MAT WARS by Terry Keefe & Michael Wechsler

MAT WARS
The Vince McMahon Story
by Terry Keefe & Michael Wechsler
Contact:
Terrymovies@Gmail.com
310-902-6186
MAT WARS: THE VINCE MCMAHON STORY
FADE IN:
EXT. SMALL HOUSE, RESIDENTIAL STREET - EVENING
The paint peels. The lawn grows tall. A shabby joint. The
bombastic VOICE of an adult VINCE MCMAHON echoes.
VINCE (V.O.)
I try not to think about my Mom too
much, but when I do, I'm reminded of
the first 12 years of my life, in a
small North Carolina town called
Havelock. If you say that five times
fast, it will sound like "Have luck."
But trust me, we had none.
INT. VINCE'S BEDROOM - EVENING
A 10-year old, extremely skinny VINCE MCMAHON, vaguely
resembling a more modern version of Alfalfa from "The Little
Rascals," lies on his bed and flips through a comic book -
The Mighty Thor, the super hero with huge muscles and long
blonde hair.
As Vince reads Thor, mythic THUNDER crashes in his mind.
VINCE (V.O.)
Some childhoods are fairy tales.
Mine was a fairy tale too, written
by the Marquis de Sade on crank.
FOOTSTEPS come up the creaky stairs. Vince hides the comic.
VINCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Mom was working on her fifth marriage
in nine years, which meant I was on
my fourth stepfather. Chuck's weapon
du jour was holstered around his
waist -
INT. VINCE'S BEDROOM - THREE YEARS EARLIER
CHUCK, a wiry stepfather, beats Vince's rear with a BELT.
VINCE (V.O.)
Steve preferred footwear -
INT. VINCE'S BEDROOM - TWO YEARS EARLIER
STEVE, a fat stepfather, beats Vince's palms with a SHOE.
VINCE (V.O.)
Tony liked heels too but favored a
more traditional approach -
2.
INT. VINCE'S BEDROOM - ONE YEAR EARLIER

TONY, another big Stepfather, spanks Vince with a PADDLE.
VINCE (V.O.)
By the time Leo Lupton appeared on
the scene, these heartwarming
Stepfather-Son moments were so routine
you could cook eggs by them. Leo
usually preferred his bare hands -
INT. VINCE'S BEDROOM - EVENING
Vince lies in bed. The SHADOWS OF TWO FEET appear in the
light at the bottom of the door.
Vince's fourth stepfather, LEO LUPTON, 35, slams the door
open. Huge, muscular, and bare-chested, his muscles ripple.
VINCE (V.O.)
- but sometimes he came up still
wearing his tool belt from work.
Those were the worst days.
LEO
The teacher called today. Fucking
embarrassed me at work, runt.
Leo fingers a WRENCH on his tool belt and then closes the
door, providing a brief glimpse of Vince's terrified face.
INT. THE KITCHEN - THE NEXT MORNING
Vince stares at a bowl of cereal, clearly in pain. Across
from him sits his beleaguered mother, VICKY, 38. Leo walks
past, fastening his tool belt, en route to work.
LEO
Eat your Wheaties. Want to get big,
don't ya?
The phone rings. Vicky answers it. A look of surprise.
VINCE (V.O.)
It was my real father calling. He
had been on the road building his
business for years and was finally
ready to have me come live with him.
My reign of terror was over, my fairy
tale was about to begin. And not
written by the Marquis de Sade.
Actually, maybe. But in a good way.
EXT. AN EXPRESSWAY IN UPSTATE NEW YORK - EARLY EVENING
Vince, now 16, good-looking, but still skinny, stares out
the window.
3.
His father, MR. MCMAHON, 50, drives. Mr. McMahon sports a

thick head of white hair and a three-piece suit.
Supered: "1965 - Four Years Later"
They pass a sign saying "Welcome To Buffalo."
VINCE
Did we ever get ahold of Killer?
MR. MCMAHON
Yep, thank God. The psycho Pole-
lock finally agreed to job tonight.
For an extra C-Note of course.
VINCE
What would happen if he didn't job?
MR. MCMAHON
I think we'd have a riot on our hands,
Vinnie.
EXT. A MEDIUM-SIZED ARENA - A FEW HOURS LATER
Supered: "Buffalo Sports Arena - Buffalo, New York"
VINCE (V.O.)
Buffalo fans are the worst in the
world. That's one of the things my
dad taught me at an early age. Don't
stand out in the rain, drink your
milk, and for God's Sake, stay away
from those Buffalo fans.
Dozens of drunk FANS tailgate in the PARKING LOT.
Damn good advice.
INT. THE BUFFALO SPORTS ARENA - SIMULTANEOUS
Vince and Mr. McMahon watch a PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING MATCH
from ringside. A thousand FANS pack the dark, smoky arena.
In the RING, one huge WRESTLER bodyslams ANOTHER WRESTLER.
VINCE (V.O.)
My father owned the World Wide
Wrestling Federation, the WWWF, and
every moment I could was spent on
the road with him.
