As Vince McMahon Prepares for Tribute to the Troops, Has WWE Lost Its Luster?

Vince McMahon, aka The Boss, aka VKM, aka The Mac Attack, is still rocking with no signs of slowing down soon. The morning after the air date of WWE's celebrated 800^th episode of Raw, Vince McMahon has long proven his staying power. In a little over a month, the WWE heads back to Baghdad for their annual Tribute to the Troops. Along with the busy performance schedule, Vince McMahon took time out in March to celebrate a stellar accomplishment; the first television wrestling performer to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Vince McMahon is also a recent inductee into the CableFax Hall of Fame and winner of the award for the best surprise ending.

Though the star and countless awards remind the WWE universe that television wrestling is a guilty indulgence in entertainment, the grueling schedule is one that few forms of Hollywood gold could ever live up to. Live shows, appearances, and even countless interviews later, WWE's Vince McMahon is still an entertainment juggernaut, a captaining chairman who doesn't seem capable of quitting - even after 2007's memorable staged death. But beyond the glamor and "soap operaesque" plot developments centered around the excitement of the ring, Vince McMahon continues to be at his core, the quintessential shrewd businessman and showman. A recent Forbes interview with his wife, CEO Linda McMahon, highlights the monetary end of World Wrestling Entertainment, a business that has thus far stood the test of time.

Though Vince McMahon started into the business as promoter of his once estranged father's (Vince McMahon Sr's) company the WWF, he has played many integral parts during its metamorphosis into what it is today. Vince McMahon the promoter has also spent time as Vince McMahon the announcer and in 1982, he took on the role of Vince McMahon, owner, when he purchased Capital Wrestling Corp from his father, who died two years later of a medical condition. He still owns 80% of the business. Putting his marketing degree to good use, Vince McMahon continued to transform wrestling for entertainment into a franchise and household name to take on yet another role - Vince McMahon the Wrestler and often the proverbial villain.

So how did the sixty-five year old turn a lot of muscle, a little attitude, and a lot of sometimes rough acting into such a well-known and successful enterprise? Vince McMahon is rumored to be worth hundreds of millions, an amazing feat for even your most successful of entertainers. The key to Vince McMahon's success lies with drive, vision, and the ability to serve the perfect niche - the target audience for WWE, guys. Though a well choreographed form of entertainment, WWE is masked as a sport. From fan favorites like Hulk Hogan to Vince McMahon himself, WWE adds to wrestling something missing from most actual sports today - a plot. Though the plot is sometimes questionable (and even ridiculous), even the audacity of wild storylines and unbelievable mishaps are still regarded as sacred to the WWE universe of fans. That means that Vince McMahon the orchestrator is possibly the most prominent role Vince McMahon will ever play.

Through the hype and humor, Vince McMahon has many qualities men should acknowledge. A hard worker, he knows his audience and is true to his fans and foes alike. He has been married since 1966, and though the drama portion of WWE claims plenty of straying, Vince McMahon and his wife still appear inseparable from one another. He has two very businesslike-minded children: Shane, a beloved popular wrestler showman who sports a business degree from Boston University, and Stephanie, wife of Paul "Triple H" Levesque and currently a writer for the WWE who seem to follow in Vince McMahon's footsteps for bringing consistent entertainment to the fans. Vince McMahon has four grandchildren. Will they too become part of the wrestling entertainment legacy? Will Vince McMahon make sure it lasts that long?

Episode after Episode, the live format is still the method of delivery for nearly all except the Tribute to the Troops, which adds to the excitement of the program. The plot twists more than a California highway. And, Vince McMahon seems interested in seeing WWE through the next incarnation. Whether it be one of the regular shows, appearances, or a well-hyped pay-per-view event, Vince McMahon has struck entertainment gold with the potential for real staying power, but critics worry that perhaps WWE has begun to lose some of its glitter. Can Vince McMahon save his renown industry?

Ridiculous plot twists and whispers that Vince McMahon is too old with stubborn blood going stale continue to dominate the once-well oiled money machine that was WWE. A September 2008 article by Paul Heyman in "The Sun" about Vince McMahon's spinning wheels has fans wondering whether Vince McMahon will reinvent the industry again or allow it to fall into greater disrepair. Some feel that McMahon is stuck on the 1990's demographic and refuses to make any strides to new development. Others worry that Vince McMahon is so afraid of alienating the loyal fans he has not realized that many are moving on to other forms of entertainment from frustration with the rut. Whatever the cause, there is definite concern that Vince McMahon has taken his finger off the pulse of the WWE, and his lack of action is threatening to destroy the industry. Perhaps it is time for Vince McMahon to let his children interject with fresh concepts to resurrect the flailing industry.

Originally, Vince McMahon's brainchild "entertainment wrestling" was engrossing because of the variety. Characters were strong and determined. Even Vince McMahon developed a believable character with a predictable personality. The players were original and fans developed favorites. This was part of the wonder of the industry. Has WWE become schizophrenic, leaving fans to wonder what happened to the characters they felt an affinity for? Are the days of Goldberg and even Hulkomania gone? Fans are wondering, "Where is the magic, Vince McMahon?"

The sixth annual Tribute to the Troops comes at a time when the war is especially tedious. With the enthusiasm of a seasoned USO troupe, Vince McMahon's wrestlers typically including a handful of sexy divas will be heading to Iraq to spread holiday cheer. Perhaps 2009 will usher in a new beginning for the beloved WWE. Perhaps Vince McMahon will yet again be behind the most surprising resurrection in WWE history.