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CALDWELL'S TAKE
CALDWELL'S BLOG: Vince McMahon is officially delusional, plus Vince's hidden message to Stephanie McMahon Nov 5, 2009 - 11:26:25 AM
WWE CEO/Chairman Vince McMahon used today's conference call with investors to declare that WWE is NOT a family business. In a related story, Balloon Boy's whacked-out parents will be holding a press conference today announcing a cure for cancer.
"Some people perceive this to be a family business, but I do not," McMahon said with heavy emphasis on "I do not."
Gee, I wonder anyone could have possibly perceived that WWE is a family business when the McMahon Family has their own class of WWE Stock. "As previously announced, members of the McMahon family have waived $0.12 per share of the dividends. As a result, all Class A and Class B shares owned by the McMahon family will instead receive dividends in the amount of $0.24 per share."
McMahon went on to say positions within WWE are determined by performance and not someone's last name being McMahon. Apparently this was Vince's direct response to his wife, Linda, and his son, Shane, leaving the family...er...the wrestling business.
You could almost hear the conversations in the hallway with McMahon calling out, "Good riddance to you both...I - I could have fired you guys anyways based on...based on...performance!"
Also consider that WWE has created maybe three big-name, cross-over stars in the last decade under WWE VP Stephanie McMahon's watchful eye as head of the creative team. One of them, Brock Lesnar, now competes in another industry.
If WWE executive positions are truly based on performance and not last name, then perhaps McMahon was sending a message to Stephanie McMahon. If McMahon is to be held at his word, suddenly Stephanie's position as the future heiress to the throne doesn't seem as certain.
Stephanie has arguably done an adequate job as head of creative, but there are far more qualified names out there in the wrestling business who could advance WWE into the year 2010 instead of relying on the same wrestling presentation that is a relic from the Attitude era.
On this day, however, Vince McMahon's comments reeked of a detachment from reality. But, could they also have been a message to Stephanie McMahon? We'll have to stay tuned to find out.
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