Mr. McMahon checks his watch and WHISPERS to Vinnie.
MR. MCMAHON
They're going over. Time for a pin.
4.
Mr. McMahon catches the Referee's eye and discreetly motions

for him to "wrap it up." The Referee leans over to the two
Wrestlers and whispers to them, under the guise of giving
them ring instructions.
REFEREE
The Old Man says to kaput it.
Quickly, one Wrestler rolls the Other into a pinning
combination. The Referee counts the 1-2-3.
VINCE (V.O.)
My Dad always kept his eye on the
bottom line and going over an extra
five minutes in a Preliminary Match
might've meant we'd have had to cut
the Main Event short. On a night we
were worried about a riot, that
definitely wasn't gonna happen.
CUT TO:
A MAP OF THE UNITED STATES: An animated RED LINE carves up
the Northeastern U.S. into a separate section. A flashing
"WWWF" blinks on and off in the center of it.
Over the course of my father's career,
he had build the WWWF into the most
powerful wrestling promotion in the
Northeast. In a profession like
wrestling, you can't argue with that
type of success. It was a terribly
tough business, as my Dad was
constantly reminding me -
BACK TO:
THE BUFFALO ARENA - CONTINUOUS
Behind Vince and Mr. McMahon, two DRUNKS fist-fight. One
tumbles over the railing, right behind Mr. McMahon.
MR. MCMAHON
This is a terribly tough business,
Vinnie. Study hard in school and
stay far away from this hullabaloo.
VINCE
I thought you loved wrestling, Dad.
MR. MCMAHON
I do. Mostly. Sometimes. But
believe me, you don't want to spend
all your time wondering whether the
Wonder Pole-lock is going to job for
you or not. It's good for ulcers,
nothing else.
5.
ARTY, Mr. McMahon's nervous second-in-command, joins them.

ARTY
So, is the Wonder Pole-lock really
gonna job tonight?
MR. MCMAHON
Yep.
ARTY
I thought Killer didn't take the
fall for nobody, even you.
MR. MCMAHON
I asked him if ever wanted to wrestle
in this town again.
ARTY
Who'd want to?
CROWD
Yukon! Yukon! Yukon!
In the ring, YUKON JACK, a burly "Lumberjack"-themed wrestler,
enters through the ropes.
VINCE (V.O.)
Yukon Jack was a hometown hero in
Buffalo. They loved Jack from the
Yukon even more than the Blue Ribbon
from Pabst's.
Yukon Jack waves to the FANS, who shower him with adoration.
In the ring, KILLER KOWALSKI, a Polish wrestler of Neanderthal
proportions, steps in. The Crowd showers him with hate.
The "Wonder Pole-lock" was Killer
Kowalski - the most feared man in
wrestling back then. Feared by other
wrestlers because if he didn't like
them, he'd really hurt them. Feared
by promoters because Killer did
whatever he felt like in the ring,
but they had to book him anyway
because he was such a huge draw.
And feared by the fans largely because
he'd filed his incisor teeth into
vampire fangs and would pretend to
bite his opponents in the neck.
CLOSE-UP ON KILLER'S POINTY TEETH. They twinkle in the lights
and drip with saliva.
6.

Killer had promised my Father that
he'd do a "job" in Buffalo, meaning
that it'd be his job to get his ass
kicked for the evening. Everything
seemed to be going according to plan.
The match begins and Yukon Jack immediately beats Killer up.
But then Killer takes the advantage and pretends to bite
Yukon Jack's ear.
AT RINGSIDE, Mr. McMahon nervously drinks MILK OF MAGNESIA.
He passes it to Arty, who also swigs.
IN THE RING, blood suddenly splatters all over Killer's face.
Screaming, Yukon rolls onto the mat in extreme pain because -
- Killer has bitten Yukon's ear off! Killer takes the ear
out of his mouth and stares at it quizzically.
Mr. McMahon, Vince, and Arty all stand up at once. The
Buffalo Fans all stand now also, shocked and angry. Mr.
McMahon and Arty climb into the ring. Vince follows them.
ARTY
Shit! Shit! Shit! It must've been
a cauliflower ear!
FREEZE-FRAME CLOSE ON THE EAR, HELD BY KILLER.
VINCE (V.O.)
Quick wrestling anatomy lesson -
veteran wrestlers get cauliflower
ears from having too many headlocks
put on them. Broken blood vessels,
make them swell up and ripple, sort
of like, well, cauliflower.
The Camera swoops in for a MICRO CLOSE-UP on the ear, gliding
across its every contour and blood vessel.
They're also brittle as hell and
stick out like a chimp's. Very
susceptible to unwanted removal.
END FREEZE-FRAME/RESUME REGULAR ACTION
The RING DOCTOR takes the ear from Killer.
RING DOCTOR
We might be able to sew it back on!
KILLER
(thick Polish accent)
I really dinna mean ta, Mista McMahon!
It just come offink!
7.
IN THE AUDIENCE, a MOB forms.

