Who Created WWE? The History of the Wrestling Entertainment Giant
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The WWE is a wrestling entertainment conglomerate that was founded by Jess McMahon and Toots Mondt in 1952. The company has been through many changes over the years, but it remains one of the most popular wrestling organizations in the world.
Vince McMahon Sr.
Vince McMahon Sr. was an American professional wrestling promoter and announcer, and the patriarch of the McMahon wrestling dynasty. He is credited with being the promoter who took wrestling out of the carnivals and into arenas and stadiums, and eventually into people’s homes via television.
McMahon’s start in boxing and promotion
Vince McMahon Sr. was born in 1914 in Bronx, New York. His father, Jess McMahon, was a successful boxing promoter who promoted events in the New York City area. Vince Sr. began working for his father at a young age and learned the business of boxing promotion. In 1952, Vince Sr. took over the family business when Jess McMahon died.
Under Vince Sr.’s leadership, the company promoted shows at Madison Square Garden and other arenas in the New York City area. Vince Sr. was also instrumental in the growth of professional wrestling, promoting shows featuring wrestlers such as Bruno Sammartino and Pedro Morales.
In 1982, Vince McMahon Jr. took over the company from his father. Under Vince Jr.’s leadership, WWE has become a global entertainment phenomenon, with Shows broadcast in more than 150 countries and 28 languages.
McMahon’s early wrestling promotions
In the early 1960s, Vince McMahon Sr. started promoting wrestling shows in the northeastern United States. He quickly became one of the most successful promoters in the region, and his company, Capitol Wrestling Corporation, eventually became the dominant wrestling promotion in the northeast.
McMahon’s success was due in part to his willingness to break from tradition. He was one of the first promoters to sign African American wrestlers, and he also began booking women’s matches, which was taboo at the time. McMahon’s willingness to take risks helped him attract a large and loyal following.
In 1972, McMahon Sr. took his company national by creating the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). The WWWF quickly became one of the most popular wrestling promotions in the country, thanks in part to McMahon’s savvy marketing abilities. McMahon Sr. was able to sign some of the biggest names in wrestling, including Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, and Andre the Giant.
Under McMahon Sr.’s leadership, the WWWF evolved into what is now known as WWE. Vince McMahon Jr., who took over the company after his father’s death in 1984, has continued to grow WWE into a global entertainment empire. Thanks to Vince McMahon Sr.’s vision anddedicationto his craft, WWE has become one ofthe most popular sports entertainment companiesin the world.
Vince McMahon Jr.
Vince McMahon Jr. is the chairman and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE). He is also the majority shareholder, with a 52% controlling stake in the company. Vince McMahon Sr. founded the company in 1952 as Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd.
The creation of WWE
In 1980, André the Giant- one of the most iconic wrestlers of all time- was body slamming his way across the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). It was a different time for professional wrestling- one in which its biggest star, Hulk Hogan, would soon become a household name. But behind the scenes, there was another wrestling matchups going on- one between promoters.
At the center of this fight was Vince McMahon Jr., the son of famed pro wrestler and promoter Vince McMahon Sr. The elder McMahon had created the WWF in 1963, and by the 1970s, it had become the most successful wrestling company in America. But when Vince Jr. took over in 1972, he had grand plans to take wrestling to the next level.
Vince Jr.’s ideas were met with resistance from his father and other members of the WWF Board of Directors. They thought he was too brash and his ideas were too risky. So in 1982, Vince Jr. started his own company: World Bodybuilding Federation (WBF).
The WBF only lasted for about a year, but it did give Vince Jr. the platform to start experimenting with his vision for professional wrestling. He began signing some of the biggest names in bodybuilding, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno, to appear on WBF events. He also started using music and celebrity endorsements to help sell tickets and attract new fans.
In 1984, Vince Sr. sold his stake in WWF to Vince Jr., giving him complete control over the company. With no one standing in his way, Vince Jr. began implementing his vision for WWF at full force. He changed the name of the company to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2002 and transformed it into a global media empire. Thanks to Vince McMahon Jr., WWE is now a multi-billion dollar business that reaches millions of fans around the world every single day.
McMahon’s expansion of WWE
In the early 80s, the WWF was struggling. So, in an effort to expand his company, McMahon began to purchase other wrestling promotions. In 1982, he bought Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW) from Jim Barnett for $1 million. McMahon then began airing GCW’s programming on his WWF TV show, Superstars of Wrestling. This purchase gave McMahon a huge talent pool to draw from and helped increase the WWF’s popularity.
