Inducted 3/12/2010

Vincent Kennedy McMahon was born August 24, 1945 in Pinehurst North Carolina.  He is the son of wrestling promoter Vincent J. McMahon who operated the World Wide Wrestling Federation as part of the north east territory wrestling, though did not meet his father until the age of 12.  However, it was at that point that Vince decided to follow in his father's footsteps to become a wrestling promoter.  This was where he got the start that led him to be the greatest wrestling promoter of all time. 

After graduating college in 1968 with a business degree and struggling as a salesman, he urged his father for a managerial role in the company, however ironically his father didn't want him to get into the business.  However the next year Vince began working for the WWWF as an on air role of announcer.  It was here where he learned the business including promoting his first card in Maine.  He helped triple the syndication of the company on television and in 1971 he became a primary play by play announcer.  He went on to become chairman of the company and in 1980 incorporated "Titan Sports".  In 1982 he acquired Capitol Wrestling from his father and the World Wrestling Federation was born. 

It was here where his business plan changed the face of wrestling forever.  Up until that time wrestling companies for the most part ran on the understanding that each would control a region of the country and would not market their brand in other parts of the country.  McMahon however had a different vision for wrestling that with the advancement of cable programming in more homes, began not only broadcasting his matches in other parts of the country but also began signing wrestlers from other promotions exclusively to the WWF.  In 1984 he decided to push Hulk Hogan as his main attraction and launched what would become not only a major event in wrestling but also pop culture with WrestleMania.  McMahon's focus on WrestleMania was not only to feature wrestlers and great matches but also to bring in pop culture from the mainstream with the "Rock N Wrestling Connection".  In 1987 WrestleMania III became the biggest event in wrestling history as Hulk Hogan, the biggest star at the time, went to face Andre The Giant who was also one of the most recognizable figures in and outside of wrestling in a match that was highly anticipated and led to the sellout crowd of 93,179 at the Pontiac Silverdome. 

In the 1990's Vince would once again reinvent the World Wrestling Federation with the Attitude Era.  This featured him turning from a face announcer to admitting on air that he was truly in charge of the company as well as taking on a heel persona of Mr. McMahon.  As part of this he fueded with the top face at the time, Stone Cold Steve Austin.  This time in the company moved away from cartoonish story lines and instead featured adult themed content in order to reach a more mainstream audience and it put the company ahead of long time rival World Championship Wrestling.

In 1999 Vince McMahon took the World Wrestling Federation public and it is now traded on the New York Stock Exchange.  In 2001 he purchased World Championship Wrestling from Time Warner after Turner Broadcasting Systems decided that they wanted to go into a different direction than wrestling programming.  This left him as the only major wrestling promotion.  After purchasing WCW he was able to obtain ownership of AWA, Smoky Mountain Wrestling, World Class, and other wrestling promotions.

Not everything in his career was successful or positive.  He went on trial but was acquitted in the 90s for distribution of steroids.  He failed along with NBC Sports with the launching of the XFL football league.  And he lost a lawsuit in 2002 to the World Wildlife Fund on the right to use the initials WWF and thus World Wrestling Entertainment was born. 

During his career he has been a promoter, executive, on air talent as announcer as well as the boss "Mr. McMahon".  He also has even participated in a few matches as a wrestler, including matches against Stone Cold Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan, and most recently Bret Hart.  Love him or hate him Vince McMahon is truly a hall of famer and without him wrestling would not exist the way it does today.

Championships & Accomplishments

WWF Championship
ECW World Championship
Royal Rumble Winner 1999

Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame Star