DRUNK GUY
That motherfucker mutilated Yukon!
The Mob of Drunken Fans pelt the ring with trash. Killer
gets hit in the head with a soda can. Any remorse he feels
about the ear instantly dissipates.
KILLER
Fuck youink!
MR. MCMAHON
Shut up, Killer. Shut up NOW!
Killer's insults are all the motivation the unruly Fans need.
They climb over the railings by the dozens. 30 SECURITY
GUARDS run down to control things but are instantly pummeled.
EXT. THE PARKING LOT - A FEW MINUTES LATER
Mr. McMahon, Vince, Arty, and Killer make a mad dash from a
rear entrance of the building to Mr. McMahon's parked car.
They manage to keep the Mob at bay by swinging FOLD-UP CHAIRS.
MCMAHON
You goddamn welching Pole-lock, I
want my money back!
KILLER
(waves to Mob)
I biteoff yous heads and sucks out
yous skull! Ha-ha-ha!
They pile into the car and peel out of the parking lot.
Various Fans chase after the car on foot, but it gets away.
INT. THE CAR - CONTINUOUS
Everyone breathes a sigh of relief.
KILLER
Now that wuz a wrestlin' match!
Mr. McMahon swigs Maalox, miserable. Vince, having the time
of his life, looks right at the camera and smiles.
VINCE (V.O.)
Severed ears, a riot, and a car chase,
all in one night! Why would you
want to be in any other business?!
INT. A DINER OUTSIDE BUFFALO - A FEW HOURS LATER
Mr. McMahon, Vince, Arty, and Killer sit at a table, drinking
coffee. The WAITRESS comes over to take their order.
8.
WAITRESS
Hey, the cook just recognized one of
you guys. Says you're a pro wrestler.
(smiles cluelessly)
I gotta ask - is that stuff fake?
In unison, Vince, Mr. McMahon, Arty, and Killer turn and
look at her angrily. Killer flashes his incisors.
FREEZE FRAME ON THEM
VINCE (V.O.)
And that about sums up life in
wrestling in 1965: it was tougher
than hell but it got about as much
respect as the roller derby.
RESUME ACTION. Vince yells at the Waitress.
VINCE (CONT'D)
You ever see a wrestler get his balls
kicked so hard they become part of
his ass?!! Or howabout when the
bones snap -
Mr. McMahon grabs Vince's shoulder reprimandingly.
MR. MCMAHON
That's enough, Vinnie. You can't
fight the whole world!
VINCE
But, wrestling's not 'fake!' It's
just staged!
KILLER
Kayfabe!!!!!
Vince stops in his tracks, nods, and sits back down.
VINCE (V.O.)
"Kay-fabe" was from the secret
language of carny. It meant a lot
of things. "Don't give away our
secrets," mainly, and in this case,
it meant "Shut the fuck up now." All
the Old Schoolers believed that the
business was finished if the truth
ever got out.
INT. BACKSTAGE AT ANOTHER NIGHT OF MATCHES - EVENING
Killer Kowalski sits with a group of YOUNG WRESTLERS.
KILLER
Youse dinna tell your wife that
wrestling is staged.
(MORE)
9.
KILLER (CONT'D)
Youse dinna tell your kids, or I
kill youse myself. Den I kill wife
and den kids. But first kids watch
me kill wife.
The Young Wrestlers all nod, nervously.
VINCE (V.O.)
As much as I respected what wrestlers
did, I always thought they were a
little fanatical about the Golden
Rule. It was really all about ego...
CUT TO:
A LONG PAN past the faces of 10 scary WRESTLERS staring at
the camera, growling and looking their toughest.
These guys hated being called fakes
more than anything. They considered
themselves warriors and superior
athletes. So did I - over the years,
I had seen way too many matches to
think otherwise -
CUT TO:
QUICK SHOTS of Vince and Mr. McMahon at various cities and
arenas - they drive through Boston; they walk towards the
NEW HAVEN HOCKEY ARENA; they sit in a HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM
as a wrestling ring gets set up.
Perhaps the most important thing
we'd do every week was shoot a live
television broadcast on Long Island.
INT. THE LONG ISLAND SPORTS CENTER - A BIT LATER
The place only seats about 500 FANS in bleachers.
VINCE (V.O.)
As important as it was to our
business, the production quality was
one notch above Public Access. But
back then, that's all we needed.
Mr. McMahon and Vince stand behind the TELEVISION CAMERAMAN
and watch the broadcast on a huge monitor, where two WRESTLERS
grapple.
The broadcast is in black and white, shot with one camera
and one angle, with little camera movement.
10.

See, the Second Golden Rule of
Wrestling was that the matches on
the TV show must always suck donkey
balls. You never gave the fans
something for free that they'd be
willing to pay for. Just enough to
tease them -
ON THE SIDELINES, two Television Announcers call the match.
TELEVISON ANNOUNCER #1
Holy cow, I've never seen such
brutality in my life. The Great
Tako's just destroying poor Barry
Greenblatt.