In 1984, McMahon purchased the struggling World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from Turner Broadcasting. Turner had bought WCW from Jim Crockett Promotions in November 1988 and was looking to sell it just two years later. With WCW under his belt, McMahon controlled almost all of professional wrestling in the United States.
With two major companies now under his wing, McMahon set his sights on taking over the entire world of professional wrestling. In January 2001, he purchased World Bodybuilding Federation (WBF) from IRS for $3 million. That same year, he also bought Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) for an undisclosed amount. With these purchases, McMahon owned most of the significant wrestling promotions in North America.
The McMahon Family
Vincent James McMahon, Sr. created the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in 1963 and ran it until his death in 1984. His son, Vincent McMahon, took over the company and renamed it World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2002. The McMahon family has been involved in the wrestling business for over 50 years.
Linda McMahon
Linda McMahon is an American businesswoman who co-founded World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) with her husband Vince McMahon. She served as the company’s CEO from 1980 to 2009. McMahon subsequently served as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2021.
Stephanie McMahon
Stephanie McMahon is the daughter of WWE founder Vince McMahon and his wife Linda McMahon. She is currently the company’s Chief Brand Officer and plays an on-screen role as a television personality, businesswoman, and professional wrestler.
McMahon first started working for WWE in her teens, serving as an intern. She later became a receptionist and then moved on to various jobs in the company including marketing, public relations, and event planning. In 1999, she was assigned to the creative team where she helped develop storylines for the company’s television shows.
In recent years, McMahon has taken on a more prominent role in WWE as an on-screen personality. She has appeared as a co-host of WWE Raw and has also competed in several matches. In 2018, she was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
McMahon is married to fellow WWE executive Paul “Triple H” Levesque and they have three daughters together.
Shane McMahon
Shane Brian McMahon (born January 15, 1970) is an American businessman, professional wrestling personality, and occasional professional wrestler. He is currently the Executive Vice President (EVP) of Global Operations for WWE and also serves as the commissioner of WWE’s weekly television show SmackDown.
The McMahon family is a prominent Irish-American family, primarily known for their involvement in the professional wrestling business. They are headed by Vince McMahon, Sr., the patriarch of the family who founded Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. in 1952, which eventually became the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in 1963 and then World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2002. The McMahon family’s prominence has continued into the 21st century, with Vince McMahon Jr. becoming CEO of WWE while daughters Stephanie McMahon Levesque and Linda McMahon have both held high-ranking WWE positions over the years.
WWE Today
Vince McMahon Sr. created WWE in 1952 and it has since become a global phenomenon. Today, WWE is the largest professional wrestling company in the world, with a market capitalization of over $3 billion. WWE’s weekly television programming reaches nearly 700 million viewers in 150 countries.
WWE’s current product
WWE’s current product is a mix of wrestling, entertainment, and reality television. The company has come a long way since its early days as a regional wrestling company. Today, WWE is a global brand with a loyal fan base.
WWE’s programming is available in over 180 countries and in 34 languages. The company produces over 500 hours of original programming each year. WWE’s flagship shows are Raw and SmackDown, which air live on Monday and Tuesday nights respectively. These two shows are the foundation of WWE’s programming slate and feature the company’s biggest stars.
In addition to Raw and SmackDown, WWE also produces several other shows including NXT, Main Event, Superstars, and Total Divas. These shows air on the WWE Network, which is a 24/7 streaming service that features all of WWE’s programming.
WWE’s live events are another important part of the company’s business. Each year, WWE produces over 250 live events around the world. These events range from small house shows to large arena shows and stadium events such as WrestleMania.
WWE’s current roster
WWE’s current roster is made up of some of the most talented wrestlers in the world. The company has signing some of the best superstars from around the globe, and its current lineup includes:
-AJ Styles
-Brock Lesnar
-Roman Reigns
-Seth Rollins
-Dean Ambrose
-Braun Strowman
-The Miz
-Randy Orton
-Chris Jericho
-Finn Balor
Each WWE superstar brings something unique to the table, and they are all incredibly entertaining to watch. WWE’s current roster is packed with talent, and it is sure to keep fans entertained for years to come.