Career Timeline of Vince McMahon: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Vince McMahon made an impact.
Vincent Kennedy McMahon is an American businessman and former professional wrestling promoter best known as the co-founder (with his then-wife Linda) of WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. Beyond wrestling, McMahon has pursued ventures in other sports, including the World Bodybuilding Federation and the XFL football league, demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit across the sports and entertainment landscape.
1968: Graduation from East Carolina University
In 1968, Vince McMahon graduated from East Carolina University with a business degree.
1969: McMahon's Ring Announcer Debut
In 1969, McMahon began appearing on untelevised WWWF events as a ring announcer.
1969: First WWE Appearance
In 1969, Vince McMahon appeared on-screen for WWE.
1969: Debut as Ring Announcer
In 1969, Vince McMahon made his debut as a ring announcer for the WWWF's All-Star Wrestling.
1971: McMahon's Commentary Debut
In 1971, McMahon made his commentary debut when he replaced Ray Morgan, who had a pay dispute with McMahon's father.
1971: Assigned to Maine Territory and Became Play-by-Play Commentator
In 1971, Vince McMahon was assigned to a small territory in Maine and promoted his first card. He later became the play-by-play commentator for television matches.
1976: Promotion of Ali vs. Inoki Match
In 1976, Vince McMahon was behind the Muhammad Ali versus Antonio Inoki match.
1977: Physical Altercation on WWF Television
In 1977, McMahon and Arnold Skaaland were struck from behind by Captain Lou Albano as part of a kayfabe "Manager Of the Year" storyline.
1979: Push for Renaming to WWF
In 1979, Vince McMahon pushed for renaming the company to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
1979: Purchase of Cape Cod Coliseum and Buccaneers
In 1979, Vince and Linda McMahon purchased the Cape Cod Coliseum and the Cape Cod Buccaneers of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League. In addition to pro wrestling and hockey, they began selling out rock concerts.
February 21, 1980: Founding of Titan Sports
On February 21, 1980, Vince McMahon officially founded Titan Sports, later to become WWE.
1982: Titan Acquired Control of CWC
In 1982, Titan Sports acquired control of the CWC from Vince McMahon's ailing father.
1982: Purchase of WWE
In 1982, Vince McMahon bought the company, then called the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), from his father, Vincent J. McMahon.
1984: Recruitment of Hulk Hogan
In 1984, Vince McMahon recruited Hulk Hogan to be the WWF's charismatic new megastar, leading to the promotion expanding nationally.
1984: Change in On-Screen Persona
Until 1984, McMahon portrayed himself as mild-mannered and diplomatic as a commentator.
March 31, 1985: First WrestleMania
On March 31, 1985, Vince McMahon ran the first WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden, available on closed-circuit television, marking a significant impact on professional wrestling.
1985: Andre the Giant Grabs McMahon by the Collar
In 1985, Andre the Giant grabbed McMahon by the collar during an interview on Tuesday Night Titans, due to irritation with McMahon's questions regarding his feud with Big John Studd and their match at the first WrestleMania.
1986: McMahons Support Special Olympics
Since 1986, the McMahons have supported the Special Olympics, first developing an interest through their friendship with NBC producer Dick Ebersol and Susan Saint James, who encouraged them to participate.
1987: WrestleMania III
In 1987, the WWF reportedly drew 93,173 fans to the Pontiac Silverdome for WrestleMania III, featuring Hulk Hogan vs. André the Giant.
May 26, 1990: McMahon Screams at Medics After Hogan's Attack
During the May 26, 1990, episode of WWF Superstars of Wrestling, McMahon can be seen screaming at medics and WWF personnel after Hulk Hogan was attacked by Earthquake during a segment of The Brother Love Show.
1990: World Bodybuilding Federation Founded
In 1990, McMahon founded the World Bodybuilding Federation organization.
September 28, 1991: Roddy Piper Mistakenly Hits McMahon with a Chair
On September 28, 1991, on WWF Superstars of Wrestling, Roddy Piper mistakenly hit McMahon with a folding chair aimed at Ric Flair, requiring McMahon to be taken out of the arena on a stretcher.
1992: Kevin Wacholz wrestled for the company
In 1992, Kevin Wacholz wrestled for the company as Nailz
1992: World Bodybuilding Federation Folds
In 1992, the World Bodybuilding Federation organization folded.
November 8, 1993: Randy Savage Hurls McMahon to the Floor
On November 8, 1993, on Monday Night Raw, Randy Savage hurled McMahon to the floor in an attempt to attack Crush, after McMahon attempted to restrain him.
