RAW Magazine: Linda,
you've been married to Vince McMahon for 33 years and have always been involved
in the management of the World Wrestling Federation, yet only recently have the
fans seen you or heard from you. Could you explain your true role here at the
World Wrestling Federation and what you do, versus what Vince does?
Linda McMahon: Well, clearly Vince is the driving, creative, visionary
force of the company. And that really is the engine of the company. His
entrepreneurship creates the need for administration, management, strategic
planning, and sharing of that vision to be able to execute it. So, my job as
president and CEO of the company is to make sure everything is in place so we
can create the product and go forward with it.
RAW: Please bring our readers up to date on the exciting news the
company has had lately.
Linda: I guess the most outstanding event that has happened in the
past few months was our IPO, the Initial Public Offering [of WWFE on NASDAQ].
That was a momentous occasion in the history of this company. We've always
operated as a privately held company, and now we've taken our company to a
billion-dollar valuation...an unbelievable milestone. For the first time, we are
getting the kind of recognition that comes from being a public company.
Now, we continue to be recognized and understood by our fans who have made us
successful, but in addition, we have the attention of a broader national and
international business, investment, and media community as well. The fact that
we're the top-rated, regularly scheduled show on cable and now the number
one-rated show on UPN speaks of the popularity of the World Wrestling Federation
brand and our particular form of entertainment.
RAW: Were you always involved in the business, even when Shane and
Stephanie were young children? Have you always been involved somehow behind the
scenes?
Linda: How it really began...I think it was 1972 when Vince first went
on the air as an announcer for his father's company, Capitol Wrestling
Corporation. Shane was two years old, and I was a paralegal at a law firm in
Washington, D.C. Vince and I moved from Washington to New Britain, Connecticut
that year, and Vince started travelling a lot for Capitol. I wasn't working
then; I was at home. But I was assisting Vince in a lot of different ways with
some of the things he was doing.
In 1980, we formed Titan Sports. Vince was not only producing television, and
helping expand the syndication for his father's company, but he also began to
promote some events on his own, mostly in the New England area.
As I became more involved in helping him, I saw the need for setting up
systems for handling different aspects of the business. I developed a lot of
systems that are still in use today. So we really worked as a team.
On April 1, 1980 we hired our first employee and that was Howard Finkel; our
second employee was Ed Cohen [now Senior Vice President of Event Booking], both
are still with us.
Then in 1982, we bought his father's company, and wanted to expand from the
Northeast across the country. I was getting more involved in licensing, mail
order, product development, finance, and contracts, as well as writing and
editing our publications.
We trademarked the name World Wrestling Federation in the mid-'80s. We were
the first wrestling company to share revenues with the performers themselves for
products which bore their likeness or name. All of these programs helped pave
the way to where we are now.
RAW: UPN has a promo for SmackDown! that refers to the
McMahon family as "the most twisted family on American television." In
reality the McMahons are a very closeknit, loving family. It's a wonderful thing
and everybody works together. As their mom, how do you feel after seeing Shane
and Stephanie blossom on television and in the business world?
Linda: I'm unbelievable proud. Working in this company was not
something we ever insisted on, or even encouraged Shane and Stephanie to do.
They always knew they were welcome, and that we would love to have them, but
they also knew that if they wanted to pursue a different career path, we would
support their decision. So we are doubly pleased that this was something that
they WANTED to do. And now, Shane's wife, Marissa, has joined us. She is
expanding the publicity envelope in a lot of different directions, like Stone
Cold in the milk campaign, articles in TALK Magazine, Vanity Fair,
and Marie Claire, to name a few.
RAW: What do you think about Shane's performance in the ring?
Linda: Shane is a really talented performer, but he scares me to
death! That Monday night on RAW when he dove off the top of the cage and
flew halfway across the ring, I literally jumped to my feet and held my breath.
The next week he did a back flip over the floor barricade onto the concrete and
hit his head. It's really hard watching, knowing he's hurt, yet knowing he's
going to continue. I get a phone call right afterwards saying, "Mom, I'm
fine."
It's the same way when Vince is in the ring. I watch, but my heart is in my
throat sometimes.
RAW: As a mother, what do you think about the controversy we seem
to be drawn into concerning parents monitoring, or not monitoring, what their
children watch?
Linda: It's an age-old controversy about the responsibility of movie
producers, television networks, book publishers, writers, record labels, and now
videogame makers, etc. to create content that is acceptable. Our society has a
lot of different consumer appetites. We do create programming and products that
appeal to many ages, just by virtue of some of the zaniness and sheer
entertainment we do. But also, we focus our product to a particular demographic
depending on broadcast time.
Our "edgier" shows are RAW and The War Zone from 9-11
p.m. on Monday evenings on the USA cable network, and are rated TV14. On
Thursdays, our 8-10 p.m. broadcast of SmackDown! on UPN is TVPG, as are
our Saturday and Sunday morning programs and syndication. [These ratings are
meant to be a guide for parents.] Our edgiest programming is reserved for our
monthly PPV audience.
A parent gets a sense of what their children want to watch, and should guide
them accordingly. I do think the ultimate responsibility rests with parents.
RAW: You were involved in a storyline that brought you into the
ring a few times. When you were in that ring, how did you feel when Chyna and
Triple H were yelling in your face and threatening you on live national
television?
Linda: I was intimidated. They were frightening. I am much more
nervous in the ring than I am in front of a press conference or in front of a
big investment committee. It takes a great deal of talent and training to do
what our Superstars and the rest of my family do week after week in the ring.
They are on a stage performing and that is a true craft. I personally don't
think I am very good at it, but I've enjoyed what I've done. It's an awesome
experience to be able to directly interact with our fans, and I always welcome
that opportunity.
RAW: Your kids are so good at what they do, that they really set
the bar up there for Mom when you joined them in the ring.
Linda: Not just Shane and Stephanie, but all of our Superstars. They
are all trained professionals, and the moves which they perform in and around
the ring should not be tried by anyone watching our events unless that person is
also a professional.
RAW: What was your favorite or funniest moment from the last few
years?
Linda: Wow. We've done so many things I have enjoyed, but I have to
tell you something we've done just recently that I am thoroughly enjoying, and
that is featuring [the Fabulous] Moolah and Mae Young. I have such admiration
for those two women. They come to the ring and perform physical moves like those
of MUCH younger counterparts and take falls out of the ring! They are two real
veterans for whom I have an incredible respect. They make me laugh, and they
make me applaud because I think they are so good. I am thoroughly entertained by
them, and in awe.
One of my least favorite moments from the past few years was the night that
Stone Cold Steve Austin threw Vince from the top of the steel-cage door onto the
announcers table during a PPV event, and I knew he was hurt. I was frightened by
it, and it was just one of those moments that for a brief second you have that
fear of how seriously he might be hurt.
RAW: Have you ever thought about writing a book?
Linda: Yes, I have thought about writing a book (laughs). I often
thought it would have to be fiction, or would be considered fiction, because
nobody would believe that many of the events in our lives actually happened.
But, there are a lot of anecdotes and stories that would be fun to tell.
RAW: What do the McMahons talk about over the dinner table?
Linda: Now we're talking about our new son-in-law, Triple H, and
Stephanie's shocking behavior. She appears to be consumed with power. As this
magazine goes to press, I'm not quite sure what to make of her behavior. It is
so antithetical to what I have always believed to be our daughter's character.
RAW: Any final words?
Linda: I just want to say that I enjoy being here at the World
Wrestling Federation everyday, and I feel privileged to be part of this unique
and entertaining form of American pop culture. Our company is always
appreciative for the opportunity to entertain its fans around the world.
