Tag: mr. mcmahon docuseries

JNPO wrestling year in review series: Do you remember September?

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

In the latest entry in the pro wrestling year in review series on Josh Nason’s Punch-Out, we arrive in September and I guess a little earth, wind and fire if I can shoehorn that reference in.

Davie Portman of POST Wrestling and Poisonrana rejoins us for the third straight year to look at a fun 30-day stretch as we headed into fall.

Amongst our many topics discussed:

  • AEW All Out which saw an extremely violent cage match between Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page, and the Blackpool Combat Club turning on Bryan Danielson
  • The debut of the Mr. McMahon docuseries on Netflix and all the fallout from that including an outpouring of sympathy for Shane McMahon
  • Even more TNA/NXT crossover
  • Hundreds of other headlines and news from WWE, AEW, NJPW, TNA and the rest of the wrestling world

Click here to listen

Here’s the rest of the series thus far:

Janel Grant’s attorney issues statement on ‘Mr. McMahon’ docuseries

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Janel Grant’s attorney has issued a statement regarding the Mr. McMahon docuseries released today on Netflix.

Grant has filed a lawsuit against former WWE chairman Vince McMahon, former WWE talent relations head John Laurinaitis, and WWE accusing McMahon of sexual assault and human trafficking of Grant.

The statement from Grant’s attorney Ann Callis reads:

“The ‘Mr. McMahon’ docuseries makes it clear there is no difference between Vince McMahon’s on-air persona and his true self, they are one and the same. His “character” – known for violent outbursts, sexual deviance, and manipulation – is the real Vince McMahon and exactly what Janel Grant experienced behind closed doors at WWE for years.

While the docuseries put McMahon’s obsession with power and control on full display, it only scratches the surface of his criminal behavior and it fails to tell the full story of his abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking of Ms. Grant. She deserves the opportunity to tell her story, on her own time, and in her own way. We look forward to her day in court and to seeing McMahon at last held accountable for his actions.”

Wrestling Observer Radio: Mr. McMahon docuseries review (episodes 5 & 6)

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

(Photo via Netflix)

Dave Meltzer and I are back with a special edition of Wrestling Observer Radio. We reviewed the last two episodes of the Netflix docuseries, Mr. McMahon.

Here were some of the things we covered:

  • Bill Simmons and David Shoemaker talking about the making of the documentary
  • Dave’s experience with the filmmaker Chris Smith
  • The last 30 minutes of episode six and why it wasn’t its own episode
  • How the doc dealt with harassment and abuse
  • Vince McMahon’s psyche
  • His relationship with Shane and Stephanie
  • Him being a father figure to so many male wrestlers
  • His thoughts on dealing with trauma and failure, which is the same
  • Portrayals of the people interviewed

Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube (video sub needed)

Wrestling Observer Radio: Mr. McMahon docuseries review (episodes 1-4)

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

(Photo via Netflix)

Dave Meltzer and I are back with a special edition of Wrestling Observer Radio. We reviewed the first four episodes of the Netflix docuseries, Mr. McMahon.

Here were some of the things we covered:

  • Separating Vince McMahon from the Mr. McMahon character
  • Hulkamania and WrestleMania
  • Unionization
  • No Holds Barred and why it happened
  • Vince’s one WrestleMania regret
  • Dr. Zahorian and the steroid trial, and one major thing the doc missed
  • Phil Mushnick and his reporting on the scandals
  • Vince vs. Hulk and who made who
  • Eric Bischoff’s 180 degree performance from Who Killed WCW?
  • The Attitude Era

Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube (video sub needed)

Janel Grant’s attorney responds to Vince McMahon’s statement on ‘Mr. McMahon’ docuseries

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Janel Grant’s representation has released a statement regarding Vince McMahon’s message on social media.

Grant’s attorney Ann Callis responded to McMahon’s post on social media Monday where he dismissed the series, which premieres Tuesday night. He briefly mentioned the lawsuit, labeling it as “an affair I ended”.

