As a longtime wrestling fan who grew up in the era of Monday Night Raw and WCW, I must say that “The Last Ride” docuseries was nothing short of captivating. It was like stepping into a time machine, transporting me back to my childhood living room where I’d eagerly await each episode of Raw.
At a young age, I had a strong affinity for professional wrestling and recognized Vince McMahon as an integral part of the ring.
In the Attitude Era, Vince McMahon transformed himself into a character, becoming one of the greatest villains in wrestling history. His family was also integrated into the storylines, making the McMahon empire an integral part of professional wrestling for me.
Initially, I was thrilled about the Netflix documentary titled “Mr. McMahon” (apparently, he wasn’t entirely pleased with it), as I yearned to delve deeper into the man, the legend, the tycoon. Once I completed the 6-episode series, I must admit, it was impressive! Nevertheless, there are a few areas that could have been improved. Let’s discuss.
Love: They Made Sure To Talk About The Entire McMahon Family, And They All Gave Their Impression Of Vince
One aspect I admired during the Attitude Era (out of numerous highlights) was its ability to create a boundary-pushing blend of reality and fantasy. For instance, some storylines, such as Linda McMahon being in a wheelchair due to an alleged coma, or Vince McMahon’s limousine seemingly exploding, were undeniably far-fetched.
To put it another way, the storylines featuring Stephanie McMahon marrying Triple H and Shane McMahon being deemed unworthy of the family business seemed to have a basis in reality. After all, Stephanie McMahon did marry Triple H (albeit not through the over-the-top scenarios depicted on TV). So, the unpredictability of the McMahon family’s actions was always a factor.
Additionally, it’s satisfying to note that the docuseries effectively included key family members – namely Vince, Linda, Stephanie, and Shane – in discussions about Vince McMahon and his business.
Each family member shares their thoughts, revealing that Linda reluctantly appeared on TV to move the storylines forward. It’s disclosed that Stephanie vetoed her wedding broadcast, and she was labeled “selfish” by Vince for this decision. Shane admits that most of his actions, including risking his own safety, were primarily driven by a desire to win his father’s approval.
Regrettably, we’ve received similar accounts from colleagues within the industry, such as Paul Heyman, who shares a tragic tale about Shane McMahon. This story has significantly altered my perspective on Mr. McMahon’s offspring.
To put it simply, the docuseries seems quite comprehensive as it delves into the lives of the McMahon family. Nevertheless…
Could Have Been Better: I Wish We Could’ve Heard From Gail Kim and CM Punk
In this documentary series, several well-known wrestlers were featured in interviews, such as The Rock, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Booker T, Trish Stratus, John Cena, Hulk Hogan, and others. Interestingly, the legendary Kurt Angle was not among them, which is a bit disappointing.
Apart from Bret Hart, who had a complex history with McMahon, I’d assert that the majority of wrestlers featured in this docuseries generally enjoyed a favorable rapport with him. In fact, The Undertaker himself declared he would have been willing to sacrifice for McMahon’s sake.
And, sure. That’s cool. I love hearing how many wrestlers viewed Vince as “a father figure.”
Even so, it would have been nice to hear wrestlers with, let’s just say, less flattering things to say about McMahon.
Among the individuals I wish could’ve shared their perspectives is Gail Kim, who expressed her belief that Vince McMahon struggled to comprehend diversity. It would have been intriguing to gain insights from her viewpoint, serving as a contrast to the opinions some wrestlers presented in this docuseries suggesting that for Vince, money is the only color he perceives, and he disregards race.
Instead, I believe another intriguing choice for the interviewee could have been CM Punk, known for delivering an electrifying “pipe bomb” promo (apparently a blend of scripted and real-life events) towards McMahon. Hearing his thoughts about being dismissed on his wedding day would have made for captivating listening as well.
It’s worth noting that after Triple H assumed control of WWE creative, CM Punk unexpectedly returned. A conversation between Punk and McMahon before Punk was brought back might have been quite revealing.
It appears they took a cautious approach during these interviews, but regardless…
Love: They Didn’t Shy Away From Really Sensitive Topics, Like Chris Benoit And Owen Hart’s Death
Indeed, it appears that Vince received less criticism from his team in this documentary series compared to what one might expect. However, this does not imply that the documentary did not delve into challenging or contentious issues.
For example, I genuinely didn’t anticipate them carrying out “the Montreal Screwjob,” nor can I imagine the emotions of Bret Hart during that incident.
Initially, I too believed that they wouldn’t dare bring up the topic of Owen Hart’s death, let alone inquire about Vince McMahon’s feelings on it. It seemed like a taboo subject, but they unexpectedly ventured into it, and I’m pleased they did so.
However, what really took me aback was discovering that they had delved into Chris Benoit’s murder-suicide, an incident I believed was strictly off-limits. It’s worth noting that his name has been scarcely mentioned on WWE television since the tragic events, and it’s usually considered inappropriate to acknowledge his exceptional wrestling skills.
It took me by complete surprise when the documentary series devoted an entire segment to discussing Benoit’s actions and potential connections to CTE. Frankly, I hadn’t expected them to delve into that topic, but they certainly did.
Could Have Been Better: It Feels So Incomplete
In the kickoff of this game, they hit us with the unexpected halt in Vince McMahon’s interviews because of the sudden news about his accusations. This massive punch has certainly shaken up the entire production process.
In the previous episode titled “The Finish,” it leaves a sense of incompleteness, as we are not privy to Vince’s perspective regarding the scandal that deeply involved him, which seems ironic given its title.
It seems logical because it’s likely that McMahon consulted with a lawyer and was cautioned against discussing any matters related to his ongoing legal issues.
Despite the incomplete feeling, given that McMahon likely would have been transparent about the scandal during its occurrence, it leaves a somewhat unsatisfying impression on the series. This is problematic since the remainder of the documentary series is largely captivating and revealing material.
Loved: McMahon Was Willing To Be Very Open, Which Was Surprising
Have you ever seen the movie, Saving Mr. Banks, in which Tom Hanks played Walt Disney?
The movie mainly provides a polished portrayal of Disney, glossing over potential flaws, as opposed to offering an extensive, warts-and-all exploration. Instead, we were shown a man with seemingly minimal vices; the only apparent one being his smoking habit, which was quite surprising given the context presented in the film.
In contrast, the McMahon docuseries is quite candid. McMahon discusses his frequent thoughts about sex and admits to having affairs. He shares his experiences with the XFL’s failure and his tendency to portray himself as a character on television, which allowed him to kiss other women freely, even in front of his wife.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but ponder over the steroid controversy, feeling like some were intent on undermining my success. My rival, Eric Bischoff, hints that Vince McMahon may have borrowed his evil owner persona, and McMahon merely dismisses it with a casual shrug, implying that he might have taken inspiration from Bischoff, but he executed it more effectively.
As a devoted fan, I couldn’t help but appreciate the openness of Vince McMahon throughout this fascinating documentary series. Truly, it was a compelling watch that I eagerly awaited each week.
To wrap it up, although the documentary had its flaws, it certainly kept me hooked. By any chance, have you given it a watch yet? Remember to drop by frequently for the latest updates on everything related to WWE!
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2024-10-19 18:07