You know, sometimes you don’t realize what you’ve got until it’s gone. And as a lifelong wrestling fan that’s kind of how I feel about Vince McMahon not being at the helm of WWE anymore. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not here to knock the current regime. Triple H, TKO, whoever’s running the show now they’re doing their thing. But there’s something about Vince’s touch that I just miss, and I think plenty of other fans feel the same way.
For anyone who might not know though I’d be surprised if you don’t…Vince McMahon was the guy who turned WWE into the global wrestling giant it is. He was the mastermind behind WrestleMania, the larger-than life storylines, and yeah even some of the craziness. He knew the business inside and out because, in many ways it was his industry….. It was his industry and he ran it with a kind of old school flair that I think gave WWE a certain edge.
Now I’ve got mixed feelings about some of the new moves WWE has made. For example, taking WrestleMania to Saudi Arabia…look, I get it they’re trying to go global. But WrestleMania was always that one event where fans from all over the country (and the world) would travel to see it. I don’t think Vince would’ve taken it away from that traditional spot. And sure ticket pricing was another thing. Vince had a way of balancing the cost so that the average fan could still get in the door. Nowadays it feels like they’re just going wild with the prices.
Of course, I want to be clear I don’t condone any of the behavior Vince has been accused of. It’s important to let the justice system do its thing. But in terms of the wrestling business itself there’s no doubt he left a mark with creative mind set and her amazing performances. I think it’s okay to miss his influence while also holding him accountable for whatever crimes committed.
In the end, maybe we’ll see Vince McMahon back in the wrestling world someday whether in WWE or in some other project. Until then, I’ll just say it… I miss the guy’s presence in the industry. And I bet I’m not the only one.
