Today, Explained Wrestling with Vince McMahon
Jul 22, 2022
Abe Riesman, journalist and author of the upcoming book *Ringmaster*, dives deep into the tumultuous life of Vince McMahon, the man who transformed WWE into a global powerhouse. Riesman discusses McMahon's controversial retirement amid serious allegations, his profound influence on wrestling's evolution, and the pivotal changes in women’s wrestling. He also sheds light on the troubling allegations against key figures in the industry, revealing a culture of silence and the complexities of persona management in wrestling's storied history.
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McMahon's Monopoly
- Vince McMahon strategically capitalized on cable television's rise to consolidate wrestling into a national brand.
- He achieved near-monopoly status by 2001, eliminating major competitors.
Marginalization of Women
- Women's wrestling in WWF was marginalized for decades under McMahon's leadership.
- Women were often relegated to humiliating roles and faced harassment and abuse behind the scenes.
Rita Chatterton's Allegation
- In 1984, Rita Chatterton, the first female referee in WWF, accused Vince McMahon of rape.
- She went public with the allegation on Geraldo Rivera's show but faced a lawsuit from McMahon and retreated for 30 years.
