How WWE’s First WrestleMania Nearly Bankrupted Vince McMahon |
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How WWE’s First WrestleMania Nearly Bankrupted Vince McMahon
WrestleMania is one of the biggest events of the year. But in 1985, Vince McMahon put all his assets on the line to make it succeed.
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WWE’s WrestleMania is regarded as one of the grandest professional wrestling events, but that wasn’t always the case.
In the early 1980s, before WrestleMania was conceived, Vince McMahon had dreams of proving professional wrestling wasn’t just a niche sport. He wanted something that could rival the Super Bowl as a major yearly sporting event. McMahon put everything on the line—including his savings—so if his idea didn’t work he’d be virtually bankrupt. His back was against the wall, with territories rising up in spite of his brutal tactics, including his direct competitor, Jim Crockett........