The reviews are in for Netflix’s Mr. McMahon docuseries, with the consensus being that a more thorough in-depth analysis could have been conducted on WWE’s ex-CEO.
The six-part series was first announced in 2020 with interviews beginning the following year, before the ‘hush money’ scandal that forced McMahon into retirement in 2022. While McMahon was interviewed for the project, his clips come from before Janel Grant’s lawsuit in January 2024 that resulted in McMahon’s second exile. As a card in the doc states, McMahon refused to give any more interviews after Grant’s lawsuit went public and McMahon himself has distanced himself from the series.
The Reviews Are In
Garrett Martin of Paste Magazine is among those who believe Mr. McMahon comes up short when trying to give a complete picture of arguably wrestling’s most controversial figure, and again fails to demonstrate the harm McMahon’s tactics have had on others.
“Mr. McMahon fails to paint a full portrait of the man, or to fully contend with the negative impact he’s had on so many. And interviewing him doesn’t add much of value.”
Ryan Woodrow of Men’s Journal agrees that while the docuseries could have given further analysis, it does at least cover the bulk of McMahon’s many controversies.
“It digs up every skeleton he has and puts it on display – even if I don’t think it adequately examines most of them.”
The Wall Street Journal’s John Anderson has a more favorable review, arguing that this documentary series will be the closest analysis fans will get of the 79-year-old McMahon.
“[Chris] Smith [the Filmmaker] probably gives us as honest a portrait of his subject as one is likely to get—despite Mr. McMahon’s claims of being a sphinx, something with which his ex-employees concur.”
Adam Silverstein of CBS Sports believes that the series will prove to be ground-breaking for those unfamiliar with McMahon, but light on revelations for its core audience.
“Those unfamiliar with the intimate details about McMahon’s personal and business life will receive a thorough education. Die-hard wrestling fans will be familiar with nearly all of the stories and controversies.”
And BJ Colangelo of Slash Film believes that a phrase from McMahon’s repertoire is best suited to describe Mr. McMahon.
“This Netflix docuseries didn’t screw Vince McMahon. Vince McMahon screwed Vince McMahon.”
Mr. McMahon premieres Wednesday, Sept. 25 on Netflix.
