https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I3mGNF1cLg Millions of words have been written about the Montreal Screwjob, where Bret Hart lost the WWE Title on a submission that never happened. The totally real incident led to loyal employee Hart leaving the company in shame, and made Vince McMahon at that point, known primarily as an announcer the most hated man in wrestling. To his credit, McMahon sensed good business and ran with the newfound rancor, crafting his Mr. McMahon persona, feuding with Steve Austin, and making WWE the number one wrestling promotion in the world. McMahon didn't become the best heel in wrestling overnight, though. He had a bit of experience from a USWA run a few years prior a developmental stint, if you will. In 1993, McMahon began making appearances in the Memphis-based feeder league, bringing a string of WWE Superstars (including Randy Savage) in to try and defeat the ultra-popular Jerry Lawler. While McMahon's character was far more understated than "Mr. McMahon" would eventually become, there's no doubt that the Vince of 1998 took some lessons from the last time he was a heel businessman antagonizing a promotion's top babyface.
Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried.
*Best Crowd of the Year, 2013