WWE chairman Vince McMahon took a major step in his lifelong pursuit for credibility outside the wrestling world when he got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday.
Some critics of the pro wresting industry might be appalled over McMahon being honored in the television category alongside the likes of Bob Hope and Johnny Carson. But putting aside whatever negative perceptions that pro wrestling has in the mainstream, there is little dispute that McMahon has been a pioneer in the television industry.
It's true that wrestling was plenty successful on television before McMahon came along, dating back to the days of Gorgeous George becoming one of the most recognizable stars on the tube. But there is no question that McMahon's vision of what pro wrestling could become revolutionized the industry, and firmly implanted its place in popular culture.
From the highly rated Saturday Night's Main Event NBC series of the 1980's and 1990's, to his massive syndication empire, to the resounding success of WWE's flagship cable program Monday Night Raw, to his contributions toward growing the pay per view industry, there are countless examples of how McMahon has contributed to the television business. During the peak of the wrestling boon in 1999, more than ten million people were watching Monday night wrestling each week.
Even in his most publicized failure of all time - the XFL - McMahon left the business of televised football better than he found it. I don't recall seeing some the NFL's more creative camera angles before the XFL tried them first.
Of course none of this is to say anything about the character of Vince McMahon - the man - nor the redeeming values of pro wrestling. But one thing is for certain - a heck of a lot of people have made a heck of a lot of money in television because of the risks McMahon has taken over the last three decades.
(Photo credit: pwtorch.com)
Comments (2)
I wouldn't get too worked up over this. They pretty much accept anyone that two other people have heard of, as long as you come up with the $25,000 fee.
I mean, come on, Ryan Seacrest is on that list, too.
and Pauly Shore has one :)