IN THE RING, the GREAT TAKO, a Japanese wrestler, reaches
into his trunks and pulls out a PACKAGE OF SALT.
When the Referee turns away, the Great Tako rubs the salt
into the eyes of spindly BARRY GREENBLATT.
VINCE (V.O.)
So, you'd never see two Marquee
Wrestlers, those were the stars,
wrestle each other on TV. Instead,
the audience would be treated to an
hour of Marquees vs. Lifetime Jobbers
like Barry Greenblatt. I mean,
Greenblatt never even won a single
match in his entire career.
ANNOUNCER #1
Omigod, that dirty Tako's using his
old salt-in-the-eyes trick.
ANNOUNCER #2
Sneaky Japs, you can't trust 'em.
It's just like Pearl Harbor again.
The CROWD gets very riled at the Great Tako.
CROWD
USA! USA! USA!
VINCE (V.O.)
The TV shows were just like
infomercials to draw people into the
arena matches, because that's where
the money was -
EXT./INT. QUEENS CENTER ARENA - NIGHT
A few thousand rabid Fans pack the stands here. Vince and
Mr. McMahon sit at Ringside.
11.
VINCE (V.O.)
- and the greatest matches.
IN THE RING, a nebbishy RING ANNOUNCER makes the intros.
RING ANNOUNCER
The challenger, from Hollywood,
California, weighing in at 250 pounds
of unparalleled physical perfection,
this is Gorgeous George! He is
accompanied by his valet Precious!
The Crowd resounds with BOOS as GORGEOUS GEORGE, a flamboyant
man in a pink satin robe and with a bleached blond pompadour,
prances into the ring.
His beautiful female valet, PRECIOUS, wields a huge CAN OF
PERFUME, which she sprays everywhere Gorgeous George walks,
"sanitizing" the ring for him.
RING ANNOUNCER (CONT'D)
And now the WWWF World Heavyweight
Champion -
The Crowd goes absolutely bananas.
RING ANNOUNCER (CONT'D)
- from Rome, Italy, at 260 pounds -
VINCE (V.O.)
The WWWF World Champion was barely
even seen on television in those
days. He didn't have to be, not
when his name was -
RING ANNOUNCER
- Bruno Sammartino!
Into the ring steps BRUNO SAMMARTINO, 25 and a very fit
Italian man. He wears no ring robe or fancy gimmicks, only
his black wrestling shorts and boots.
VINCE (V.O.)
You didn't need to put Bruno
Sammartino on TV - every wrestling
fan already knew what he looked like.
He had been champion for four years
straight, playing to sell-out crowds
everywhere he went.
Vince leans over to his father.
VINCE (CONT'D)
Dad, when's Bruno gonna lose the
title again?
MR. MCMAHON
You already know the answer.
12.
VINCE
It'd just spice things up a bit.
Let a few hot peppers get past this
Italian Sammartino dressing here
once in awhile.
MR. MCMAHON
You don't touch a salad this perfect.
I've never seen a Champ this popular
in all my days. None of the older
Champs, not Lou Thesz, not Verne
Gagne, not even Frank frigging Gotch
drew like Bruno does. The Champ
should always be somebody the fans
can relate to. Spice is great in a
Challenger, not a Champ. Look around
you -
(points to the Crowd)
- half the crowd are Italian
immigrants. Bruno's one of them.
We give the people what they want.
Bruno's also a great role model for
the kids. When the parents complain
about the violence in wrestling, we
can always point to our champ.
INT. BACKSTAGE AT THE MATCHES - ANOTHER NIGHT
A shirtless Bruno poses for a photo with two young KIDS. He
hoists them up on each shoulder.
KID
(re: Bruno's biceps)
Bruno, how do I get the bulge?
Bruno puts the Kids down and kneels to their eye-level.
BRUNO
50 push-ups a day, and 50 sit-ups.
Eat that healthy steak your Mom makes
and stay off the junk - no Twinkies.
Remember, kids, when you've got a
clean mind and body, none of the
forces of evil can stop you.
VINCE (V.O.)
I liked Bruno, but he took himself
so seriously, like St. Francis in
wrestling tights. I preferred the
guys with a little more flash, like
the one and the only Doctor Jerry -
INT. ANOTHER DAY AT THE TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - DAY
DOCTOR JERRY looks like a flamboyant Hell's Angel: muscle-
bound, covered with tattoos, wild blonde hair, and a blood-
red fedora. He shoots an INTERVIEW promoting his next match.
13.
DOCTOR JERRY
Check out this physique, witness
this charming smile, and dig this
personal style! Whoa, Daddy!!
Vince watches the interview from the sidelines.
VINCE (V.O.)
After the matches, Doctor Jerry liked
to do two things - drink like a fish
and tool his wheels around town.
Since he couldn't do both at once -
EXT. THE STREETS - EVENING
Vince drives a long CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE. Its blood-red
color matches Doctor Jerry's fedora. Doctor Jerry sprawls
in the passengers seat, slugging JACK DANIELS.
