Wrestling Hall of Fame – Vincent James McMahon
Do you know what is common when “The Rock” dropped his electrifying “People’s Elbow” on the chest of “Stone Cold Steve Austin” in 2001, when the Great Andre The Giant delivered a big chop on Hulk Hogan in 1980 or when John Cena defeated Batista in an epic match at Wrestle Mania 2010 or when the legendary Under Taker retired the Show Stopper “Shawn Michaels” in a streak vs. career match? All these wrestling legends and established fighters were fighting in a wrestling ring who somebody established decades ago by putting in his sweat and blood. The wrestling world knows this somebody as the great “Vincent James McMahon” who was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996.
It was Vincent McMahon Sr. who established the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) which later became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Such was its popularity that the fans base ranged from the fighting schools of Japan to the wrestling rings in United States. Legend says that Vincent McMahon always believed that the building of Madison Squares Garden which has hosted humongous sports events of all time belonged to him. And Vincent James McMahon worked hard to turn this belief into reality when he established the premier and most famous wrestling body in the world.
Vincent James McMahon took over the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CPC) from his father, Jess and broke from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in 1963 and established his own body called the World Wrestling Federation. Under his natural ability to promote professional wrestling, World Wrestling Federation became the biggest body in all states of U.S.
Many wrestling critics and pundits believe that the greatest accomplishment of Vincent James McMahon was to train his son Vincent Kennedy McMahon about professional wrestling and sports entertainment. Vincent Kennedy McMahon showed the power of his father’s teaching by taking professional wrestling to a level never seen before anywhere. Recently, Vincent Kennedy McMahon was awarded a life time accomplishment in the field of promotion of professional wrestling entertainment. No other wrestling sports promoter has received such recognition in the history of professional wrestling.
Wrestling world paid tribute to this great wrestling titan when the grandson of Vincent James McMahon, Shane McMahon inducted him into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996 in front of a massive crowd. Various wrestling promoters and old wrestlers specially came to the arena to pay tribute to the person who revolutionized the wrestling world with his extra-ordinary vision and great managerial skills. Different people talked about the services of Vincent James McMahon to the wrestling world. Vincent James McMahon may never have imagined in his dreams when he set out to establish World Wrestling Federation that the organization would be the starting point where many young wrestlers will come and retire and legends.
However, Vincent James McMahon lived briefly to see the fruits of his hard work for some months when the phenomena of ‘Hulkamania’ broke into the world of Wrestling Sports Entertainment. The phenomena of ‘Hulkamania’ changed the profession of professional wrestling entertainment and brought World Wrestling Federation into the mainstream spot light. But then as everyone has to go, this great pioneer left the world on May 24, 1984 leaving a family and many great wrestlers in pain and sorrow. The great world of professional wrestling lost the person who built its very foundations with hard work and selfless dedication.
Many people are thrilled when the Rated – R wrestler Edge jumped from 30 feet above the ring floor while trying to catch the championship belt or when the reaper of souls, Under Taker executed the most dreaded move in professional wrestling called the “Tomb Stone Pile Driver” or when the great Canadian wrestler, Bret “The Hit Man” Hart trapped “The Miz” is his trademark submission move called the “Sharp Shooter”. But very few know about the person who started it all, and it was without any doubt Mr. Vincent James McMahon.
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