Despite the obvious differences in their appearances, the Chairman and Donald Trump sat on opposite sides of a WWE ring, each man mirroring the other in their commanding personalities. Vince McMahon and Donald Trump, two moguls, stared each other down, with Vince McMahon guarding one side of the table and Donald Trump guarding the other. Both men looked like shirtless brawny gladiators.
The similarities between Trump’s and McMahon’s journeys to their wealth, their boldness, and their frequent involvement in controversial situations are strikingly similar.
The stage was set for McMahon to combat Out-McMahoned, as fans watched the real-life Mr. McMahon play the role of an unyielding corporate tyrant. After 23 years of watching, it is now appealing to witness what part McMahon made in “The Billionaires of Battle The,” a WWE match dubbed WrestleMania.
The WrestleMania showdown between McMahon’s and Trump was like a clash of two parallel forces, akin to the battle of Goliath versus David or evil versus good. Wrestling Pro often weaves its stories around such narratives.
Despite facing lawsuits and negative press, both men have thrived in their respective fields, demonstrating their resilience. Neither of them seeks power or publicity from strangers.
The executive who would suffer from hair loss in the event of defeat would undergo a highly visible shaving ceremony, although the actual fighting would be carried out by their representatives (Bobby Lashley for Trump and the formidable Samoan powerhouse Umaga for McMahon). Their confrontation was officially announced during WWE’s annual spectacle on Raw in 2007.
The signing of the contract was a meeting of two souls, like a nervy and prickly pair, with both leaders of their respective empires using the same catchphrase, “You’re terminated!”
The narrative describes how each man arrived at the point where he out-imagined his father and eventually ended up sitting on their respective thrones, highlighting the uniqueness of their individual journeys.
Successful Sons.
Both Trump and McMahon entered the family enterprise and expanded their fathers’ empires.
Trump was born in New York City the following August. McMahon, on the other hand, arrived in Pinehurst, North Carolina, during the summer of 1945. The two entrepreneurs were born approximately a year apart.
Back when it was still known as the Federation Wrestling Capitol, WWE, controlled by Sr. Vince McMahon, transformed into the wider-reaching Federation Wrestling World.
Sammartino Bruno’s rise to megastardom was greatly aided by his performances at sold-out shows in Madison Square Garden. Vinnie, who was often referred to as Vince, watched his father’s success from their home in the Northeast, where the company was based.
Vinnie, a young boy who emerged from business school early, patiently waited for his father to take hold of the reins that control time. As an announcer, he began his path, eager to follow in his father’s footsteps.
In Sex, Lies and Headlocks, Shaun Assael depicted how the proposal was secured using rubber bands. McMahon Jr. Arrived in Manhattan to rendezvous with his father and proceeded to lay out a stack of contracts on the table, exactly as he did in 1983.
While Vinnie aimed to revolutionize professional wrestling, Trump had already been making alterations in the realm of real estate.
Fred, the father of Trump, was a real estate developer who led Elizabeth Trump & Son.
Donald eventually chose The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, which is one of the few institutions that offer a degree in real estate studies. He knew that his father, Trump, had an interest in wrestling and wanted to work with McMahon.
Trump started working for his father, whose company conducted a significant portion of its business in Brooklyn and Queens.
Fred, similar to Vince Sr., Maintained a concentrated field of operations. However, their sons aimed to expand the impact of their businesses.
Vinnie led the transformation of WWE from a regional territory to a global fixture by marketing Hulkamania and creating WrestleMania, running the No. 1 wrestling company in the world. He did not content himself with controlling just the Northeast.
Trump moved outward to a different degree. He saw money to be made in Manhattan and Atlantic City, in Toronto and Tampa.
“He had higher ideals and a bigger picture in mind, but he thought of himself as a brilliant man and respected what his father, Robert Slater, did. Allen Weisselberg, the financial officer of Fred’s enterprising son, Trump, said that there is no such thing as over-exposure in Robert Slater’s perspective.”
The same feeling is completely fitting for McMahon too.
McMahon led the system by pushing against established territory, rearranging how wrestling was done. He thought that’s just what his father saw in Trump, a product that lacked the flash and traditional show-driven spectacle, but delivered more by mixing in celebrities.
Donald Trump amassed properties in a similar fashion to how McMahon gathered wrestlers from various parts of the nation. He actively pursued the acquisition of casinos and hotels, expanding his influence far beyond the confines of New York. In contrast, Trump was more inclined to take risks compared to his father.
