It was way back in 2020 when we first learned of plans for a Netflix documentary about then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.
Given how he's always lived the business, we'd expected it to deliver a handful of insights and likely a lot of questionable claims and stories which historians and fans would question (which is often the case with any documentary produced by WWE; the company loves to rewrite history).
Things have changed since the project first started production, specifically with McMahon's forced retirement and eventual ousting from WWE. Between those events, he sold the company to Endeavor, resulting in it being merged with UFC under the TKO Group banner.
Why did McMahon walk away from WWE? Because he's faced serious, sexual abuse and misconduct claims which have seen him embroiled in a lawsuit...it's still unclear whether criminal charges will follow.
Now titled Mr. McMahon, the Netflix documentary will premiere with six one-hour episodes on September 25. While it was initially made hand-in-hand with WWE, it's now set to also chronicle the billionaire's downfall.
Here's the official description:
"'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."
"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."
"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," says series director and executive producer Chris Smith. "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."
Needless to say, we'd imagine WWE won't be promoting Mr. McMahon...