VINCE
So how'd it work out with that babe
last night?
DOCTOR JERRY
She was buns high and kneeling, I
was a'wheeling and a'dealing!
They laugh. Up ahead, an attractive WOMAN and her BOYFRIEND
walk together.
DOCTOR JERRY (CONT'D)
Hit the brakes, Vinnie.
Vince skids to the curb. Doctor Jerry gets out. He walks
over to the Woman and starts talking. The Boyfriend protests.
Doctor Jerry cocks his fist back at the Boyfriend, who takes
off running. The Woman actually smiles at Doctor Jerry now.
He kisses her hand.
Vince watches Doctor Jerry in awe.
VINCE (V.O.)
Doctor Jerry was a man who said and
did whatever he pleased. A man with
attitude. He was Larger Than Life.
EXT. HOTEL PARKING LOT - LATE EVENING
Vince pulls the Cadillac Convertible up and parks.
DOCTOR JERRY
Thanks, Vinnie. Got a present for ya -
Doctor Jerry stumbles out of the car and pops open his trunk.
Vince follows him, excitedly.
14.

You asked about getting some muscles?
Doctor Jerry pulls two BAR BELLS from the trunk.
Here, twenty curls a day and twenty
presses. Remember - when you're
bigger and stronger than everyone,
nobody can ever hurt you.
Vince takes the barbells with a smile and then nearly falls
down under their weight. Doctor Jerry steadies him.
QUICK CUTS: Vince works out with the barbells in his hotel
room; He does a succession of wrestling moves on his bed;
Vince spins a red fedora, just like Doctor Jerry's; He flexes
his slightly larger muscles in the mirror.
INT. THE MCMAHON LIVING ROOM - EVENING
Vince sits down across from Mr. McMahon, who finishes up
some paperwork with Arty.
VINCE
Dad, I've decided what I want to be.
Mr. McMahon leans forward, proudly smiling.
MR. MCMAHON
Not even in college and my boy already
knows what he wants to be -
VINCE
- a doctor.
ARTY
A doctor! Oh, our little Vinnie's
going to help people. Dr. Vinnie -
VINCE
More like a doctor who hurts people.
A doctor like Jerry.
MR. MCMAHON
I don't understand.
VINCE
I'm going to be a wrestler.
MR. MCMAHON
That's a good one! You always know
how to tickle my funny bone, wiseacre.
VINCE
I'm not wiseacring.
(MORE)
15.
VINCE (CONT'D)
I've been training over the last few
months, lifting, practicing moves.
In a few years, when Bruno retires,
I'll be ready to take over: Vinnie
"Big Mac" McMahon, WWWF Champion.
Mr. McMahon's face drops. He presses his abdomen.
VINCE (CONT'D)
Arty, get me my Maalox and if you
hear SCREAMING behind these doors,
that's me beating this crazy notion
out of my son.
Arty scoots out of the room.
VINCE (CONT'D)
Look Dad, I know that you -
MR. MCMAHON
Now you listen up, "Doctor." May I
call you Doctor? There is no way in
hell you'll ever be a stumblebum
wrestler! I love 'em like my own
family. Well, some of 'em. But
that lifestyle's got no dignity.
VINCE
But there's dignity in being strong,
right, Dad? When you're bigger than
everyone else, nobody messes around
with you -
MR. MCMAHON
So that's what this is about, being
a big tough guy like Dr. Jerry?
Mr. McMahon sizes up Vince. His demeanor changes radically,
shifting to optimism.
MR. MCMAHON (CONT'D)
Okay, maybe you're right, Vinnie.
Maybe you do have a future as the
next WWWF Champ.
VINCE
Really?
MR. MCMAHON
Sure. Matter of fact, one of our
employees just started a wrestling
school in his house -
16.
INT. KILLER KOWALSKI'S BASEMENT - DAY

The place actually looks more like a dungeon. In a make-
shift ring, Vince, wearing wrestling tights and boots, gets
SLAMMED hard to the mat by Doctor Jerry.
Killer Kowalski coaches, while Mr. McMahon watches.
KILLER
No! Thas not how do dake da Bam-
Bam, you ijiot! You help de Dr.
Jerry throw yous, den it don't hurt.
Mr. McMahon WHISPERS into Killer's ear.
MR. MCMAHON
Make it hurt.
VINCE
I need a break, we've been going
three hours, I need some water -
Killer jumps into the ring and SPITS in Vince's face.
KILLER
Dere! Lots of nutwients in my SPIT.
Wressler stop when I say so! Next
time you drink my holy water! Jerry!
PILEDRIVE DE SPOILED SUNUVABITCH.
(whispers to Mr.
McMahon)
Am I being too hard?
MR. MCMAHON
An extra C-Note if you make him cry.
INT. LOCKER ROOM - LATER
Vince lays across a bench, bruised up. Dr. Jerry sits down.
DOCTOR JERRY
For your first day, you didn't stink
up the ring too badly.
VINCE
Sure, if I want to be the next Barry
Greenblatt.
