We have reported earlier that Vince McMahon, the former CEO of WWE and TKO, is gearing up for his upcoming business initiative.
The new endeavour is being defined as an “entertainment hub company”, which will focus on financing, developing, and producing film and TV projects. It is slated to be situated in the Los Angeles vicinity.
Eric Bischoff talked about McMahon’s plans to roll out an entertainment company after his abrupt exit from WWE, during a recent episode of his “83 Weeks” podcast.
Here are some key takeaways from the podcast:
On Vince McMahon’s plans to kickstart an entertainment company:“This bit of news had me mulling over it for a while. Generally, I refrain from disseminating unconfirmed information and prefer someone else to break the news. Upon hearing about it, my immediate response was ‘Okay, but why?’. Wrestling with the complexity, as one may recall from the ordeal faced by Harvey Weinstein – albeit this isn’t a comparison. The public reaction to controversy of this magnitude is seldom favourable. I doubt if a lot of people would be eager to partner with Vince McMahon right now, owing to the potential backlash. One does not need to be an expert in business, PR or current affairs to anticipate the ensuing reactions from advertisers and vocal segments of the audience. So it is really hard for me to envision how this plan would pan out.”
He further adds, “I could be completely wrong, and there may be folks who couldn’t care less. I do have a notion that Vince has acquired quite a bit of real estate in Santa Monica, which includes studio space. Buying property in Santa Monica is not a petty investment. So, if this information holds true, it reflects a long-term strategy. Just to clarify, I have received this information from a reliable source, but it has not been officially confirmed, so don’t take my word for it. As far as I am aware, no significant activity is under progress at the moment, except for a project that seems akin to another version of the Monday Night Wars.”
Elaborating on Vince’s grit, Bischoff says, “Guys like Vince, regardless of their age, will never stop. They’ll keep striving to make a comeback in the industry, even if it kills them.”
On whether McMahon plans to return to wrestling:“My inference, based on the information I have, is that the plan isn’t exclusive to wrestling. It’s much broader. I regard this information to be highly speculative and prefer not to divulge more. Vince is an exceptionally driven man, unlike anyone I’ve encountered. Most of us couldn’t fathom his motivations or the extent of his drive. The thought of relaxing, taking a long break, or trying out new experiences when not working is alien to him. I have a strong feeling he’d work till his last breath. I do not believe he has any plans to return to wrestling. His interest lies in staying active within the entertainment industry.”