So, here we are in a bout of the villains. Though both are respected in their own fields for how revolutionary they are, Vince or Netflix, neither can shed off their villain tags. And now, with WWE partnering up with Netflix, we expected new dynamics—we expected WWE to be more edgy.
When Netflix put out the graphics for Mr. McMahon, it could have gone two ways. One way, it could have been an attempt to completely whitewash his image, and the second, an absolute massacre.
But, controversy struck even before the docuseries hit our screens. Vince McMahon, the former WWE CEO, called Mr. McMahon a “misleading” and “deceptive” portrayal of his life. While McMahon claimed he didn’t regret participating, he was clear in stating that the series blurred the lines between the fictional character he played on screen and the real-life man behind WWE.
“Unfortunately, based on an early partial cut I’ve seen, this doc falls short and takes the predictable path of conflating the ‘Mr. McMahon’ character with my true self, Vince,” McMahon said, highlighting his concern over the docuseries’ intent.
The six-part series is set to explore not only his rise to power but also the legal controversies he’s faced, including a lawsuit by former WWE employee Janel Grant. This lawsuit, which includes accusations of abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking, led to McMahon stepping down from his executive role at WWE.
Grant’s attorney, Ann Callis, was quick to criticize McMahon’s downplaying of the allegations. “Labeling Mr. McMahon’s ‘horrific and criminal behavior’ as an affair is delusional and nothing more than a sad attempt to save his shredded reputation,” Callis remarked, emphasizing the gravity of the accusations against McMahon.
With Mr. McMahon set to drop on Netflix, all eyes are on how the docuseries will handle the intricate blend of McMahon’s legacy—will it be a whitewash, or will Netflix tear down the larger-than-life persona? Either way, the battle of the villains is far from over.