A documentary that promised a deep dive into the life of former WWE head Vince McMahon has done anything but, according to his accuser Janel Grant, who doesn’t appear in the series. Netflix’s documentary, Mr. McMahon, goes into McMahon’s high-profile steroid trial, claims of sexual assault by WWE executives that led to three firings, and the infamous Montreal Screwjob that ended with him being punched in the face by wrestler Bret Hart, but there might be even more to the story.
After the documentary’s release, Grant’s attorney, Ann Callis, came out with a statement provided to The Wrap saying the documentary just scratches the surface of his behavior. On top of that, she reiterates her hope to see Grant eventually get to tell her story. She also said she looks forward to the days McMahon is held accountable.
“The ‘Mr. McMahon’ docuseries makes it clear there is no difference between Vince McMahon’s on-air persona and his true self, they are one and the same. His ‘character’ – known for violent outbursts, sexual deviance, and manipulation – is the real Vince McMahon and exactly what Janel Grant experienced behind closed doors at WWE for years.”
None of the interviews cover his most recent accusations that led to his resignation from the company. Janel Grant accused McMahon and former WWE executive John Laurinaitis of sexual assault and human trafficking. There’s a disclaimer at the start of the documentary letting viewers know McMahon ended his interview when the new allegations came to light.
“While the docuseries put McMahon’s obsession with power and control on full display, it only scratches the surface of his criminal behavior and it fails to tell the full story of his abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking of Ms. Grant.”
McMahon Calls the Documentary Misleading
Vince McMahon, the subject of the documentary, says it comes short of portraying the real version of himself, and said it instead blends his on-screen persona as his true self. He encourages the viewer to keep an open mind.
“I don’t regret participating in this Netflix documentary,” he said
in a statement
. “The producers had an opportunity to tell an objective story about my life and the incredible business I built, which were equally filled with excitement, drama, fun, and a fair amount of controversy and life lessons. Unfortunately, based on an early partial cut I’ve seen, this doc falls short and takes the predictable path of conflating the “Mr. McMahon” character with my true self, Vince.”
While the documentary is meant to center on McMahon himself, it acts a lot like a wrestling crash course as it goes through Hulkamania, the Monday Night Wars between WCW and the then-WWF, and the beginning of the Attitude Era, the time when the Mr. McMahon character came to life. For those looking for more insight into some of the most famous events in wrestling history, this is a good documentary to get up to speed on that. While the Grant accusations aren’t discussed, there’s still a lot the average wrestling fan might not have been aware of that happened both in and outside the ring.