When was Vince revealed to be the owner?

[agent817]

I am curious about this. Was it Survivor Series 1997? Was it in the fall of 1997? I mean I've read from some people that they didn't even realize that he was the actual owner when he was a commentator. There was the WWF president deal, with Jack Tunney, Gorilla Monsoon, even when Roddy Piper played the role after Monsoon was attacked by Vader. I am just wondering.

[Phil Parent]

I'm thinking around Bret Hart's heel turn.

[Hit Girl]

1997 when HBK mentioned the owner and immediately looked at Vinniemac.

[Cam]

Early 1997 really, when Bret yelled at Vince and said it was bullshit that he kept getting screwed by him and everybody else (ironically).

[rnrk supports BLM]

IIRC the Nitro commentators were acknowledging it on air from pretty early on into the Monday Night Wars, which sorta forced WWF's hand.

[celticjobber]

I remember as early as 1992 or 1993 they'd air promos about WWF charity work, and when they showed Vince it would say (WWF CEO) or something like that under his name. That's how I first realized he was more than just an announcer.

[Citizen Zero]

i just remember tuning into Raw one day and thinking 'Why does Steve Austin care what that announcer-guy think?'

[Bob Schlapowitz]

It was always mentioned in the Apter mags in the late 1980's-early 1990's. By the time it came out it was pretty much the worst kept secret in wrestling history.

[percymania]

I remember the steroid trial being talked about on the news. That's when I found out.

[randomranter]

For what it's worth, I started watching wrestling in the mid 80s, and my parents told me back then.

[Raja Lion]

It was known forever. When he started wiping the territories out, it was no secret.

As for when the WWE fully acknowledged it, had to be around Bret.

[dabossftw]

Storyline-wise, they started mentioning it around the mid-90s.

[noleafclover1980]

Storyline-wise... around '96 or so. Diesel had made some "shoot" comments when he went tweener, then heel about Vince.

[Jimmy]

JR started mentioning it all the time when he turned heel in 96, commenting on Vince firing him and whatnot.

[Bob Schlapowitz]

Now that you mention it, I think JR was the first person to openly acknowledge Vince as "the Boss" on screen.

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

Looking way back, Jesse Ventura's "And I suppose you condone this, huh McMahon?" catchphrase whenever Hogan would do anything might have been a very, very subtle acknowledgment. Of course McMahon would condone it, as he was the one making the most money off the Hulkster.

I'd have to think Ventura or Heenan would have thrown in something sly like that from time to time.

[cabbageboy]

I too remember the charity videos on Saturday morning shows with the "Vince McMahon: CEO" logo on screen. It was never really a secret...even as a kid I knew this guy had to be the owner or something. Why else would such a crappy announcer stay employed? Ha!

This is a hard question actually. I'd say those videos were the first time it was explicitly mentioned, but it wasn't until the Bret heel turn that it became a focal point.

[Deleted]

Apr 20, 2011 18:58:55 GMT -5 randomranter said:

For what it's worth, I started watching wrestling in the mid 80s, and my parents told me back then.

Same with me.

[britishbulldog]

I believe Diesel was the first to really acknowledge it.

[Squirrel Master]

Apr 20, 2011 23:13:49 GMT -5 cabbageboy said:

I too remember the charity videos on Saturday morning shows with the "Vince McMahon: CEO" logo on screen. It was never really a secret...even as a kid I knew this guy had to be the owner or something. Why else would such a crappy announcer stay employed? Ha!.

This, and Jess Ventura always mocking "President" Jack Tunney's decisions and McMahon himself. I mean, he took great delight in trying to get McMahon flustered as the cameras rolled.