9. Vince McMahon Wanted To Rename Vader The Mastodon
When the WWF entered negotiations with former WCW Champion Big Van Vader in early 1996, the first thing Vince McMahon wanted to do was repackage and rebrand him. Feeling his marketing machine could not fully get behind a preexisting character from another company, McMahon came up with something else. After taking a good look at Vader he declared, Look at him! Hes a big Mastodon! He can be The Mastodon. Jim Cornette thought the idea was preposterous. Its f*****g Vader! he half-yelled, Hes a former WCW World Champion. Everyone in the world knows who he is! Vader was similarly aghast at the prospect of becoming a new character after years of success playing Vader and rejected the proposal. He later noted that he regretted that decision and felt it may have held him back in the WWF. Vince wanted to create a whole new character, and you know what? I should have done it, he rued. The WWF would have owned it, but Vince would have marketed if it was his. That was a mistake, and that was stupid on my part. I should have said yes.
James Dixon
Contributor
The author of the highly acclaimed 'Titan' book series, James Dixon has been involved in the wrestling business for 25 years as a fan, wrestler, promoter, agent, and writer. James spent several years wrestling on the British independent circuit, but now prefers to write about the bumps and bruises rather than take any of them. His past in-ring experience does however give a uniquely more "insider" perspective on things, though he readily admits to still being a "mark" at heart.
James is the Chief Editor and writer at historyofwrestling.co.uk and is responsible for the best-selling titles Titan Sinking, Titan Shattered, and Titan Screwed, as well as the Complete WWF Video Guide series, and the Raw Files series.
See more from
James