10 Things You Didn't Know About 'Mean' Gene Okerlund

5. Okerlund Barely Spoke To Vince McMahon Pre-WCW

WrestleMania IX

Confession time: this entry is largely there so that sweet-as-all-hell pic of 'Mean' Gene in a toga from WrestleMania IX can be used. Don't worry, the actual meat of it is pretty interesting too.

Gene finished up with the WWF in September 1993 and set off to join WCW full-time. Before going, he did work SummerSlam and continued hyping house shows and other pay-per-views on Monday Night Raw. Everything seemed on auto-pilot though, likely because Vince McMahon had full trust in his abilities.

Shortly after joining WCW, Okerlund would reveal in interviews that he had barely uttered a word to Vince during the final few months of his WWF deal. There was no real tension there, just a silent agreement the his time had come to an end in the promotion. Vince didn't offer a contract extension, and Gene didn't ask for one.

Come his final night in the company, Okerlund offered a hug to his soon-to-be ex-boss and thanked him for a "hell of a run". McMahon, despite losing such a talent to his competitor, was all smiles too.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.