Linda McMahon

Former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment

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Linda McMahon Running For Senate

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Conn. Wrestling Fans: Not Totally Sold On Linda McMahon Ex WWE Boss, by Greg Tingle - 3rd November 2010

Linda McMahon wasn't the first pro wrestling aka sports entertainment personality to enter mainstream politics, nor will she the last, but tipsters say she might end up being the most talked about, perhaps even to eclipse legendary Jesse "The Body" Ventura, now host of cable's 'Conspiracy Theory'.

To stake the obvious, being talked about doesn't automatically equal votes.

I'm an Aussie (Australian) so I can't vote for Linda, but you bet, I would if I could. She's likable, intelligent and have a proven track record in running a business - a business that she helped turn into a multi billion dollar concern, and has employed thousands of people over the years. That business - The World Wrestling Entertainment "sports entertainment" powerhouse is one of the world's most well known brands and provides millions, perhaps even billions of people with family friendly (these days) entertainment. A lot has changed since the smoke filled arena and bodybuilder - steroid era.

Wrestling fans or not, it is not fair to blame Linda or Vince McMahon on the steroids found in wrestling, or the ultra high level of early deaths found in the wrestling profession. No one forces wrestlers to take steroids or any drugs, but it is acknowledged that in the past - circa 1990 "monster" (big) wrestlers were usually pushed to the top of the card, and that was linked to earning capacity. The life of a pro wrestler can be presented as glamorous, but it is also one that doesn't come without high risks, injuries and the body encountering frequent pain over the years. The WWE has hundreds of wrestlers on their rooster which helps in given the talent a break when they need, as there is always another wrestler available to fill up the card.

Let's now swing forward to the here and now, with an upcoming election upon us...

Connecticut fans of World Wrestling Entertainment have advised Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon's ties to the wrestling aka "sports entertainment" company won't guarantee their votes come the Election.

Pro wrestling fanatics in Hartford on Saturday said the former WWE CEO's political - media campaign has "no bearing" on their enjoyment of the WWE. The company was in Hartford's XL Center for Fan Appreciation Day, which as you can imagine was a fantastic event and quite the moral booster for WWE management and "independent contractors" (wrestlers).

McMahon is running against Democratic state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal for the seat of retiring Democratic U.S Sen. Christopher Dodd. A recent poll obtained by Media Man showed Blumenthal leading McMahon at the time of this publication.

WWE representatives say the weekend show wasn't so much about rallying voters. They say it was held to thank fans for supporting the company despite what they have named as unfair attacks on its image from state Democrats and sections of the media. For the record let it be known that Media Man has given fair and balanced coverage to the WWE over the years, even back to when it wasn't afraid to call itself World Wrestling Federation and "pro wrastling". Sometimes we even ran some negative based articles, when they were in order, based on the company's actions.

Only a few weeks ago current WWE top brass Vince McMahon started his own campaign: 'Stand Up For WWE', which by all accounts has been a global phenomenal success.

The global news media should be fair to WWE and Linda McMahon. A quick snapshot shows:

Linda McMahon has a proven track record in business

Politically savvy candidate

Strong community ties

Built leading global brand

WWE is family friendly entertainment (usually)

WWE Wellness Policy (which has proven to be a serious policy, unlike in some other sports and fields of endeavor)

So, wrestling fans or not, when you vote in the upcoming election, vote with your head. Don't be deterred by media beat ups or bias articles.

Will Linda McMahon and her tag team partner of sorts, Vince "Mr McMahon", lay the smack down on their political opponents? You can bet it will be a fight to the finish. Stay tuned to Media Man for the aftermath of 'Celebrity Death Match' Connecticut style.

BIOGRAPHY

Linda E. McMahon last year stepped down as the Chief Executive Officer of World Wrestling Entertainment, a publicly traded company in Stamford, Connecticut that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WWE. Linda helped grow the company from a modest 13-person operation to a global enterprise with over 500 employees and offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando, London, Ontario, Shanghai, and Tokyo. The company has been named one of Forbes 200 Best Small Companies.

She is running for the United States Senate to change Washington’s failed economic policies, get spending under control and put people back to work. Linda is a fiscal conservative who is concerned about the massive deficit spending in Washington and the huge debt with which we are saddling the country and future generations. With over 30 years of real life business experience, she knows how to manage a budget, create jobs, and stimulate our economy.

