Best For Business: 5 Times Vince McMahon Knew Better Than His Critics

4. Going National

The idea of McMahon taking his wrestling company national was revolutionary at the time.

When Vince McMahon first bought WWE from his father and made clear his intentions to expand to a national promotion, it came across as anathema. Wrestling was a regional business and entering this mode of competition was uncharted territory that felt hostile to other promotions. It also came across as a bit of flight of fancy for any single promoter to dream this big.

McMahon won out in the years to follow, signing top talent from across the US and abroad to build a bigger name brand with a larger fan base than anyone might have dreamed possible. Taking advantage of cable, syndicated, and pay-per-view television models, and launching an ambitious national touring system, McMahon integrated his brand into the fabric of America.

Today, it’s all but impossible to imagine wrestling without WWE. McMahon didn't only go national, but put out a successful plan for global domination. All of this is a testament to McMahon’s commitment to his own vision despite critics who questioned his plans.