It's been announced today that WWE is partnering with Blumhouse Television to develop a limited scripted series they're calling The United States of America vs. Vince McMahon.
This is the first-ever scripted dramatic portrayal of a chapter in WWE's history, and apparently the first scripted portrayal of McMahon as well as many of the legendary Superstars of that era (we're pretty sure that Young Rock might have beaten them to that, but it is a sitcom rather than a drama series).
With WWE involved creatively, we're betting that this is going to be a slightly different version of history to what really happened, but the premise is undeniably interesting. The show will delve into WWE during the 1990s, at the time Rupert Murdoch had purchased the New York Post to further his massive infiltration into the U.S. media landscape.
For years, infamous Post writer Phil Mushnick regularly hammered WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon in his column. Headlines like "Legislators Give WWE A Free Pass On 'Roids'" and "McMahon Skips Through the Cemetery" eventually captured the attention of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York – the nation’s most prestigious federal prosecutor’s office with a conviction rate of over 96 percent.
In 1994, the U.S. government indicted McMahon for allegedly supplying anabolic steroids to WWE talent. McMahon, with his liberty at stake, two school-aged children at home and with WWE on the brink of bankruptcy, refused to take a plea deal. Ultimately, McMahon stood trial and was acquitted unanimously by a jury of his peers, but will we get the full story? Time will tell.
"Jason, Chris and their team at Blumhouse create amazing work and we look forward to delivering an inside look into one of the most pivotal moments in our company’s history," said Kevin Dunn, WWE Executive Producer & Chief of Global Television Distribution.
"We have a dramatic, riveting saga – one that’s crazier than fiction – that will appeal to the cross-section of Blumhouse and WWE fans," said Chris McCumber, Blumhouse Television President. "To say I’m thrilled about collaborating again with WWE is an understatement."
It sounds like it's still early days for The United States of America vs. Vince McMahon, so keep checking back here for updates we have them!