One key takeaway from the “Mr. McMahon” documentary is a comment made by the WWE founder himself.

In an interview featured in the series’ final episode, Vince McMahon noted that performers in wrestling often become so immersed in their on-screen personas that they can lose sight of their true identities.

“I find myself questioning which is the character and which is me? Maybe it’s a mix. One aspect might be a bit exaggerated, but I’m not entirely sure which one,” he stated.

The distinction is clear.

Despite his immense success in turning WWE into a well-known global brand and a major entertainment entity, the controversies that accompanied McMahon’s ascension—including accusations of drug and steroid misuse and various sexual assault claims—remain prominent throughout the six-part Netflix series.

Just prior to the show’s launch, McMahon criticized it as a “misleading” and “deceptive” portrayal of him. Watching it reveals why he had such a negative view: it presents all the troubling aspects of his past.

Throughout the documentary, McMahon insists that the “Mr. McMahon” character he played—a ruthless, power-hungry, and sexually controversial executive—is not who he truly is. However, the parallels between the character and the behind-the-scenes revelations are strikingly similar.

There are moments where McMahon receives accolades. The series highlights how he helped WWE expand nationally, triumphed over WCW, and how the “Attitude Era” transformed wrestling’s appeal. Esteemed wrestler Tony Atlas praised McMahon as “the greatest promoter of all time,” while The Undertaker expressed his deep loyalty, stating he would take a bullet for McMahon. Numerous wrestlers described him as a father figure.

Yet, alongside his influence in making wrestlers stars, there was a pervasive sense of fear regarding his ability to revoke that success at any moment. Trish Stratus reflected that after she refused to kiss another woman on-screen, she shockingly lost the Women’s Championship the following week, suggesting it was no coincidence.

“There was a concern among performers that not complying with his requests could lead to punishment,” Stratus shared. “And indeed, it did happen to some.”

McMahon’s views on controversies he was involved in reveal a lack of empathy and awareness. He brushed off the sexual assault claims against him, including those from former referee Rita Marie. Atlas claimed that in the company’s early days, “we mistreated women to a great extent. All of us did.”

Additionally, McMahon appeared unrepentant regarding the fatal incident involving Owen Hart. He justified continuing the show after Hart’s tragic fall, arguing that if it had been him, he would have wanted the performance to proceed, acknowledging that fans had come to see a show—even as Hart’s blood was on the mat. In discussing the double-murder-suicide of Chris Benoit, he implied that Benoit simply “went nuts,” insisting that wrestling wasn’t a factor, in spite of evidence suggesting Benoit suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

In a bizarre interview moment, McMahon explained he has two brains—one of which is preoccupied with sex at any given time.

However, nothing tops the segment where McMahon recounted a bizarre storyline idea where his own daughter, Stephanie, was pregnant, and he was the father. Stephanie immediately rejected it, but McMahon found it amusing to recall the pitch. For him, if a concept could generate revenue, moral concerns were secondary.

“This is business, and I would do anything for the sake of business,” McMahon stated in one episode.

Across more than five hours of footage, many viewers might have expected McMahon to confront the serious allegations of sexual assault and human trafficking made by a former employee. After all, he has vigorously defended himself in various interviews.

Instead, he chose to cancel his final interviews with the production team.

Many interviewees recounted that McMahon’s success stemmed from his ability to blur the lines between fantasy and reality, making it difficult for fans to discern what was real.

When asked whether Vince McMahon and Mr. McMahon are essentially the same person, the docuseries participants had mixed opinions. Some felt they were vastly different, while others thought they were either similar or closely aligned. McMahon himself claimed that nobody really understands who he is, but evidence suggests otherwise. Since assuming control of WWE from his father in 1982, he has consistently shown the world exactly who he is.

Vince McMahon embodies Mr. McMahon, and vice versa. The two identities are inseparable.