1993: McMahon Commentates on Monday Night Raw
In 1993, McMahon commentated on Monday Night Raw when the shows started.
1993: Feud with Jerry Lawler
In 1993, Vince McMahon engaged in a feud with Jerry Lawler as part of a cross-promotion between WWF and the United States Wrestling Association (USWA). He sent WWF wrestlers to Memphis to challenge Lawler, marking McMahon's first physical interjection in a match.
1993: Start of the New Generation Era
In 1993, the company entered the New Generation Era, a challenging period for Vince McMahon.
September 23, 1996: Jim Ross Outs McMahon as Chairman
On September 23, 1996, on Monday Night Raw, Jim Ross delivered a worked shoot promo during which he ran down McMahon, outing him as chairman and not just a commentator.
March 17, 1997: Beginning of Mr. McMahon Character
The March 17, 1997, episode of WWF Raw Is War is cited by some as the beginning of the Mr. McMahon character, after Bret Hart's expletive-laden rant against McMahon and WWF management.
September 22, 1997: Stone Cold Steve Austin Attacks Owen Hart and Vince McMahon
On September 22, 1997, during a Raw broadcast from Madison Square Garden, Stone Cold Steve Austin assaulted Owen Hart. When McMahon intervened, Austin attacked him with a Stone Cold Stunner and was arrested. This marked the beginning of the Austin-McMahon rivalry.
November 1997: Departure as Regular Play-by-Play Commentator
In November 1997, Vince McMahon ceased to be the regular play-by-play commentator for television matches.
November 1997: End of McMahon's Commentary Role
McMahon maintained the role of regular play-by-play commentator until November 1997.
1997: The Montreal Screwjob at Survivor Series
In 1997 the Montreal Screwjob took place during the Survivor Series event. This event was the catalyst for Vince McMahon's confrontation with Bret Hart on January 4, 2010.
1997: Adoption of Mr. McMahon Character
In 1997, Vince McMahon adopted the character of Mr. McMahon, an irascible, villainous tyrant.
1997: Initiation of WWF Attitude Era
In the late 1990s, after struggling against WCW, McMahon initiated the WWF Attitude era, a brand strategy that returned the WWF to prominence and redirected storylines toward a more adult-oriented model.
October 1999: Initial Public Offering of Company Stock
In October 1999, Vince McMahon led the WWF in an initial public offering of company stock.
2000: XFL Launched
In 2000, McMahon launched the XFL, a professional American football league.
February 2001: XFL Begins
In February 2001, the XFL began with McMahon making an appearance at the first game, but folded after one season due to low television ratings.
March 23, 2001: Acquisition of WCW
On March 23, 2001, Vince McMahon's WWF acquired the fading World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from Turner Broadcasting System, ending the Monday Night War.
April 1, 2001: ECW Files for Bankruptcy
On April 1, 2001, Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) filed for bankruptcy, leaving WWF as the last major wrestling promotion at that time.
2001: Acquisition of World Championship Wrestling
In 2001, McMahon acquired World Championship Wrestling from AOL Time Warner.
2001: Demise of WCW
In 2001, WCW's demise allowed WWE to move away from the Attitude Era and appeal to viewers in a more sophisticated way through a "far more scripted" PG Era.
May 5, 2002: Announcement of Name Change to WWE
On May 5, 2002, World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. announced it would be changing its company name and the name of its wrestling promotion to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
June 24, 2002: WWE Officially Names the New Era as "Ruthless Aggression"
On June 24, 2002, WWE officially named its new era as the "Ruthless Aggression Era", which still included violence, sex, and profanity, but with less politically incorrect content and a greater focus on wrestling.
January 28, 2003: Acquisition of ECW Assets
On January 28, 2003, Vince McMahon later acquired the assets of ECW.
February 13, 2003: McMahon Tries to Derail Hulk Hogan's Return
On February 13, 2003, during SmackDown!, Vince McMahon attempted to stop Hulk Hogan's return after a five-month absence, but Hogan thwarted him by knocking him out with a running leg drop.
2003: Purchase of ECW Assets
In 2003, WWE purchased the assets of the defunct Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW).
December 26, 2005: McMahon Reviews Bret Hart's DVD and Threatens Shawn Michaels
On December 26, 2005, during Raw, Vince McMahon reviewed Bret Hart's DVD and threatened Shawn Michaels, warning him not to make him "screw" him like he did Hart.
January 29, 2006: McMahon Interferes in Royal Rumble, Distracting Shawn Michaels
On January 29, 2006, at the Royal Rumble, Vince McMahon's entrance theme music distracted Shawn Michaels, who was among the final six, allowing Shane McMahon to eliminate him.
