On a recent edition of his “Everybody’s Got A Pod” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. discussed Vince McMahon changing the wrestling business in pursuit of attracting younger fans to WWE, the transformation of One Man Gang into Akeem, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On whether he thought it was a good idea for One Man Gang’s transform into the Akeem gimmick: “I wasn’t sure at first.”
On Vince McMahon trying to attract younger fans: “Back to Vince’s way of looking at things, it’s kind of like — you know, I was old. I came from the old school. I mean, I grew up in the wrestling industry. My father was a wrestler. And it’s kind of like, it’s not broken, don’t fix it. But what it took me a while to come to grips with was that what Vince was doing in terms of changing wrestling was like, ‘Yeah, look, we are sports entertainment. We’re not–‘ Because we try to protect it all the time. And we even knew that an educated person, especially an educated guy that’s never been in a real fight, could watch wrestling for a minute and go, ‘No.’ But the whole point was now, he was trying to market his product to a younger audience because now he’s going to come out with action figures, dolls and all of the merchandise. And so he’s trying to attract the young crowd. And that’s why Hulk Hogan becomes this bigger-than-life hero and all that.”
On whether it was time to drop the One Man Gang gimmick: “For those reasons, yeah, Akeem. Okay, let’s do it now. I thought he did okay.”
On his relationship with Akeem: “I mean, not like a bosom buddy but close enough to where I could talk to him man to man.”
You can keep up with all your wrestling news right here on eWrestlingNews.com. Or, you can follow us over on our Twitter and Facebook pages.
Vince McMahon’s Impact on the Wrestling Business: Attracting Younger Fans
Vince McMahon, the chairman and CEO of WWE, is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of professional wrestling. Throughout his career, McMahon has made numerous changes to the industry, revolutionizing the way wrestling is presented and marketed. One of his key strategies has been to attract younger fans to WWE, leading to the transformation of characters like One Man Gang into Akeem.
In a recent episode of his podcast, “Everybody’s Got A Pod,” WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. discussed McMahon’s approach to appealing to a younger audience. DiBiase, who experienced the transition from traditional wrestling to sports entertainment firsthand, initially had reservations about the changes.
DiBiase admitted that he came from the old school of wrestling, where the focus was on athleticism and competition. He believed that if something wasn’t broken, there was no need to fix it. However, McMahon had a different vision for the industry. He wanted to market WWE as sports entertainment rather than just wrestling. This shift allowed McMahon to expand his product beyond the confines of traditional wrestling and tap into a broader market.
McMahon’s decision to target younger fans was driven by his desire to sell merchandise such as action figures and dolls. He recognized that by creating larger-than-life characters like Hulk Hogan, he could capture the imagination of children and create a fanbase that would be loyal for years to come. This approach proved successful, as WWE became a global phenomenon with a massive following among young viewers.
One example of McMahon’s strategy was the transformation of One Man Gang into Akeem. DiBiase revealed that he initially had doubts about this gimmick change but eventually came to understand McMahon’s reasoning. Akeem was a character inspired by African stereotypes, complete with an exaggerated accent and dance moves. While controversial by today’s standards, the character was designed to appeal to a younger audience and sell merchandise.
DiBiase also shared his relationship with Akeem, played by George Gray. Although they were not close friends, DiBiase respected Gray enough to have conversations with him on a personal level. This insight highlights the professional camaraderie and mutual respect that existed among wrestlers during that era.
In conclusion, Vince McMahon’s decision to attract younger fans to WWE has had a profound impact on the wrestling business. By transforming characters like One Man Gang into Akeem and creating larger-than-life heroes like Hulk Hogan, McMahon successfully marketed his product to a new generation. While some may criticize the controversial aspects of these changes, there is no denying the lasting influence McMahon has had on the industry. As wrestling continues to evolve, McMahon’s legacy as a visionary and innovator will undoubtedly endure.