Born with inadequacies in the strength and speed departments, I once dreamt to become a WWE writer. I think I have the god complex gene with the fondness to boss around macho men... but after all the horror stories of how Vince McMahon is a serial perfectionist for his own taste, I shut that idea.
I did become a writer... in public affairs shows and for the entirety of my broadcast career, in network-based promotions. I also became a one-time coach for my department's basketball team. I can't really say that I have a commanding presence but I am billed as such, and that's cool.
I saw Vince McMahon as the overall coach of WWE. He decides on his starting five and then he has the prerogative to use or bench a particular player. If he doesn't want to use the wrestler, he's also the team owner. McMahon is like the Jerry Sloan or Gregg Popovich of his team... except that he held on to his post longer.
Nowadays, it felt as if WWE is in rebuilding mode. Much like the coaches I mentioned, Utah and San Antonio have decided to destroy their current squad and create a bunch of assets. The same can also be said with the WWE. McMahon and co-CEO Nick Khan released a lot of their wrestlers and decided to strengthen their feeder system. While the exodus of talents made the other teams stronger (AEW, New Japan, Impact, etc.), you can't discount the WWE.
WWE is basically like the Los Angeles Lakers. They are a big-market team that enjoys a wider reach and if even their roster has holes in it, you can't expect the team to just die without trying. AEW is like the Golden State Warriors. Disregarding their origin status and pinpointing only to the current iteration, the team is said to be the team to beat.
Currently, AEW looks better than WWE. However, you just can't discount the idea of WWE going full throttle the second they gain the momentum.
I know McMahon's "woman problems" played a part in his retirement. However, I also believe this is because the company wants to transition to the future. With Stephanie McMahon and the aforementioned Khan acting as CEO and Triple H becoming the EVP of Talent Relations, it feels as if this is like Pat Riley handing the coaching reins to Erik Spoelstra. Or maybe, it's Danny Ainge giving it to Brad Stevens who in turn gave his spot to Ime Udoka. At 77, McMahon wants to retire and probably enjoy his twilight years without thinking about work and at the same time, prepping for possible implications of his controversy.
Yes, there could be a behind-the-scenes power struggle. I don't want to speculate on things but when Vince took Triple H's NXT and somewhat ruined the image of his kids, things are about to get nasty. How funny is it that when they were hurling accusations at him, he comes out to mock and gloat but at a time when he should be praised, he stays away from the spotlight? Either he doesn't want the people to see tears in his eyes or he's just forced to sit in the corner.
With that said, Vince McMahon pretty much shaped my wrestling culture. Before Pope Benedict, the only Pope I knew was Pope John Paul II. I don't want to connect a religious figure with a dude who once tried to wrestle God in a PPV event but Vince is also the only WWE owner I knew.
When I was nine or ten years old, I would sneak past ten in the evening on a Wednesday to watch WWE All-Star Professional Wrestling on IBC 13. I hated Hulk Hogan but I loved Randy Savage, Roddy Piper, Mr. Perfect, The Rockers, and Bret Hart. From ABC to Star Sports to Jack TV and now via YouTube and other streaming sites, I follow WWE when possible.
Yes, I may have been a WCW fan in the mid-90s but that's only because my cable had access to TNT and for some reason, wrestling disappeared on Star Sports.
Anyway, Vince McMahon and his crazy ideas - hit or miss - will always be something worth noting and hopefully, his daughter and son-in-law would further improve the thing he started.