Vince
McMahon will do his first long-form interview in years
on today’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show. The
expectation is that McMahon will do an angle on this
show to set up a match with McAfee at WrestleMania
38 in Dallas. It was hinted during Monday Night Raw
that Austin Theory might be appearing on today’s
show as well. WrestlingNews.co
will cover the interview in real-time. Refresh this
page for updates.
Live
notes/recap:
–
The interview was originally scheduled for 2 pm eastern
and then it was pushed to 2:15 pm eastern.
–
At 2:03 pm, McAfee said that he isn’t sure if
McMahon has landed yet but he is going to be in the
studio at some time in the hour. McAfee said he can’t
wait to pick his brain to talk about some of the decisions
he has made and he wants to ask questions about things
that we haven’t heard answers from.
–
McAfee said he got a call and was told that McMahon
doesn’t need any prep time. McAfee said he has
no clue what is going to happen, despite what has
been said online and there are no time restrictions.
McAfee says he genuinely has no clue what is happening
ahead of time on SmackDown and what you hear is his
genuine reaction.
–
Vince showed up at 2:23 pm. McAfee said he appreciates
Vince appearing in-studio because this is big for
his show.
–
Vince talked about not believing in ceilings. Vine
said everything he and his staff do is calculated
and he listens to them before making decisions. On
the decision to move to streaming, Vince said lawyers
try to tie your hands in terms of creativity and owning
you and for him, it’s more about creative control
and creating your destiny.
–
Vince stays out of the conversation when people try
to pat him on the back. “I’m just who I
am.” He says if he listens to the positives then
he has to listen to the negatives and he’s not
big on negatives. Vince says the members of the media
will say what they want to say. “If people think
you’re an asshole, you can’t change that.
I’m a good guy, I love my family.” He said
you can’t change perception when you are a public
personna. He only cares what the general public thinks.
He said it took a while to stop caring about the critics.
Vince said he can’t care what the media says
or what people who don’t understand him say about
him.
–
On not liking the word “wrestling” Vince
says he wanted to separate from everyone else. He
said his dad has his own brand, the World Wide Wrestling
Federation and it was brilliant. Vince joked that
“the panda got us” and he didn’t know
that the World Wildlife Fund existed and it was a
“no win” lawsuit because the company was
tried in England so he decided to “get the F
out.”
–
Vince said he has a lot of creative people in the
company and he listens because you can’t learn
if you’re talking…sometimes.
–
Vince announced that he will induct The Undertaker
into the Hall Of Fame.
–
McAfee talked about competition and specifically mentioned
AEW buying ROH. Vince said he loves confrontation
and he says that he lived “through the beating”
as a kid so he has nothing to be afraid of. Vince
said there was never a conversation about Taker going
to WCW, not one.
–
Vince talked about growing up in the trailer park
but he didn’t think he was “somebody”
until around WrestleMania 4 or 5 but he said he’s
just like everyone else but he’s fortunate to
do what he does and he is fortunate to be alive.
–
McAfee asked him to follow up on the statement that
he’s lucky to be alive. Vince said that he’s
just lucky to do what he loves.
–
Vince said that it’s just business when he lets
people go and sometimes people need to look in the
mirror but they like to pass blame.
–
Vince named WrestleMania 1 as one of his favorite
moments. He talked about not having the money he said
he had to fund the first WrestleMania.
–
McAfee asked if he has seen the person who plays him
on “Young Rock” and Vince said no. Vince
talked about the territory days and said that there
were times when people threatened him. He recalled
a story that Jim Ross told him about Bill Watts trying
to figure out what to do about Vince going national.
Vince said that four promoters were in the restroom
talking about how to take out Vince and JR happened
to hear this in the restroom stall and pulling both
feet up so he couldn’t be seen and “mother
nature is calling at the same time.”
–
On Saudi Arabia, Vince says the people there area
just like other people and WWE has had a presence
there for years and the fans there are enthusiastic
about western culture even though they don’t
love our government. He said WWE fits in everywhere.
Vince said, “people are people and cultures are
cultures and you have to respect that.”
–
Vince was asked how he finds time to do so much. Vince
said he’s not like anybody else in the world.
He finishes training around 3 am and he starts around
1:30. He says he overtrains even though it’s
not good for him but it’s the only socially acceptable
way to let out aggression. He does it for his head
more than he does it for his body and he tries to
eat right. “It really helps me more mentally
and psychologically” so he can handle the things
that come at him. Vince said he hasn’t had doubts
about what he’s wanted to do but sometimes he’ll
make decisions and he learns from mistakes. He said
he doesn’t have a down day.
–
On starting the WWE Network before streaming was a
big deal, Vince said he makes decisions based on common
sense.
–
Vince was asked how much he thinks about the future.
Vince says he loves branding and marketing and the
word “stupendous” is not used much in everyday
speak and things like that is what he thinks about.