DOCTOR JERRY
It's nice to be big and tough, but
if I had to do it again... let me
show you something -
Jerry grabs Vince's hand and brings it to his massive
cauliflower left ear.
17.

- I dread the day I have to face
Killer when he hasn't eaten.
Jerry now brings Vince's hand to the rear of his neck.
Feel that bump? I can't move my
neck some mornings. I once had
battery acid slung at me by a fan in
Mexico. Another stabbed my nuts -
Jerry looks out of the corner of his eyes and exchanges a
knowing glance with Mr. McMahon, who winks and leaves.
- you have any idea how much you
bleed when someone tries to slice
off your ball sack?
INT. FANCY RESTAURANT - LATER
Vince and his father dine on steak and lobster.
MR. MCMAHON
Multiply how you feel right now by
365 and that's what it's like to be
a wrestler.
VINCE
Well, I didn't cry.
MR. MCMAHON
And that cost Killer a hundred bucks.
Why do you think I'm taking you out
for this schmantzy meal?
He pats his son on the back of the head.
VINCE
Dad... I think the reason I want to
be a wrestler is cause nobody screws
with them.
MR. MCMAHON
But nobody screws with you now, Vince -
VINCE
Excuse me if 12 years in Havelock
taught me to expect otherwise.
An uncomfortable beat.
MR. MCMAHON
Believe me, son, had I been there, I
would've shredded that guy, bled him
dry, and buried him in a garbage
(MORE)
18.

dump. But I wasn't there and I can't
change what happened. Please believe
me when I tell you I thought your
mother was giving you a decent home.
(beat)
I do know that becoming a wrestler
isn't going to stop life from screwing
with you. Just when you think you've
hit the top, somebody always jumps
in and fucks it all up. Trust me.
Mr. McMahon gets a little more upbeat.
In the meantime, there's a position
at the WWWF that needs to be filled.
I need a promoter. It's not wrestling
but it is helping to manage all the
boys. All the big, bad, tough guys
work for that person. Kind of like
the guy beneath me. Know anybody up
for the task, Vince?
INT. JFK AIRPORT - DAY
Vince, now 18 years old, walks through the airport with Mr.
McMahon. They both wear matching three-piece suits.
Supered: "1968"
MR. MCMAHON
My rules are what keep us from going
belly-up like all the also-rans.
I'm telling you this because you're
headstrong, Vinnie. I've seen plenty
of guys think that they can promote
their matches any way they like and
wind up without a pot to piss in...
EXT. THE SKIES OVER CHICAGO - AN HOUR LATER
A Pan Am JET flies through the air.
MR. MCMAHON (O.S.)
In 1945, there were 205 wrestling
promotions in this country. Now
there are only 20 left. They'll all
be represented at the Summit today.
INT. THE JET - CONTINUOUS
Mr. McMahon and Vince sit together. Vince places a MAP of
the United States in front of them.
VINCE
So, the Midwest belongs to Al Lord?
19.
MR. MCMAHON
Uh-huh, Chicago, Michigan, Ohio,
basically anything with a cornfield
within 100 miles.
VINCE
We've got the Northeast of course.
Chappy Jones's got most of the South,
Vlad Bismarck's got Texas - just
Texas?
MR. MCMAHON
Believe me, that's a big enough
territory. More wrestling fans there
than cattle.
VINCE (V.O.)
Wrestling in those days was controlled
by a small group of regional promoters
who had carved the U.S. up into
wrestling fiefdoms back in the '40s.
CUT TO:
THE MAP OF THE UNITED STATES: Animated LINES of different
colors slice up the map into the WRESTLING TERRITORIES.
Collectively, they called themselves
the Cauliflower Club and my dad was
a founding member.
CUT TO:
BLACK AND WHITE FOOTAGE of a young Mr. McMahon in his 20s
shaking hands with 12 other YOUNG MEN - some in suits, others
dressed more casually in cowboy hats and flannel shirts.
A more perfect monopoly had never
been created. They had all sworn
never to invade each other's
territory, and they would all join
together to blackball any wrestler
that dared work for a promoter who
wasn't part of the Club. This is
how they kept absolute power over
the wrestling industry in the U.S.
INT. A FANCY CHICAGO HOTEL BOARD ROOM - A WHILE LATER
The group of 12 PROMOTERS, now much older, sit around a
Conference Table, drinking champagne. Vince sits next to
his Father.
AL LORD, a muscular man of 50, with a crew cut and cigar,
commands the head of the table.
20.
AL LORD
We're pleased as wet pussy to have
with us our usual guests, plus a few
new additions. As the host of this
year's Summit, let me welcome, from
Florida, the legendary Chappy Jones -
CHAPPY JONES, a large blonde man, smiles.
AL LORD (CONT'D)
- from Texas, Vlad Bismarck -
VLAD BISMARCK, a huge and gruff-looking German guy in a cowboy
hat, grunts a "Howdy."
AL LORD (CONT'D)
You all know Burt Stacks from the
Southern Wrestling Association -
BURT STACKS, smoking a cigarette and wearing a fedora, waves.
