10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Oct 6)
3. Ted Turner Offered To Become Partners With Vince McMahon
There was a time when Vince McMahon's WWF product aired on Ted Turner's TBS network in the early-80's. The arrangement didn't last long, but the deal went on long enough for Turner to approach McMahon and make a pitch to be his business partner. J.J Dillon confirmed this during an episode of his podcast this week.
It's well-known that Ted called Vince up upon acquiring WCW and told him they were now in direct competition. McMahon palmed off Turner's suggestions then, just as he had years earlier when the media mogul proposed they become partners. Totally uninterested, McMahon told Turner he didn't need a partner.
Ted was probably surprised at Vince's coldness when he made the overture, because he can't have been used to people telling him no. According to Dillon, McMahon didn't even entertain the idea and said his plans were to "own it all" instead of working alongside others.