Production Started Before The Allegations
Mr. McMahon began production before explosive allegations of sexual misconduct, trafficking, and abuse surfaced, so the scope of the series evolved with the shifting story.
McMahon was a contentious character even before the most recent lawsuit and federal investigations were launched, and he was known for driving wrestlers to breakdown, having an explosive temper, and was once dragged into court on drug charges related to steroid use, but was found not guilty.
Beginning as a sort of deep dive into McMahon as a person, exposing his real-life persona, the series got a boost when the extent of his alleged misconduct came to light.
The Lawsuit
The demise of an independent WWE and its merger with UFC to form TKO Group occurred during the filming of Mr. McMahon, as Vince McMahon contended with a 67-page lawsuit.
He announced his retirement in 2022 while under investigation for misconduct by his own board of directors, but then made a startling return for the sale of the company to Endeavor. He then was forced to resign when the lawsuit was filed, giving those following the company whiplash.
On The Way In September
With so many of his former wrestlers clamoring to discuss their interactions with McMahon, both positive and negative, there should be ample interview material for Mr. McMahon.
Throughout the years, McMahon’s on-screen character seemingly bled into his real life, with multiple real-life affairs, bankruptcies, and drug scandals causing just as much off-screen drama for Vince as his on-screen character. This behind-the-scenes docuseries will show the real-world consequences of McMahon’s escapades.
More than 200 hours of recorded interviews with McMahon were tapped to produce. The Netflix Docuseries will be released on September 25 after a four-year filming process.
Executive producers on the project are Chris Smith, known for his work on Tiger King, Bill Simmons, known for his work on 30 for 30, and Zara Duffy, known for her work on The Sons of Sam.
