Talk:Vince McMahon
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UNDUE content
[edit]There seem to be sexual abuse allegations on this article that are only tangentially related to the article subject, and are thus WP:UNDUE. For example: Vince_McMahon#1990s_ring_boy_scandal and Vince_McMahon#Ashley_Massaro. These probably should only be on the WWE article. Thanks! Jtbobwaysf (talk) 10:22, 17 July 2024 (UTC) I have now removed the content from the article as no response to my initial question. WP:BLPRESTORE applies to this type of content, find consensus here before re-adding. Thanks! Jtbobwaysf (talk) 21:48, 17 July 2024 (UTC)
1990s ring boy scandal
[edit]During the early 1990s, Mel Phillips, WWF's ring announcer and ring crew head, was accused of molesting multiple "ring boys", under-aged children that worked as part of the WWF ring crew.[1] In 1992, Phillips was fired from the WWF.[1] Phillips had previously been temporarily dismissed from the WWF in 1988 for sexual misconduct, but was brought back that same year.[1]
On October 29, 2020, it was reported by Business Insider that Vince McMahon and his wife Linda were aware of the allegations against Phillips but willfully turned a blind eye to them. According to Freedom of Information Act requests for court records regarding the ring boy scandal, Vince, under oath, stated that he was aware that Phillips had taken a "peculiar and unnatural interest in children" but refused to take action against him.[1] Further testimony revealed that Vince, after bringing Phillips back to the WWF in 1988, had made Phillips promise to "stop chasing after kids".[1] It was also reported by Business Insider that, under Vince and Linda McMahon's directive, the WWF began a campaign to discredit Tom Cole, one of the children who had accused Phillips of sexual misconduct, and Cole's family.[1] In response to the Business Insider report, Jerry McDevitt, WWE's attorney, stated that the accusations against Phillips were related to his unusual "foot fetish" but did not include "anything approximating conventional forms of sexual abuse such as rape, sodomy, etc."[1] He additionally described the claims that the McMahons knew about the accusations against Phillips but refused to take action and continued to employ him under the condition that he "stop chasing after kids" as "outlandish" and "classic libel."[1]
Tom Cole died in February 2021.[2]
Ashley Massaro
[edit]Prior to her death on May 15, 2019, former WWE wrestler Ashley Massaro alleged that she was sexually assaulted at a US military base during a 2006 WWE tour of Kuwait by a man posing as a doctor, and that WWE officials persuaded her to not report it to the appropriate authorities as they did not want it to affect the company's relationship with the military.[3] WWE officials would later claim they had no knowledge of Massaro's alleged sexual assault.
After her death, an affidavit by Massaro describing the sexual assault allegations in detail was subsequently released by the law firm that represented her.[4] In response, WWE said that their executives had not been previously informed of the allegations described in the affidavit.[5] Despite previous denials from WWE about having knowledge of her allegation, in February 2024 an attorney representing former WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis stated that: "most upper level management at sometime became aware of the [Massaro] allegations and ensured all proper WWE protocols were followed, including privacy for the alleged victim."[6] That month, Vice News reported that the Naval Criminal Investigative Service had investigated Massaro's allegations from June 2019 to January 2020, although no further information about the investigation other than its existence is known.[7] A further report by Vice News revealed that Massaro had accused Vince McMahon of "preying on female WWE wrestlers" and that she believed he had tried to sabotage her wrestling career after she rejected an advance from him.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Bixenspan, David (October 29, 2020). "WWE cofounder Linda McMahon, who runs Trump's biggest super PAC, once hired a suspected child molester on the condition that he 'stop chasing after kids.' He didn't". Business Insider. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Powell, Jason (February 13, 2021). "Tom Cole dead at age 50, key accuser in the WWE/WWF Ring Boy scandal". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Hohler, Bob (November 12, 2016). "Former WWE diva joins lawsuit, alleges sexual abuse, brain injuries". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
- ^ Nason, Josh (May 22, 2019). "WWE releases statement on Ashley Massaro sexual assault claim". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ Martinez, Phillip (May 23, 2019). "WWE Issues Statement on Ashley Massaro Sexual Abuse Allegations". Newsweek. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
- ^ Carey, Ian (February 7, 2024). "John Lauriniatis lawyer: WWE knew about Ashley Massaro rape claim". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ Marchman, Tim (February 7, 2024). "Despite Denials, WWE Management Knew Wrestler Said She Had Been Raped on Military Base". Vice News. Archived from the original on February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ Currier, Joseph (February 9, 2024). "Ashley Massaro accused Vince McMahon of preying on female WWE wrestlers". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
Argument Against the Claim that Vince McMahon is a Founder of WWE
[edit]While Vince McMahon is often credited as a "founder" of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), this designation overlooks the historical context of the company's origins and misrepresents McMahon's role in its development. Here are several key points to consider:
- Historical Context: WWE was originally founded as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) in 1953 by Vincent K. McMahon (Vince's father) and his business partner, Toots Mondt. Vince McMahon Jr. acquired the company in 1982, inheriting a functioning business with established talent and a regional fanbase.
- Business Expansion, Not Founding: McMahon's significant contributions to the company lie in his strategic expansion and modernization efforts. Under his leadership, WWE transitioned into a global powerhouse, leveraging innovative marketing strategies, television deals, and event promotions. However, this does not equate to founding the company.
- Comparative Analysis: The analogy with Elon Musk and Tesla is apt; Musk is often credited with transforming Tesla into a major player in the automotive industry but did not found the company. Similar to Musk, McMahon's impact was transformational rather than foundational.
- Recognition of Predecessors: Acknowledging Vince McMahon as a "founder" diminishes the contributions of those who built the company before him. Recognizing his role as an owner and a pivotal figure in WWE's growth is important for a more accurate historical narrative.
- Terminology Accuracy: The term "founder" implies the inception of an idea or business from scratch. Since McMahon took over an existing entity, a more accurate description would be "owner and architect of modern WWE."
- Terminology of "Modern WWE": Referring to Vince McMahon as a founder of "modern WWE" does not change the foundational history of the company. The term "modern" suggests a new era or transformation but does not negate the fact that he acquired an existing business. Thus, regardless of the era being referenced, the distinction between founding and ownership remains critical to understanding WWE's history.
In light of these points, I propose that we revise the language surrounding Vince McMahon's role in WWE to reflect his actual contributions more accurately, emphasizing that he purchased the company and played a pivotal role in its expansion, rather than founding it. BusinessFanatic17 (talk) 20:18, 24 September 2024 (UTC)
Shaun Assel's praise of McMahon has weak credibility, especially with claiming things like McMahon helping to launch reality tv
[edit]The Real World made its debut years before McMahon was a central WWF/WWE storyline character. Even Cops, which debuted a few years before The Real World, has been regarded as an influential reality tv show.[1][2]Speakfor23 (talk) 08:20, 25 September 2024 (UTC)
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