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WWE chairman Vince McMahon has revealed rival promoters wanted to put a hit on him after 'invading their turf' early in his career.
When the 76-year-old purchased WWE (then known as WWWF) from his father in the 80s, wrestling in the United States was broken into territories.
McMahon chose to take WWE national and poached top stars from each territory - something that angered senior promoters.
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"I don’t know how many rivers I’m supposed to be at the bottom of," he told Pat McAfee in a rare interview.
"Death threats are what they are. I always felt like if you can knock off the president of the United States, I’m easy to get to. I’ve never had a bodyguard or any of that stuff.
"In those days it was like, from their standpoint, when you invaded their territory, it was like… there were so many people who threatened me, that I told one of them, ‘If you want to take credit for it, you better get me quick."
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McMahon reveals legendary commentator Jim Ross, who also worked the territory system early in his career, stumbled upon a conversation which could've ended professional wrestling as we know it.
'They were talking about how they were going to off me," McMahon continued. "'This guy knows this guy, I know a guy who can do this, this guy [carried out a hit], it was really impressive.' They all know people, so they’re all talking about who was going to off me.
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"So imagine Jim Ross, he doesn’t give a s**t about Vince McMahon [the incident took place before he signed with WWE]. He's thinking about himself. He's on the throne.
"He hears this and thinks he’s gonna be an accessory to murder. He takes one foot, puts it on the seat.
"Takes the other one, puts it on the seat, so now they can’t see his feet below the stall. And, of course Mother Nature is calling at the same time."
Ross joined WWE in 1993 after stints in Mid-South Wrestling and Jim Crockett Promotions, but he didn't tell McMahon the story until 1998.
McMahon discussed a number of topics on the show, including recent roster cuts, WWE's premium live events in Saudi Arabia and competition from All Elite Wrestling.
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He also offered former NFL punter McAfee a match at WrestleMania next month.
McAfee is a commentator on SmackDown, but made his in-ring debut in NXT against Adam Cole back in 2020.
It's believed McAfee will be facing Austin Theory, who is McMahon's protege on Monday Night RAW.
Topics: Vince McMahon, WWE
Daniel Marland