AL LORD (CONT'D)
From New Mexico - here for the first
time - we have the Rodriguez Brothers -
Alberto and Pepe. You'll remember
them from their tag team days.
ALBERTO and PEPE RODRIGUEZ, huge Mexican Twins with long
black hair, smile at the same time.
AL LORD (CONT'D)
I warn you, they're far tougher
negotiators than they were wrestlers.
I had one helluva time getting Mil
Mascaras released from his contract
with them.
"Oohs" and LAUGHS fill the room.
AL LORD (CONT'D)
Still don't speak a fucking word of
American though. To their left, of
course, from the Northeast, Vince
McMahon and his boy, Vinnie, who's
going to be joining us today. 18.
Jumping right into the deep end with
the water moccasins, eh kid?
They all laugh. Mr. McMahon also chuckles and pats Vince on
the back. Vince smiles nervously at the other Promoters.
INT. AN EMPTY ARENA - A FEW MONTHS LATER
The matches won't start for a few hours. Inside the ring,
Vince speaks to Doctor Jerry and CHIEF THUNDERBOLT, an
American Indian-themed wrestler in a full feather head dress.
21.
VINCE (V.O.)
My main job, day-to-day, was to block
out the night's matches with the
wrestlers. I was the best in the
company at it from my first day.
Vince hands Doctor Jerry a WRENCH.
VINCE (CONT'D)
Doctor Jerry will take the foreign
object from his boot and smack Chief
Thunderbolt over the head with it
when the Ref's back is turned. But
Jerry, when you go for the pin, the
Chief will still manage to roll you
up into a small package 1-2-3 combo.
DOCTOR JERRY
I can't job with my fucking bitch ex-
wife coming tonight, Vinnie. I saw
her buying a ticket this afternoon.
She'll sit there in the front row
and laugh at me.
CHIEF THUNDERBOLT
(Puerto Rican accent)
Hey, my whole family's gonna be there
tonight, esai.
DOCTOR JERRY
Your entire tribe of Oklahoma
Cherokees came up from San Juan?
CHIEF THUNDERBOLT
Fuck you and fuck you again. When
you got my color in this business,
you're either a Spanish warrior or
an Injun. The WWWF already had the
Puerto Rican Prince wrestling when I
got here, so -
DOCTOR JERRY
- Tonto it was.
Chief Thunderbolt steps aggressively towards Doctor Jerry,
who does the same.
Vince moves in-between them, still way smaller than the
talent, and nearly gets jostled to the ground. He holds the
two Wrestlers apart, just barely.
VINCE
Stop! Okay, the match will be a
squash. Double-disqualification
when the Chief pulls his own foreign
object. That way, both of you get
your licks in and save face, okay?!
22.
INT. THE SAME ARENA - A FEW HOURS LATER

Fans pack the stands. Doctor Jerry pulls the wrench from
his boot and goes to smack Chief Thunderbolt with it. But
then SQUAW, Chief's ringside manager, hands him a TOMAHAWK.
The Ref calls for a double-disqualification, after which the
two Wrestlers beat each other up anyway.
IN THE REAR OF THE ARENA, Vince and Mr. McMahon watch.
MR. MCMAHON
Nice finish, Vinnie. Now, you know
what time it is, right?
INT. THE ARENA TICKET BOOTH - A BIT LATER
Vince, miserable, struggles through the ACCOUNTING BOOKS.
VINCE (V.O.)
My dad knew that my math skills were
near-mongoloid, but he was still
determined to turn me into a walking
spread sheet.
A friendly female VOICE comes from Off-Screen.
VOICE
Ummm, looks like 4,222 to me. Not a
bad night's take.
Startled, Vince jumps to his feet. LINDA EDWARDS, 17, a
pretty, tomboy-ish girl, sticks her head in the ticket window.
LINDA
Sorry to scare you. It's just that
I'm okay at math, and you looked as
if you could use some help.
VINCE
You sure about the total?
LINDA
Why would I lie to the guy who's
going to sell me tickets to my
favorite sport? Did the Bobo Brazil
match start yet?
VINCE
No, you've got a good ten minutes.
LINDA
(hands him money)
One ticket for the Upper Decks please!
Vince looks down at his list of available seats. Under the
heading "Ringside," he sees two seats still left. He crosses
BOTH of them out but hands Linda a single ticket.
23.
LINDA (CONT'D)
Thanks. Have a better one.
She heads inside. Vince follows her with his eyes.
INT. THE ARENA - A BIT LATER
Vince walks down through the stands of screaming fans to the
bottom of the arena. In the ring, a black wrestler named
BOBO BRAZIL battles a masked wrestler, THE MASKED MARAUDER.
Linda sits at ringside, cheering vigorously for the match.
As Vince planned, there's an empty seat next to her. Vince
takes a deep breath, walks over, and takes the seat.
VINCE
Who's winning?
LINDA
Bobo just got a nasty-ass suplex
done on him. I only paid for a ticket
in the Upper Decks. Hope you don't
get in trouble.
