With the WWE’s flagship show, RAW, heading to Netflix in 2025,  it comes as no surprise that the streaming service would be interested in creating some content based on its latest acquisition. What nobody expected was that it would be a fairly in-depth look at the man who is synonymous with the company until recently.

With 6 episodes detailing the rise and fall of Vince McMahon, this documentary says so much about the former WWE chairman, yet also says not nearly enough. One thing’s for sure, though: if you have even just a bit of interest in pro wrestling, this documentary series is appointment viewing. Here are just 8 things you’ll find out from watching:

8. Vince had what could only be described as a troubled childhood

Not only was Vince treated fairly coldly by his biological father, but before he even got there, he was physically and even possibly sexually abused by his mom and stepfather. What Vince went through was no joke, and it can absolutely shape somebody differently from everybody else. Does it become any surprise then, that the lurid allegations that came his way seem to merely be a continuation of this unfortunate cycle of abuse?

7. It’s next to impossible to say what’s in character and what isn’t for Vince

Vince claims that the Mr. McMahon character is not the real him. Yet, at the same time, many people would swear that Vince and Mr. McMahon are barely any different, and it’s just a question of how exaggerated the character really is. Anytime Vince is onscreen, you can’t help but think he’s still on. Even when he pours his heart out, it feels like it’s part of an act, and what he wants people to see.

6. Vince is all about perception

This should come as no surprise, but if a man pretty much makes a slogan out of the words “perception is reality,” you can be sure that he lives by that belief. 

Not only does this reinforce #7 and just how impossible it is to read him, but it also means that Vince’s business sense has always been about manipulating perception and hiding the truth just beneath it.

5. The documentary glosses over a lot of important things

If you ever wanted to know the real story behind the Montreal Screwjob, the classic documentary Wrestling With Shadows covers it better. Given the sheer breadth of material to cover, many key facts were outright papered over, and it gives one less than the full picture they need to understand why Bret Hart is as angry as he still is over what happened.

Suffice it to say that Survivor Series was not the last chance for Bret to drop the title to someone in the WWE at the time, as he actually had a few more dates before his contract was up. And if you never knew the story about the Attitude Era, you’d be excused for assuming only one Vince ever mattered because Vince Russo wasn’t even mentioned in passing here.

Sure, it makes sense because the documentary is about Mr. McMahon. Even then,  it only means that even a documentary this long is just the tip of the iceberg, really.

4. Shane McMahon could have purchased the UFC

This is sort of common knowledge for the hardcore wrestling fan, but knowing that the WWE and the UFC are under one banner today, the average person might be surprised to know that there was a time when the UFC was up for sale and Shane McMahon was keen on making the purchase. It never came to fruition because Vince didn’t back his play, but imagine what a world we’d be living in if the WWE managed to pull off that coup.

3. The allegations against Vince are worse than we thought

Think about it this way: if there’s one thing you can be sure of, it’s the fact that until just this year, everyone assumed Vince McMahon would die before giving up the reins of the WWE.

Instead, his resignation, attempted comeback, and subsequent ouster should tell you all you need to know: the people up top do not want to have anything to do with him, and absolutely will do everything they can to keep him out of the picture. 

The last episode dives into the details of the allegations, but it’s very clear that if this ever goes to trial, so much more will come out for sure.

2. It’s hard to defend pro wrestling as a whole

There are problematic fandoms, and then there’s pro wrestling. With the sheer number of allegations, both proven and lingering, that were brought up over the course of the series, and with everything else we already know about the industry before we even saw this, being a wrestling fan means supporting an industry that has allowed monsters like the Fabulous Moolah to exist and even thrive, while shortening the lives of countless wrestlers who just wanted to entertain people. 

1. The wrestling industry has a long way to go

From institutionalized bullying to being a haven for abusers and a host of other issues, the fact that the WWE is trying to move in the direction of modern society is admirable. By giving women and people of color better opportunities as performers and encouraging people to value their family lives as much as they do their careers, they are taking the necessary steps to undo the wrongs of their past.

Yet even then, these are small steps in the face of the long road ahead. As fans, we can only hope they keep heading in that direction instead of regressing backward.

Mr. McMahon is now streaming on Netflix.