–
Vince says he is “wide open” in regards
to being creative and you have to be able to accept
whatever comes in from whatever source. He feels that
he has a “second wheel” going on in his
brain and sometimes a third one but sometimes it can
get very confusing.
–
In regards to balancing thoughts about the future
and the current product, he said he doesn’t always
know where things are going to go but if something
becomes available, he figures out how WWE will fit.
Vince said when someone graduates from WWE you know
how to treat people and you show respect because “respect
is huge in everything we do.” Vince said people
hug each other and shake hands backstage and the basis
of that is that wrestlers have to work with each other
to avoid serious injury.
–
McAfee says Vince always listens to him during their
chats. McAfee says everyone sees Vince as a “robot
as a person” and people think he will live forever.
Vince said before he dies he wants one second to say
“thank you” and he wants to be thankful
to be alive. McAfee said he has about 26 years left
to live until 101, the same age that his mother lived
to.
–
On talk about WWE no longer being his one day, Vince
says if you build something he wants it to prosper
and grow with or without a family member and he wants
it to prosper even if you are not part of it. Vince
said he has always expected more from his family members
and you have to do the right thing for the business
and if things are not working out then you shouldn’t
he part of the company.
–
McAfee was about to end the interview but Vince was
willing to stick around to answer questions from McAfee’s
staff/co-host.
–
Vince said he wanted to offer something to McAfee.
Vince said he wanted to offer an opportunity to wrestle
at WrestleMania. Vince did not say that he would be
the one to wrestle McAfee.
–
Vince was asked if it’s harder to create Superstars.
Vince said it’s a team effort when creating Superstars.
Vince then went into a story about The Undertaker
being pressured to do the spinarooni and almost breaking
character. Vince said uses the term “Superstars”
instead of wrestlers because “anyone can wrestle”
and “do you want to be a professional wrestler
or a WWE Superstar” and “WWE Superstar sounds
better than a professional wrestler.” He said
you have to have acting talent and the want to grow
because if you are not growing then you’re dying
and you have to really get into your character in
the ring and some people are confused and act the
same way in their private life. Vince said “the
really good ones” are all in with their character
but they can shut it off after the show. Vince said
it’s important for mental health to not be the
same character out of the ring.
–
Vince said during COVID he never wanted to miss a
show and he credited the performers for working hard
at what they do. Vince acknowledged that things were
different with the NFL because they are a little more
higher profile. Vince talked about doing shows at
the Performance Center with no audience and how difficult
that was for the performers.
–
Vince said WWE has a focus group every night (the
fans at shows) and it does not matter what he wants
if the fans say otherwise. Vince said “you can
tell” when something is working or not and a
portion of the internet audience can be biased and
he doesn’t listen to those people.
–
Vince said that he has to overcome the stereotype
that he’s not cool or hip and he tries to give
people as much creative ability as possible but “you
don need to lead, you can’t just wait.”
–
McAfee praised Vince and said that he learns from
him and said that Vince, since the beginning, has
let Pat just do his thing. Vince said that if he didn’t
like what McAfee was doing then he wouldn’t be
doing it. Vince said McAfee appeals to the audience
and he has fun.
–
On Brock Lesnar, Vince said he is an extraordinary
human being and a “smart son of a b*tch.”
He says people think he’s a neanderthal but “he’s
smarter than you pal.”
–
Vince was asked if he keeps in touch with his top
guys like Steve Austin, Goldberg, etc. Vince said
he keeps in touch with “some” and he’d
love for them to stay in touch with him but he’s
busy but he tries to have the company stay in contact
with them.
–
Vince talked about the Attitude Era being so much
fun and the 80’s was the wild west and they had
a blast. Vince talked about the bedpan skit with Stone
Cold and Mick Foley. Vince said Austin came up with
the idea to hit Vince in the head with the bedpan
and it was fun to do that.
–
Vince said live TV is when you’re on the edge
and nothing can go wrong and it’s exciting, despite
the pressure and he lives for that.
–
McAfee mentioned Michael Cole Vince joked that Cole
is a “horrible human being.” McAfee asked
if Vince still gets excited before shows and Vince
said he does. Vince said if the vision of a story
comes out the way he wants then it’s awesome
and he gets chill bumps like everyone else.
–
Vince talked about the travel and sometimes it’s
difficult for the corporate types to grasp what WWE
does because they are like no one else. Vince said
it takes a grind and a toll to leave your home and
be on the road all the time. He said that it’s
extraordinary that so many people want to do this
together and he doesn’t see this as a grind,
but he sees it as a privilege. Vince said no one will
ever know when he’s tired. Vince said he can
have a horrible meeting or phone call but he won’t
bring that emotion into his next meeting.
–
McAfee asked if he looked at books or other leaders.
Vince said his grades weren’t good enough for
college and he is sure he had every learning disability
there was and he was expelled for fighting and he
never learned how to study. He said he needed summer
school to get into college and it took 5 years for
a 4-year curriculum in East North Carolina College.