Linda has committed not to accept PAC money or special interest money. She will limit contributions to her campaign to $100, and she plans to use her own resources to help finance the race and ensure she is competitive with Dick Blumenthal.

Linda has been widely recognized as one of the country’s top female executives, both for her business acumen and her support of a variety of community-based initiatives. In 2007, Linda was named one of Multichannel News’ “Wonder Women,” recognizing her accomplishments as a leader in the U.S. cable television industry.

In addition to her work in the boardroom, Linda has been instrumental in nurturing community and charitable programs. She spearheaded the creation of Get R.E.A.L. educational and literacy programs, including the company’s nationwide Reading Challenge in partnership with the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the youth division of the American Library Association.

Under Linda’s leadership, the WWE was the recipient of the USO of Metropolitan Washington’s first ever “Legacy of Hope” award for its extensive support of our troops and the USO’s Operation Care Package program. In 2007, the company received the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award for its support of deployed service members in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2008, the company received the GI Film Festival’s Corporate Patriot Award.

Linda was elected in October 2004 to serve on the Board of Trustees of Sacred Heart University of Fairfield, Conn. She serves on the board’s Executive Committee and chairs its Institutional Advancement Committee.

She also is a member of the Board of Directors of the Close Up Foundation, a nonprofit that exists to educate and inspire young people to participate in our democracy.

In 2009, Linda was appointed by Governor Jodi Rell to serve on the Connecticut Board of Education.

Born October 4, 1948, and raised in New Bern, N.C., Linda was a high school honor society student who was also fond of basketball and tennis. She graduated from East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., with a Bachelor of Science in French and certified to teach. She and her husband, Vince, were married in 1966.

The McMahons have resided in Greenwich, Conn., for more than 30 years. They have two adult children, Shane and Stephanie, and five grandchildren.

LINDA’S PLAN TO MAKE WASHINGTON WORK FOR CONNECTICUT
Linda is running for the U.S. Senate because she’s concerned about the direction Washington is taking our country. Reckless spending, bloated bureaucracy and a trillion dollar stimulus package have failed to spur economic growth; instead, the unthinkable debt Washington has created is creating long-term damage to the economy.

Linda believes career politicians are part of the problem in Washington, and she believes Washington works best when it is infused with new ideas and fresh perspectives. She’s not going to Washington for the perks or the special interest favors. She’s running to make Washington work for us.

She isn’t a career politician, but she is an outsider with 30 years of real life business experience who understands how to balance a budget and create jobs. Companies can’t spend their way out of debt, and neither can countries. Linda believes good government demands fiscal responsibility. Fiscal responsibility begins with spending restraint and an end to deficit spending. And Linda knows that smaller government will help reduce the burdensome taxes and regulations that make it difficult for small businesses to succeed and create jobs.

LINDA IS RUNNING TO PUT PEOPLE FIRST
While Linda isn’t a career politician, she’s no stranger to public service: she has a long and established record of putting people first. She’s a mother and a grandmother. She has served as both a statewide officer and as one of the most recognizable CEOs in the country.

Linda’s 20 years of service in support of children led to her appointment in 2005 to The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America National Advisory Council. The Make-A-Wish Foundation, in 2004, awarded the WWE its highest honor, the Chris Grecius Award, for its extensive support.

She is a major supporter of such organizations as the Starlight Children’s Foundation; she has served as the Honorary Corporate Chair of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, running one of the organization’s most successful fundraising efforts. She also was presented the Arthur M. Sackler Award from the Connecticut Grand Opera and Orchestra for WWE’s support of its arts education program and she has served on the 1995 Governor’s Council for the World Special Olympics.

For Linda, public service isn’t a perfunctory campaign slogan — it’s a commitment that comes from a deep-rooted desire to help people.

Media Man does not represent Linda McMahon

Bio (credit WWE official website)

You may call him every bad name in the book, you may boo and hiss at the very sight of him, but make no mistake about it, if Vincent Kennedy McMahon were not the ruthless, driven, cocky Chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE would not be the pre-eminent global provider of entertainment that it is today.