2006: Donation for Tennis Facility Construction
In 2006, the McMahons paid $2.5 million for construction of a tennis facility in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.
January 2007: Feud with Donald Trump
In January 2007, Vince McMahon began a feud with Donald Trump, which gained significant media attention. Originally, Trump and McMahon were to fight themselves, but instead agreed to have representatives wrestle at WrestleMania 23 in a Hair vs. Hair match.
February 2008: Hornswoggle Storyline
In February 2008, JBL revealed that Hornswoggle was not McMahon's son but Finlay's, which was part of a scam planned by Shane, Stephanie, Linda McMahon, and Finlay.
2008: McMahons' Donations to Various Institutions
In 2008, Vince and Linda McMahon donated over $8 million, giving grants to the Fishburne Military School, Sacred Heart University, and East Carolina University.
January 5, 2009: Chris Jericho's Firing
On January 5, 2009, Chris Jericho told Stephanie McMahon that Vince McMahon would be returning to Raw soon.
January 4, 2010: Confrontation with Bret Hart
On January 4, 2010, Vince McMahon confronted Bret "The Hitman" Hart for the first time since the Montreal Screwjob at Survivor Series 1997. They appeared to bury the hatchet but McMahon turned heel by kicking Hart.
2010: Shane McMahon departs WWE
In 2010, Shane McMahon departed from WWE, before returning in 2016.
April 7, 2011: WWE Changes Its Name
On April 7, 2011, World Wrestling Entertainment ceased using its full name and began referring to itself solely as WWE, an orphan initialism, to reflect the company's expansion into global entertainment, with a focus on television, live events, and film production.
June 11, 2012: Job Evaluation for John Laurinaitis
On June 11, 2012, Vince McMahon returned to evaluate John Laurinaitis. After conflict with Cena and Big Show, McMahon declared that if Big Show lost his match at No Way Out, Laurinaitis would be fired.
2012: WWE Network Scheduled to Launch
In 2012, the WWE Network was scheduled to launch (but later pushed back to 2014) as part of WWE's new company model focused on television, live events, and film production.
June 2013: Family Dispute over WWE Control
From June 2013, the McMahon family began disputing elements of control within WWE, including the fates of Daniel Bryan, Brad Maddox, and Vickie Guerrero.
2013: Assault by Brock Lesnar
In 2013, during a performance review of Paul Heyman, Vince McMahon was attacked by Brock Lesnar, who used the F-5 move on him. McMahon reportedly broke his pelvis and required surgery.
February 2014: WWE Network Launched
In February 2014, McMahon helped launch an over-the-top streaming service called the WWE Network.
November 3, 2014: Return to Raw
On the November 3, 2014, episode of Raw, McMahon made a stipulation that if Team Cena defeated Team Authority at Survivor Series, The Authority would be removed from power.
2014: Donations to Republican Political Causes
In 2014, Vince McMahon and his wife donated approximately $1 million to federal candidates and political action committees, including American Crossroads and America Rising. They also donated $5 million to the Donald J. Trump Foundation in 2014.
2014: Stepping Back from On-Screen Authority Role
In early 2014, Vince McMahon stepped aside from his on-screen authority role to evaluate Triple H and Stephanie's control of the company.
2014: WWE Network Launch Year
The WWE Network launch was pushed back to 2014 as part of WWE's new company model focused on television, live events, and film production.
December 14, 2015: Aligning with The Authority
On December 14, 2015, Vince McMahon aligned himself with The Authority by confronting Roman Reigns, granting him a WWE World Heavyweight Championship rematch with the stipulation that if Reigns failed to win, he would be fired.
January 4, 2016: Special Guest Referee on Raw
On January 4, 2016, Vince McMahon served as the special guest referee in Roman Reigns' rematch against Sheamus, where Reigns won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship after McMahon was knocked out.
2016: Shane McMahon returns to WWE
In 2016, Shane McMahon returned to WWE after departing in 2010.
April 3, 2017: Kurt Angle Announced as Raw General Manager
On the April 3, 2017, episode of Raw, Vince McMahon returned to announce Kurt Angle as the new Raw General Manager and announced the upcoming Superstar Shake-up.
2017: Alpha Entertainment Established
In 2017, McMahon established Alpha Entertainment, a separate entity from WWE.
January 22, 2018: Raw 25 Years Appearance
On January 22, 2018, Vince McMahon returned on Raw 25 Years and turned heel by calling the WWE Universe "cheap". He was later confronted and stunnered by Stone Cold Steve Austin.
