In 2001, Vince McMahon joined Bob Costas for an interview on Costas' HBO show "On The Record" about wrestling and the XFL. The interview became heated as Costas seemed to criticize McMahon and the WWF for its content, which McMahon didn't take kindly to. Costas believes he was sticking to his journalistic morals and asking McMahon tougher questions than perhaps McMahon was used to.
McMahon started to lean in towards Costas, who stood his ground as the show rolled on. Eventually, things ended with an incident.
Speaking on "Mr. McMahon," Vince and Costas looked back on the interview.
"I said to Vince in the green room beforehand, 'There are gonna be some tough questions here. I think they'll be fair, but tough.' He said, 'Fine,'" recalled Costas.
Vince commented, "I thought I was gonna go on and talk about the XFL and be friendly. I was told that's what it was gonna be. Costas started baiting me. Bob did his job. He did it well. He got me. I find myself getting closer and closer. I could feel my hands just visualizing what would it be if I had my hands wrapped around his little neck."
Costas said, "The Mr. McMahon character is, in some sense, an exaggeration of traits that Vince has. Maybe in that moment, some of it melded."
Vince closed by saying, "I was angry at myself too because I was set up and I should have seen it coming, and I didn't, like an idiot."
In the book “Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers," Vince said he wished Costas was taller and bigger so he could beat the shit out of him.
All six episodes of "Mr. McMahon" are now streaming on Netflix.
Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, filed a lawsuit in January against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis. The lawsuit accuses McMahon of sexual assault and sex trafficking. On May 30, Grant agreed to pause the lawsuit for six months while the federal investigation continued against McMahon, who resigned from TKO/WWE following the lawsuit being filed.
Victim Resources:
National Sexual Assault Hotline
Hours: Available 24 hours
1-800-656-4673
