Vince McMahon talks about the thrill of producing live television.
For at least the last two decades, Monday Night Raw has been live almost every Monday night. More than a decade before that, Vince McMahon began producing several television programs that would help launch his World Wrestling Federation product onto another level.
An argument can be made that Vince McMahon has seen it all when it comes to producing professional wrestling television. However, despite all of the changes throughout the years, Vince McMahon says there is nothing that compares to the excitement of live television.
He explains why, in great detail while speaking to Pat McAfee on the March 3 Pat McAfee Show.
"You're on the edge and we've always said 'nothing can go wrong,' because the audience doesn't know what was supposed to happen. It's so exciting," Vince began. "There is pressure, but you live for that. You live for those moments. When something really great goes down, it's 'YES!' When someone does something really good and they come back through the curtain, hugging, and clapping, 'way to go.' When you don't do well, that's a different feeling and conversation. "
McMahon also explains that writing so much of the television allows him to truly become invested in every aspect of what is happening. Vince even says that he considers himself just like the audience, getting goosebumps every time something awesome happens.
"When you write it, you're really into it, as I am with all of the shows, the vision of what it is you're trying to tell, the story of it. If it comes out as well as you think, it's awesome. Sometimes it can come out better than you think and sometimes all those tools, everything is right there, and it's 'hmmm, how can they miss that?' It's all about the audience. When they really pop and it's a surprise and things of that nature, those are moments. I get the chill bumps like everyone else. I'm sitting in the audience like 'holy shit.' I'm doing the same thing," Vince says.
The massive amount of content that WWE produces is, of course, a hellacious grind. McMahon spoke about the longevity of some of the production crew, reiterating the idea that WWE is a family. While Vince does acknowledge the grind he says he doesn't look at it as a grind, he considers it a privilege.
"Think about our crew and all the members that do that twice a week. Sometimes it's different for the corporate types to understand that because it's not done anywhere in the world. We have the largest traveling show in the world," Vince said. "No one understands that, nor should they ever, or give a shit. All you care about is on the screen, but so much of everything that goes behind our vast organization, our production folks are absolutely the best in the world. We've had cameramen who have been with us for 15 to 20 years. It's a family. It's a grind and takes a toll to be able to leave your home, you're out on the road, sometimes you get home and it's not exactly the way you left it. Things can get tough. It's so extraordinary that so many people want to do this together. I don't look at it as a grind, I look at it as a privilege."
McMahon, who also said in the interview that he finishes his 1 a.m. workouts at 3:30 in the morning, says nobody will ever know if he’s tired. He also extends that philosophy to his corporate dealings.
"Nobody is ever going to know if I'm ever tired. Why would you? It's no different with corporate. I could have a really horrible phone call or meeting. Now I have ten seconds to walk into the next room. Am I going to bring that in? No, it's bad business to do that. Whatever emotion you have there, when you walk into that next room, be your normal self and smile. You may be dying or pissed off, but why bring that to the meeting if you're angry or whatever it is that is bugging you, it changes the entire complexion of the meeting," said Vince.
Eventually, in 1998, Vince McMahon became the on-screen character of Mr. McMahon, a hyperbolic extension of his public persona. Vince McMahon’s greatest rival was Stone Cold Steve Austin. Speaking to McAfee, McMahon, because of how he grew up, says that he relates more to Stone Cold Steve Austin than the character he played opposite to Steve.
"I had to become one if I was going to be on screen, especially with Steve, that's a blast. I'm really Steve Austin. That came in terms of the concept of it and knocking your boss. I understood that underdog philosophy and your boss is an asshole and things of that nature. I grew up that way," said Vince.
"When you're committing to a character, you have to really get in," he continued. "You have to want people to really dislike you. You want people to honestly, really dislike you. I guess that's easy for me to do sometimes. When you're really into that character and you think of things that motivate people, even lying, people think I was lying, 'You don't lie.' Any number of lies you tell every day, topics like that, people can relate to. To be able to mash the emotional buttons and get a reaction like that, it's a thrill. "
McMahon also revealed that while he enjoyed portraying a character in television, he prefers to be on the other side of the camera because it allows him to better be hands-on with the entire product and live vicariously through every performer rather than being singularly focused on his performance.
"When you're performing, then you can't produce and direct. That's so difficult because you have to commit so much to that performance," he explained. "I'd much rather be on the other side of the camera, that's where all of the action is and you can live vicariously through every single character that walked out there. If you are the character, it takes so much emphasis just to be able to do that well. I miss out and everyone else does as well in terms of me directing and producing them. It's difficult to do."
McMahon's greatest rival, Stone Cold Steve Austin says he will be returning to WrestleMania 38 to open one last can of whoop-ass on Kevin Owens. Learn more here.
The last person Vince McMahon inducted into the Hall of Fame was Stone Cold Steve Austin, but that will change this year as Vince inducts The Undertaker on Friday, April 1, 2022.
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