Vince said Linda got through her curriculum in 3 years.
Vince said he didn’t have the grades to graduate
and he found out where the professors lived and he
knocked on their door and he got his grade changed
from a B+ to an A- but the other professor wasn’t
so nice and there was a confrontation. He said he
graduated from college because the first professor
changed his grade.
–
Vince was asked if he ever considered himself a WWE
Superstar. Vince said he had to during the Attitude
Era and he said “I’m really Steve Austin”
and he understood the underdog philosophy. Vince joked
that it’s easy to get people to dislike him.
Vince said he would much rather be on the other side
of the camera.
–
McAfee asked if Vince has had injuries other than
his blown quads. Vince said he had no use of his legs
when that happened at Royal Rumble 2005 and he had
to learn how to talk again during rehab. He says he
had neck surgery, triceps surgery, spinal surgery
and the injuries came from a combination of a lot
of things. Vince talked about squatting 1,000 pounds
and he only does that once a month. Vince put over
his staff as good people and quality human beings.
–
McAfee talked about the heat he got a few years back
for wearing shorts during a WrestleMania pre-show
and Vince appreciated that he wore the shirts. McAfee
said Vince has been genuine and cool with him.
You
can also watch the interview by clicking below:
Streaming
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Trends away from social media for established publishers
'They
should move to any other night, get away from us'
- Chris Jericho slams WWE with a bold statement -
4th September 2020
"They
lost! There's nothing wrong with conceiting defeat
and moving to a different night." Chris Jericho
had a lot more to say.
There
are rumors about WWE possibly moving NXT to a different
night.
AEW
Dynamite and NXT have aired on different days for
the past few weeks. As expected, the results have
been quite positive for both companies. Both shows
have drawn huge numbers without any competition, and
there is also talk about NXT possibly moving out from
the Wednesday slot. Chris Jericho, who has always
been on the offensive when it comes to AEW's ratings
victories over WWE, has sent another bold message
to the WWE.
During
a recent appearance on the Busted
Open radio show, the Demo God addressed the rumors
of WWE contemplating a change of day for NXT.
Chris
Jericho said that he wasn't surprised that the WWE
was planning on retreating from the Wednesday Night
Wars. The AEW Superstar sent a direct message to his
former employers that they should move to another
night. Chris Jericho felt that WWE had a great program,
and their spiteful tactic of going up against AEW
was only hurting NXT's ratings.
Chris
Jericho says WWE should just conceit defeat
Chris
Jericho declared that AEW isn't going anywhere and
that Dynamite would continue to beat NXT. Jericho
felt that WWE retreating is the right move from a
business standpoint. 'Le Champion' isn't bothered
about NXT breaching the 800k or 900k barriers as he
and AEW are focussed on getting over the 1 million
mark. He also spoke about the importance of the 18-49
demographic.
Chris
Jericho said that the WWE lost, and there is nothing
wrong for them to conceit defeat. The former AEW World
Champion concluded by proclaiming that no one can
stop All Elite Wrestling.
Here's
Chris Jericho's full statement on the rumors of WWE
moving to another night and the ongoing ratings war:
"Once
again, it was never a war for me. This is a war that
was thrust upon us by a company that is very petty
and very spiteful, and we know the reason why NXT
was moved to Wednesday nights. To mess with us. We
get it. We pay attention to what we are doing. We
don't care what they're doing, and we have no interest
in it. If you watch us, you get the ratings, where
we beat them week after week. We beat them in the
demos where people think it's jokes. The only thing
that matters is the TV networks and advertisers that
listed the 18-49 demo. Look it up. We win every week.
They should retreat. They should move to any other
night. Get away from us! You guys got a great program,
and it's good; why would you want to sacrifice your
own ratings just to be spiteful and petty to go head
to head with AEW? We're not going anywhere and put
on anything you want - we'll continue to beat you.
It is a retreat, but it's also the right move from
a business standpoint. Get your head out of your rear
end and just worry about your product the same way
we worry about ours. If they move to Tuesday, smart
move. That way, you guys can get your 850 thousand,
900 thousand. Whatever! Get 10 million viewers. Congratulations!
Let us do our thing, and we'll get over a million.
I think it's a smart move business-wise on theirs.
They lost! There's nothing wrong with conceiting defeat,
moving to a different night, and worrying about your
show and not worrying about going head to head with
AEW because you can't stop us." H/t WrestlingInc
While
Chris Jericho is just doing his job of putting over
AEW, many fans would argue that both shows airing
on different nights would be the right decision as
they can watch both shows. The ratings and viewership
figures from the past few weeks have proven that putting
out shows on separate days could be ideal for moving
forward.
Also,
don't forget to check out the latest interview from
Sportskeeda in which our very own Gary Cassidy caught
up with Chris Jericho. The legendary star discussed
a plethora of topics, including the possibility of
Brock Lesnar coming to AEW, the origins of his nickname,
Jon Moxley, Orange Cassidy, and much more.