It all started in 1982 when Mr. McMahon made the decision to purchase what was once called the World Wide Wrestling Federation from his father, Vincent, Sr. The senior McMahon had tried to persuade his son to not enter the business, but as would become a legendary McMahon trait, Mr. McMahon was defiant and he not only entered the “family business,” but he revolutionized it.

In March of 1985, McMahon embarked on what would become the very event to make sports entertainment the global phenomenon that it is today. It would be called WrestleMania and it was such an overwhelming success that 20 years later, it is still the biggest annual event in sports entertainment. In a mere three decades, Mr. McMahon’s passion and vision has made this industry what it is today and the vision has not faded one bit as he is still at the top of his game.

While other corporate executives choose to keep a low profile or not be a part of their own product, Mr. McMahon is right there in the mix, appearing regularly on WWE television and even mixing it up in the ring. He participated in some of the most highly-anticipated matches in WWE history and his rivalries with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan parallel some of the most heated matches in the long history of sports entertainment. He is even famous for taking action against his own family when they stand in his way and has tried on numerous occasions to drive his own wife, son, and daughter out of the industry. Unfortunately for Mr. McMahon, the passion he displays is an inherited trait and the battles within the McMahon family continue to this day.

You say his actions against members of his own family and fan-favorite Superstars are too much to bear? Keep in mind that before Mr. McMahon, sports entertainment was a regional series of wrestling territories with no national television exposure and little public fanfare. It was Mr. McMahon’s vision that brought about the very first WrestleMania and all of the subsequent major events in sports entertainment that continue to take place to this day.

So excuse Mr. McMahon if he does not care about the boos. Excuse him if he does whatever it takes to rid those who speak out against him, whether it is Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Undertaker, or another member of the McMahon family. Excuse him if he simply does not care…he is Mr. McMahon and he has earned to right to do just about whatever he wants. And if you have a problem with that, he will prove to you that you never cross the boss!

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Press Release

"McMahon" DVD, Available August 22nd, Offers Inside Look at the Dichotomy of Vince McMahon
August 4, 2006

STAMFORD, Conn., August 4, 2006 - Just who is Vincent Kennedy McMahon? Is he the outrageous owner and Chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. who appears on WWE® Raw® and Smackdown®? Or is he the philanthropist and family man who also focuses on what would be best for his company? Perhaps they are one in the same? The comprehensive DVD "McMahon," being released August 22nd, will offer the first ever in-depth look at both sides of Vince McMahon and how his vision has changed the scope of sports entertainment.

"McMahon" chronicles the time from McMahon's entry into the family business to the current character Mr. McMahon and private citizen Vincent Kennedy McMahon. As the DVD illustrates McMahon's adjustment from on-air announcer/off-screen owner to the tyrannical on-screen Mr. McMahon, viewers can make their own assessment of what is fact and what is fiction. With never-before-seen candid commentary from WWE employees and talent as well as family, friends, and competitors, "McMahon" attempts to make sense of what perceptions of Vince McMahon are true and what are merely extensions of the character he plays on television.

What compelled Vince McMahon to go against his own sensibilities to portray the sinister and cutthroat Mr. McMahon? How did his family react to his request of them to become on-air characters, as well as some of the more outrageous storylines McMahon has asked them to be a part of? What do the WWE Superstars think about McMahon and what he expects of his employees? What experiences have caused McMahon to re-evaluate how he views the world around him? "McMahon" attempts to provide the answers to those questions and more in this 2-disc DVD set.

Also included in this release is a bonus disc with four hours of extra material featuring Mr. McMahon®'s brutal battles with Hulk Hogan™, Stone Cold Steve Austin™, Undertaker®, Ric Flair®, and his son Shane™.

Though others such as Donald Trump, Mark Cuban, and Richard Branson have also displayed the flair and presence of the original company owner-cum-public face, what makes Vince McMahon successful in both personae is entirely unique. "McMahon" provides a detailed picture of why Vince McMahon transcends all others.

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

Media Contact: Chris Spagnuolo, 203-353-2867

Shawn Blake, 203-359-5131

Trademarks: The names of all World Wrestling Entertainment televised and live programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves and all World Wrestling Entertainment logos are trademarks which are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with producing live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets; risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television distribution agreements; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, our dividend is based on a number of factors, including our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan, our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends and such other factors as our board of directors may consider relevant.