“Vince McMahon physically and emotionally abused, sexually assaulted and human trafficked Janel Grant for more than two years. Calling his horrific and criminal behavior “an affair” is delusional and nothing more than a sad attempt to save his shredded reputation,” Callis’ statement reads. “Although Ms. Grant has not seen the “Mr. McMahon” docuseries, we hope it shines a bright light on his abhorrent and criminal actions by accurately portraying the realities of his abusive and exploitative behavior. “Ms. Grant will no longer be silenced by McMahon.”

“Her story, though deeply troubling and exceptionally painful, is one that can help other abuse survivors find their voices. We seek to hold McMahon, John Laurinaitis and WWE accountable and to give Ms. Grant her day in court.”

In his statement, McMahon said that the docuseries aimed to confuse viewers between his on-air character, Mr. McMahon, and himself.

In January, Grant launched her lawsuit against McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE. In June, the judge officially paused the lawsuit at the request of the Justice Department, which is conducting its own investigation against McMahon. The lawsuit is set to resume in December.

Attorney: Janel Grant deserves to tell her own story, not be part of someone else’s

Posted on by Joseph Currier

With the release of Netflix’s “Mr. McMahon” docuseries approaching, representatives for Janel Grant held a virtual press briefing on Thursday.

Grant’s attorney Ann Callis and Kendra Barkoff Lamy of public relations firm SKDK conducted the briefing. On the subject of whether Grant was asked to appear in Netflix’s series, Callis said Grant deserves the opportunity to tell her own story — not be part of someone else’s.

“We have not seen the documentary. Janel deserves the opportunity to tell her full story, not be a part of someone else’s. She will get her day in court, and [Vince] McMahon will be held accountable,” Callis said. “And Janel has the right to tell her story in her own way at the right time.”

Callis said she hopes the series does Grant’s story justice.

“Janel’s story is an important one, and we hope Neftlix’s docuseries does it justice,” Callis said. “Her experience is integral to an accurate and whole retelling of the story of the WWE and Mr. McMahon.”

Grant, an ex-WWE employee, filed a lawsuit this January accusing McMahon of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking. The lawsuit also lists John Laurinaitis and WWE as defendants. Callis said, because of the cruelty that was inflicted on her, Grant suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, and cannot leave her house for weeks at a time.

Callis was asked whether they have heard from WWE since the lawsuit was filed.

“There was some initial outreach right after the lawsuit was filed,” she responded during the briefing. “Very brief, and we have really not heard anything since then.”

Grant’s lawsuit is paused until December while the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York conducts a criminal investigation into McMahon. Callis said — if there are any charges against McMahon — Grant’s team would like those to be brought “expeditiously” so her lawsuit can resume as soon as possible. But Callis said they are not frustrated with the time the SDNY investigation is taking.

“We want it to be right, not fast,” she said.

McMahon resigned from WWE in January after Grant’s lawsuit was filed. He maintains his innocence and has called Grant’s allegations “baseless.”

Netflix’s “Mr. McMahon” docuseries premieres next Wednesday (September 25) with all six one-hour episodes available to stream.

Netflix releases official trailer for ‘Mr. McMahon’ docuseries

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Ahead of its September 25 premiere, Netflix has released the official trailer for its “Mr. McMahon” docuseries.

Interviews with Vince McMahon himself, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, John Cena, Bruce Prichard, Eric Bischoff, Jimmy Hart, Bret Hart, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, and The Ringer’s David Shoemaker are included in the trailer.

“People have wondered who I really am. You know, the portrayal of me is I’m a bad guy, but no one really knows me,” McMahon says as the trailer opens.

WWE’s rise, the 1994 steroid trial, Chris Benoit’s double murder-suicide, and Janel Grant’s sexual abuse allegations against McMahon are among the topics that will be covered. Grant was not interviewed for the series, though producers did reach out to her.

The docuseries is produced by sports media personality Bill Simmons and “Tiger King” executive producer Chris Smith. It features six one-hour episodes that will all be available to watch on September 25 when the series debuts.

Netflix has been developing this docuseries since 2020, with the project evolving along the way given the allegations made against McMahon. He resigned from WWE this January after Grant’s lawsuit was filed. The interviews with McMahon were conducted prior to his resignation.

The premiere of the documentary comes just a few months before WWE Raw moves to Netflix in January 2025. WWE does not have a production credit on the “Mr. McMahon” series.