The year 2022 is the first time since 1953 there isn't a Vince McMahon running a wrestling promotion. Whether it is CWC, WWWF, WWF, or WWE, the name Vince McMahon has been synonymous with the world of professional wrestling.
Vince Jr didn't meet his father until he was 12, living with his mother and stepfather in North Carolina. Upon meeting his father, Vince Jr wanted to follow in his footsteps, eventually working alongside him before replacing his father as owner of the then-WWF. While their philosophies as promoters may differ hugely, in the wake of Vince McMahon Jr's retirement, let us look back and see how father and son were different, and how they were the same.
10 Same: Both Sons Of Promoters
When Vince Jr purchased WWE from his father, Vince Sr, the assumption was Vince Jr had become a second-generation promoter, but in fact, he is third-generation. Vince Sr's father, Roderick McMahon, would promote not only wrestling, but boxing as well as music concerts, and worked closely with legendary MSG promoter, Tex Rickard.
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9 Different: Sports Entertainment Vs. Pro Wrestling
Vince Jr has always claimed he wasn't a wrestling promoter, he was a sports entertainment promoter. The differences between pro wrestling and sports entertainment in this day and age are negated as there are no mainstream pro wrestling companies anymore, as WWE has influenced an entire generation. Vince Sr was very much about the competition in the ring over the razzle-dazzle showmanship that his son made mainstream.
8 Same: The Love For Madison Square Garden
The most famous arena in the world, MSG has hosted some of the biggest names in all of combat sports and was where Vince Sr's WWWF would hold their biggest shows. Despite Vince Sr taking the northeast regional promotion he purchased from his father and turning it into a global phenomenon, Vince Jr still holds MSG as a special place, with the arena hosting some of WWE's biggest events. Even for non-televised house shows at MSG, WWE go all out to make the event feel like a big show.
7 Different: Respect For Territorial Boundaries
For many years, Vince Jr had floated the idea of expansion, however, Vince Sr was reluctant, adhering to the boundaries of the old territories. With his dad's health failing, Vince Jr bought out his father's stake in WWF and immediately started building the global juggernaut WWE is today, buying out territories, poaching talent from other promoters, and running shows in other territories. Vince's ruthlessness in growing WWF into a national promotion resulted in other promoters plotting to kill him.
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6 Same: Strained Relationship With The NWA
One of the first things Vince Jr did upon purchasing WWF was to pull out of the National Wrestling Alliance, and never had any dealings with the NWA outside of the brief NWA invasion storyline in 1998. Vince Sr also left the NWA, taking the then-WWWF out in protest over plans to move the title from Buddy Rogers to an aging Lou Thesz. Vince Sr rejoined in 1971, retaining his seat on the championship committee.
5 Different: Loyalty To The Talent
The term "future endeavored" tells you all you need to know about Vince Jr's loyalty to his talent, excluding only a handful of exceptions, most notably The Undertaker, Vince Jr has very little loyalty to his talent, with mass releases a common theme, especially during the last 5 years. Vince Sr was the opposite, appreciating what talent did for him, often giving old wrestlers ring time due to their history rather than ability. Vince Sr even made sure the late Gorilla Monsoon had a job for life, before agreeing to sell the company.
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4 Same: Children Had To Pay Their Dues
When Vince Jr's children, Shane and Stephanie McMahon, wanted to get into the family business, it wasn't in the board room they would start, but at the very bottom. Shane spent his summers working in merchandising in the warehouse, before becoming a referee. Steph also worked various jobs in the then-WWF, starting as a model for the merchandise catalog. This is a lesson taught to Vince Jr by his father, who after failing to convince his son not to get into the wrestling business, started him as a referee before moving him to commentary, where he remained until 1997, despite already being the owner of the company.
3 Different: Celebrity Involvement
As revealed on the Andy Kaufman episode of Tales From The Territories, Vince Sr was first approached by Andy Kaufman to run the now-famous angle with Jerry Lawler. However, Vince Sr didn't see the value, believing having a celebrity would do more to expose the business than draw any money. Vince Jr is the opposite, as his first showcase event, WrestleMania, was not just a wrestling extravaganza, but a star-studded spectacle.There have been so many mainstream celebrities appearing for WWE over the years there is a dedicated celebrity wing in the hall of fame.
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2 Same: Success
For their different outlooks on wrestling, there can be no doubt that both Vince McMahon Sr and Jr are two of the most successful promoters in wrestling. The WWWF/WWF was consistently one of the highest drawing territories under the NWA banner. Vince Jr is the most successful promoter in the world, taking a regional promotion national, then international, with WWE now being the standard bearer for wrestling around the globe.
1 Different: Promoters As On-Screen Talent
Vince Jr always wanted to be in the ring, but his father wouldn't permit it, saying you could either be office or talent, but not both. After the events of the Montreal Screwjob, Vince Jr got his wish and started appearing as an on-screen character, Mr McMahon, a remorseless boss and a bully. Mr McMahon was an integral part of the Attitude Era and was instrumental in helping the then-WWF turn the tide in the Monday Night Wars.