Trump, even non-wrestling fans, can recognize the real estate business. He is familiar with the name of McMahon, who is a famous wrestling promoter. There is no one more famous in his domain. Each man became the king in the end.
Their personal preference for beauty contests and individual landmarks translated into substantial financial gains for both men. Both billionaires, McMahon and Trump, achieved their wealth through their hands-on approach to their respective businesses. According to Forbes, McMahon’s net worth is estimated to be over $1 billion, while Trump’s net worth is estimated to be $4 billion.
Showcases.
From the top of the shining edifice, two flags flutter, one representing the United States and the other displaying the WWE emblem. Standing tall above the adjacent trees, a spacious glass building emerges in Stamford, Connecticut, situated to the west of Holly Pond.
WWE headquarters, formerly known as Titan Towers, is situated in the serene city of Stamford. Despite not being a colossal structure according to New York City norms, it is a remarkably reflective giant.
The structure functions as the central hub for a constantly moving organization.
The “lavish building” competition, however, surpasses McMahon, although a portion of that is its expansive glass exterior. Part of that can be attributed to its scale, yet there is still an ostentatious aspect to the location, despite its functionality. Trump.
If Trump Tower is the Big Titan Towers, then Manhattan Midtown is an immense place from his 68-story business.
The center of Trump’s business, similar to the individual who possesses it, is noisy and impossible to overlook.
Every week, sparkling cords, fireworks, makeup, and proud fighters dominate the screen on Raw and SmackDown. McMahon’s fondness for extravagant displays is apparent whenever WWE programming is switched on. He and McMahon both have a passion for grandeur that goes beyond their appreciation for glass architecture.
The show that Trump has funded is of a completely different kind.
In 1996, he purchased the collection of tiaras and evening dresses. Trump was well-known for being the owner of the Miss USA beauty pageant until recently.
Miss USA spoke proudly about her father, who seemed to be impressed by her achievements. However, it appeared that she valued money more than passion. The departure of Trump from the pageant was seen as a shift in investment strategy.
In 1999, he told The New York Times, “I love pageants and buildings, people. What I do is successful because of the aesthetics.”
Trump went out of his comfort zone, while McMahon put stacks of money down in front of the camera to showcase a parade of muscle-bound bodybuilders, his tight smiles back.
McMahon established the World Bodybuilding Federation in the early ’90s, introducing performers with monikers such as Dark Angel and The Future in an effort to add excitement to the realm of bodybuilding.
McMahon entered the courtroom with accusations of illicit steroid distribution looming over him. The downfall of the WBF happened at the same time as the federal authorities building a case against McMahon. It was a testosterone and steroid-infused rendition of Trump’s beauty contest.
Trump and he both had more dealings of share fair than judges and attorneys. It was not the last time.
Dispute and Legal Proceedings.
If you offer legal assistance to either Trump or McMahon, you can be sure to stay occupied.
Trump’s early career was marked by his involvement in legal proceedings, as he was accused of breaching the Fair Housing Act. Both individuals have filed multiple lawsuits and successfully defended themselves against various legal challenges.
The Department of Justice sued Trump Management Corporation in 1973 for discriminating against blacks who wished to rent apartments in Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Huffington Post reported on it.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursued him years later, alleging that he had “issued deceptive statements in the company’s earnings release for the third quarter of 1999,” as mentioned in a press release by Trump Hotels and Casinos, Inc. In 2002.
Lawsuits are imminent, and while Trump anticipates entering the White House in the coming year, allegations of him presiding over an academic establishment that made more unsubstantiated commitments than providing substantial education focus on one of these claims.
As per The New York Post, Trump had a contrasting perspective: Attorney General Eric Schneiderman initiated a lawsuit against Trump in 2013, alleging that Trump University engaged in “deceptive statements to defraud students out of their $35,000 tuition.”
The adverse publicity that originated from these cases clearly hasn’t condemned Trump’s profession.
Murray Mark, known for his strong numbers, has successfully pulled in viewers to his presidential campaign on NBC. He has thrived in Trump’s businesses, still remaining tuned in to The Apprentice.
Every instance he has managed to escape, regardless of the legal predicament he has found himself in, bears a striking resemblance to McMahon’s narrative.
In the early ’90s, George Dr. Zahorian was said to be working for the McMahon boss, collecting musclebound gladiators’ juice, after accusations of illegally distributing steroids came from the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
While it looked like the trial would be the end of WWE or send McMahon to prison, nothing of the sort happened.
“Concluding the trial in a chaotic state, as stated by Dan O’Sullivan in his article for Vice Sports, due to a combination of careless legal mistakes and unimpressive testimonies from the witnesses.”