January 25, 2018: XFL Resurrection Announced
On January 25, 2018, McMahon announced a resurrection of the XFL.
July 25, 2019: WWE to be "a bit edgier"
During a conference call on July 25, 2019, Vince McMahon announced a new direction for WWE stating that it would "be a bit edgier, but still remain in the PG environment".
October 2, 2019: Wednesday Night Wars Begin
On October 2, 2019, WWE NXT and AEW Dynamite competed in the Wednesday Night Wars.
2019: Feud between Daniel Bryan and Kofi Kingston
In 2019, Vince McMahon involved himself in the feud between Daniel Bryan and Kofi Kingston, refusing Kingston a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania.
April 13, 2020: XFL Files for Bankruptcy
After only five weeks of play in its inaugural 2020 season, the XFL abruptly ceased play due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and filed for bankruptcy on April 13, 2020.
April 7, 2021: End of Wednesday Night Wars
On April 7, 2021, the Wednesday Night Wars ended, with AEW Dynamite emerging victorious and NXT moving to Tuesday nights.
April 10, 2021: WrestleMania 37 appearance
On April 10, 2021, Vince McMahon appeared at WrestleMania 37 to welcome back the fans in person at the Raymond James Stadium after live events were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 6, 2021: Announcement of scripted TV series
On July 6, 2021, a new scripted television series called The United States of America vs. Vince McMahon was announced, focusing on the steroid case, produced by WWE Studios and Blumhouse Television, with McMahon as an executive producer.
July 29, 2021: McMahon on AEW Competition
During a conference call on July 29, 2021, Vince McMahon stated that he doesn't consider AEW competition and that he was "not so sure what their investments are as far as their talent is concerned".
September 14, 2021: NXT Revamped to NXT 2.0
On September 14, 2021, WWE revamped NXT with major changes, starting with the "NXT 2.0" episode.
June 2022: Stepping down as CEO and chairman
In June 2022, Vince McMahon stepped down as CEO and chairman of WWE, but continued to oversee content development.
June 17, 2022: Vince McMahon Steps Down as Chairman and CEO of WWE
On June 17, 2022, Vince McMahon voluntarily stepped down as chairman and CEO of WWE pending an internal investigation, with his daughter Stephanie McMahon named as the interim CEO and interim chairwoman of the WWE. McMahon continued to oversee WWE creative and content development.
July 2022: Retirement from WWE
In July 2022, Vince McMahon retired from WWE.
July 22, 2022: Retirement from WWE
On July 22, 2022, Vince McMahon announced his retirement from WWE.
2022: Final WWE Appearance
Vince McMahon's on-screen appearances for WWE continued from 1969 until 2022.
January 6, 2023: McMahon Plans Return to WWE as Executive Chairman
On January 6, 2023, it was reported that Vince McMahon was planning a return to WWE as executive chairman, ahead of media rights negotiations in 2024 and to explore a potential sale of the company; WWE also appointed Vince McMahon, George Barrios and Michelle Wilson back to the WWE Board of Directors.
January 2023: Return to WWE as Executive Chairman
In January 2023, Vince McMahon's return to WWE as executive chairman was confirmed.
September 12, 2023: WWE and UFC Merger Completed
On September 12, 2023, the merger between WWE and UFC as TKO was completed, with WWE and UFC continuing to operate as separate divisions of TKO.
2023: "Mr McMahon is dead"
In 2023, Vince McMahon stated in an interview with Ari Emmanuel that "Mr McMahon is dead" signifying the permanent end to the character.
2023: Stephanie McMahon stepping down in 2023
Stephanie McMahon played a prominent role in WWE both behind the scenes and as a television performer until stepping down in 2023.
January 2024: Resignation from TKO
In January 2024, Vince McMahon resigned from TKO Group Holdings after allegations of sex trafficking and sexual assault.
January 26, 2024: Vince McMahon Resigns from TKO
On January 26, 2024, Vince McMahon resigned from TKO following a report about alleged sexual assaults committed by him.
September 25, 2024: Release of 'Mr. McMahon' Documentary Series on Netflix
On September 25, 2024, Netflix released a documentary series titled "Mr. McMahon", detailing aspects of Vince McMahon's legacy, including his business impact and controversies.
2024: Upcoming Media Rights Negotiations
In 2024, WWE was preparing for upcoming media rights negotiations, which was a factor in Vince McMahon's planned return to the company.
2025: 14th & I Established
In 2025, McMahon established 14th & I, an investment firm and “entertainment hub company” pursuing opportunities in media and sports entertainment.
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