Between the controversial storylines featuring wrestlers like Iron Sheik and Hulk Hogan to actual incidents of blackface, the WWE is facing criticism for the “racist content” presented in the Netflix documentary Mr. McMahon.
While wrestling fans anticipated gaining new perspectives on the contentious figure of Vince McMahon and the allegations of sexual misconduct against him, much of the new docuseries serves as an exploration of WWE’s history.
The episodes allow both fans and non-fans to reflect on the more troubling narratives that emerged during the height of professional wrestling (or ‘wrasslin’, as it were).
One notable figure discussed is Hossein Vaziri, known as The Iron Sheik. Various prominent WWE personalities—interviewed prior to the emergence of the allegations—reflect on how real-life geopolitical events influenced their storylines.
The Iron Sheik vs. Nationalism
“The Iron Sheik was one of the most reviled characters we’ve ever had as a villain in our organization,” McMahon states. “There was significant nationalism at the time. A lot of ‘rah, rah, America.’ And we had ongoing issues with Iran for many years.”
Interspersed with clips showing the negative reactions of crowds to The Iron Sheik, longtime WWE employee Bruce Prichard explains how characters like him served as focal points for American audiences to express their animosity.
“You observe what’s happening in the real world and construct a narrative around it, allowing people to react in ways they might not be able to in reality,” Prichard explains.
“You can’t confront an Iranian sheik on the street to boo and hiss at, but you could witness that on stage at wrestling matches.”
In Episode 2, McMahon reveals how he capitalized on rising tensions between the U.S. and Iraq to transform Robert Remus, also known as Sergeant Slaughter, from a hero into a villain.
Previously depicted as a “good American” military veteran, Slaughter re-emerged sporting a keffiyeh and proclaiming allegiance to the Iraqi government, branding it as “brutal.”
Following the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and escalating political strains leading to the Gulf War, McMahon and the then-WWF opted to retire this character as Remus began receiving death threats in real-life.
WWE Faces Backlash from Mr. McMahon Viewers
The documentary also highlights numerous problematic instances, including scenes depicting white wrestlers in blackface. In the Netflix series, McMahon remarks that such portrayals were reflective of the era.
“It was a different time, different life, and different societal values back then. If it were done today, it would be unacceptable,” he acknowledges.
Following the release of Mr. McMahon, WWE has encountered backlash from various viewers. On X/Twitter, one user commented, “Having a feud while a real-life war is taking place is outrageous.”
Another user remarked, “This is racist nonsense. As an Iranian American, the way Iron Sheik was portrayed makes me want to completely reject McMahon and his racist ideologies.”
Others also pointed to Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea. Back in 2015, the National Enquirer released recordings of him using a racist slur regarding his daughter’s dating life and suggesting he was “racist to a point.”
Episode 2 further reveals that Bollea informed McMahon about WWE wrestlers’ intentions to form a union for better protection within the industry.
“In the second episode of the new Vince McMahon doc on Netflix…. Bro Hulk Hogan is not just a total racist, but also a f**king snitch,” one user expressed. “Bro sold out on wrestlers aiming to unionize.”
Another user added, “This #MrMcMahon documentary is incredibly revealing about Vince McMahon’s unscrupulous actions. And screw @HulkHogan for sabotaging so many careers to maintain his status in WWE.”
Former WWE Writer’s Lawsuit
Amid all these troubling recollections, last year, former WWE writer Britney Abrahams filed a lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon, his daughter Stephanie, and other executives within the organization, citing allegations of racial discrimination.
According to the lawsuit, Abrahams claims experiences of “discriminatory treatment, harassment, a hostile work environment, wrongful termination, and unlawful retaliation… due to her race, color, and gender.”
She alleges that racially insensitive storylines were pitched, including an idea where employee Ryan Callahan suggested a “white Caucasian male wrestler with a ‘hunting’ gimmick would hunt a Black male wrestler for sport.”
The complaint also portrays that the “WWE forced wrestler Apollo Crews to adopt a Nigerian accent,” and that Callahan had proposed a storyline where wrestler Mansoor could be implicated in the 9/11 attacks.
Moreover, it alleges that Black writers encountered resistance when questioning offensive narratives.
The document states that in 2021, “a Black female writer’s assistant was terminated after reporting WWE lead writer, Callahan, for fostering a racially hostile environment toward African American employees.”
In October 2023, Abrahams opted to withdraw the lawsuit, with Bloomberg Law reporting that the reasons for the dismissal remain unclear. However, it adds to the narrative surrounding McMahon’s controversial legacy.
Mr. McMahon is currently available for streaming on Netflix. For more true crime insights, check out updates on where Jailbreak’s Casey White is today, the potential true crime subjects the creators of Monster could explore next, and whether smartschoolboy9 was ever taken into custody.
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