There was inappropriate behavior covering up McMahon’s conversation. Terry Garvin, a former ring boy at Real Wrestling’s Pro Mayhem, alleged that McMahon sexually harassed him while working as a road agent. Jim Wilson provided detailed information about this in his book Chokehold: The Real Story of Pro Wrestling Outside the Ring. Additionally, McMahon was threatened with a sex scandal that could ruin him.
Phil Donahue and Geraldo Rivera both hosted programs on the scandal.
In retaliation, McMahon filed a lawsuit against Tribune Broadcasting, as Wilson wrote with “careless indifference to the truth.”
ABC News has reported that Big Vito and others claim that WWE did not properly diagnose concussions while they worked as wrestlers for the company. Presently, McMahon’s legal team is faced with a multitude of concussion lawsuits.
McMahon’s company is facing allegations from others and Vito’s Big over a public outcry, but the result is surely that Football’s Night Monday will return to the airwaves. However, at this moment, Raw’s ratings are down.
In 2015, the mainstream hit SummerSlam was aired on ESPN’s SportsCenter, featuring host Jon Stewart and pay-per-view at the site. WrestleMania 31 broke a long list of records.
Despite the shadows looming over McMahon’s business, things continue to thrive for him. Trump is also a member of that exclusive club.
Over-the-Top Approach.
Donald Trump is well-suited for the world of business. It’s not surprising that McMahon frequently invites him to be involved in WWE drama.
Trump possesses all of these components at the forefront of his toolbox: audacious speech, daring declarations, and larger-than-life individuals. Professional wrestling thrives on these aspects.
The executive, power-hungry, no-nonsense, and loud Mr. McMahon eventually transformed into a villainous character. He blended into the product as an announcer, but the audience didn’t see that side of McMahon.
There is nothing subtle about the McMahon persona.
He shouts with veins bulging in his neck. He smiles as he places his foot on his opponent’s throat.
While Trump isn’t ordering his underlings to nail anybody under a steel chair, McMahon’s personality is reminiscent of a nature that is top-notch.
He doesn’t hold back. He’s assertive, unapologetic and boisterous, all characteristics shared by the onscreen portrayal of McMahon.
“Inflating his achievements, such as the towering size of his skyscrapers and his wealth,” Trump has faced allegations of exaggeration, as stated by Simone Payment in Donald Trump: Profile of a Real Estate Tycoon. Trump engages in similar truth-bending practices in other areas. McMahon, on the other hand, has no problem with embellishing the height of one of his colossal figures for the purpose of entertainment. Trump also stretches the truth akin to a wrestling promoter.
McMahon’s empire overflows with exaggeration. The latest major showdown is frequently hailed as the grandest event in WWE history.
The company has showcased The Eighth Wonder of the World, The World’s Largest Athlete, and The World’s Most Dangerous Man.
Despite the fact that Trump and McMahon sell entirely different products, they both engage in extensive marketing using a confident and straightforward approach to reach their target audience.
Sean Trainor of Salon labeled Trump as a circus promoter, dubbing him “the modern-day equivalent of P.T. Barnum.” Numerous critics have echoed this sentiment.
Trump is not aware of the subtlety of his approach. Making it the best, making it the biggest. If you’re going to go for it. “I believe in doing big things,” Trump said. He has not been seen as such a thing as over-exposure in Slater’s.
Look at any WWE production and you will see massive video screens hanging above them, in massive stadiums, where wrestlers battle. McMahon, the philosophy behind it all, remains the same.
Every individual has evolved beyond being just a salesman. Each one has become an indispensable component of their own brand.
As a result of their expanding brands, both companies experienced a significant increase in their presence. McMahon, the best villain in his own company, became a prominent figure. Trump took his reality show success to the next level by investing in properties beyond just buying buildings.
Trump’s popularity increased after his appearances on television. McMahon’s reputation grew after serving as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s main competitor.
As McMahon gradually moves away from the center of attention, Trump has emerged as the prevailing on-air dictators. His daughter and son-in-law now play supporting roles in WWE programming, a position that McMahon has recently assumed.
The next leader of the United States, Trump, on the other hand, has gained even more visibility due to his campaign. McMahon’s corporation remains a bold and assertive venture, albeit with a change in his role within it.
In this realm where workaholics tread, McMahon continues to stay occupied, ensuring minimal competition in his thriving kingdom. Meanwhile, Trump, though he aggressively seeks a new crown, is eager to expand his empire’s impressive structures.