Netflix Gets in the Ring With Vince McMahon in First Trailer for ‘Mr. McMahon’ Docuseries
A week after Netflix announced a docuseries focused on controversial WWE honcho Vince McMahon, the streaming service has shared the first trailer for Mr. McMahon, arriving later this month.
“People have wondered who I really am. Portrayal of me is I’m a bad guy,” McMahon says in the trailer’s opening moments. “But no one really knows me.”
More from Rolling Stone
'His Three Daughters' Turns a Familiar Family Drama Into the Best Movie of the Year
The Menendez Brothers Take Family Drama to New Extremes in 'Monsters' Trailer
The preview also delves into the all-star cast of wrestlers who contribute new interviews to the docuseries, including Hulk Hogan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Cena, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Bret “The Hitman” Hart.
In addition to the rise of the WWE, the docuseries tackles many of wrestling’s biggest scandals under McMahon’s watch — from the early deaths of many wrestlers to the rampant use of steroids — as well as his own personal downfall in the aftermath of the sexual abuse allegations leveled against him; as previously noted, many of the interviews — including with McMahon — were conducted prior to the allegations of a hush-money payment and sexual assault that ultimately resulted in his exit from the company.
“Mr. McMahon chronicles the rise and fall of Vince McMahon, controversial businessman and co-founder of WWE. From his transformation of the WWE from a small, regional business into a global entertainment powerhouse to the explosive sexual misconduct allegations that led to his eventual resignation, this six-episode series offers a deep dive into McMahon’s life and his enduring franchise,” Netflix said in a synopsis.
“Culled from over 200 hours of interviews with McMahon himself (prior to his resignation), his family members, business associates and some of the most iconic names in wrestling history, as well as the journalists who uncovered McMahon’s allegations — filmmaker Chris Smith (Tiger King) and executive producer Bill Simmons (30 for 30) present an unflinching, no-holds-barred look at one of the most enigmatic figures in sports entertainment.”
Smith previously added in a statement, “The goal behind Mr. McMahon was to pull back the curtain and reveal the true Vince McMahon, obscured beneath the persona he presented to the world. Over the four years of production, the story evolved in truly shocking ways, culminating in some extremely harrowing allegations. The final product is a revealing documentary that we believe offers a rich and nuanced portrait of the man and the complex legacy he left behind.”
The six-episode Mr. McMahon lands on Netflix on September 25.
Best of Rolling Stone