VINCE
I guess if I wasn't a top promoter,
I'd be hitting the bricks.
LINDA
So is this how promoters pick up the
chicks? You get us great seats?
VINCE
Nah.
LINDA
(chuckles)
Uh-huh. Let me guess then, you need
me to do some trig.
VINCE
Not actually, Miss -
LINDA
- Edwards.
VINCE
Miss Edwards, I was going to say...
I came down here because... well,
beautiful girls who are into wrestling
are like unicorns. I didn't think
they existed.
Linda blushes and smiles.
24.
LINDA
You grow up with five brothers like
I did and you're getting piledrived
by the time you're five. Makes it
kind of hard to go back to Barbies.
INT. THE SAME ARENA - LATER THAT EVENING
Vince and Linda walk through the Backstage Area.
LINDA
(star-struck)
There's Dick the Bruiser, Chief Jay
Strongbow, and the Masked Marauder -
The Masked Marauder stands by a gym locker. He closes it,
revealing that he's naked other than his mask.
Linda begins laughing hysterically. Vince covers her mouth.
VINCE
Never takes it off. Can you stop?
Linda shakes her head "no." Vince leads her out into the
main arena floor, where they both laugh aloud.
Nearby, a local NEWS CREW shoots a broadcast. Vince loses
his laughter quickly. INTERCUT between Vince/Linda and the
News Reporter, whose tone is very condescending.
NEWS REPORTER
It's been said that for those who
love this quasi-sport, it needs no
explanation. But for those who hate
it, no explanation would ever be
good enough. The whole enterprise
beggars the question "Is it fake?"
VINCE
(whispers to Linda)
That's the only thing these news
reports ever focus on. Now watch
how he pronounces "wrestling."
The chuckling News Reporter interviews a DRUNK GUY.
NEWS REPORTER
You say you like wrasslin' for the
blood that gets spilled?
DRUNK GUY
Thas right -
VINCE
The ones who laugh at us always call
it "wrasslin'."
(MORE)
25.
VINCE (CONT'D)
I wish I could show jerks like this
how hard what we do is. It's as
complicated as putting on a Broadway
show. Why do football and baseball
get more respect than we do? Even
the circus gets more!
LINDA
Doesn't have to be that way, does
it?
VINCE
(smiles)
You're right. It doesn't.
INT. THE EMPTY ARENA - A FEW HOURS LATER
Vince and Linda enter the empty ring. Linda runs and bounces
off the ropes. She rubs her back awkwardly.
LINDA
God, that hurt! I thought they'd be
soft.
VINCE
The ropes gotta be solid to support
300-pound guys flying off 'em.
Vince also runs and bounces off the ropes. They cross paths
in the middle of the ring.
LINDA
Arm-drag!
Linda indeed executes a surprise ARM-DRAG move on Vince. He
hits the mat hard. He lies there on his back, groaning.
LINDA (CONT'D)
Sorry, I couldn't resist. Here -
Linda offers her hand to Vince and helps him stand. He looks
up at the ceiling, a broad smile comes over his face.
LINDA (CONT'D)
What are you staring at?
VINCE
Promise not to laugh? Every week
I've been coming into the ring after-
hours... and I keep seeing this thing -
Vince gestures theatrically. On the SOUNDTRACK, the sounds
of a massive CROWD cheering slowly build.
The small arena gradually transforms itself into an enormous
STADIUM full of many thousands of WRESTLING FANS. The Fans
seem to go forever upwards into the sky, with no end in sight.
26.
VINCE (CONT'D)
- of a hundred thousand wrestling
fans. Maybe a few hundred thousand.
All in this massive arena. Not a
piddly dump like this place, but a
stadium. Maybe a stadium that's so
big it hasn't even been built yet
anywhere in the world. The crowd's
going crazy and they're all there to
see one of our wrestling cards.
That's the day nobody laughs at
wrestling again.
LINDA
When you can throw it in everyone's
faces and say, "Look at us, you
bastards!"
VINCE
"Look at us, you bastards!" I like
that. I think wrestling can be the
biggest thing ever. Bigger than all
the other sports, bigger than movies -
LINDA
- bigger than religion, even.
VINCE
I don't know about bigger than
religion.
LINDA
Okay, fine, but have you ever seen
some of Bruno Sammartino's fans?
They'd rape the Pope for him. Oops.
Linda "crosses" herself, Catholic-style. Vince does the
same. He can't take his lovestruck eyes from her.
VINCE (V.O.)
And that was how I came to know my
partner-in-crime Linda Edwards.
EXT. THE ARENA - A BIT LATER
Vince walks Linda to her car. The News Reporters pack up
their equipment. Vince stops to talk to the CAMERA MAN.
VINCE
You guys can't be doing a live feed,
right? The news was on at 6.
CAMERA MAN
Nah, we don't have to do these
segments live anymore. Here -
He pulls out a huge, early-model VIDEO CASSETTE.
27.
CAMERAMAN
We can record onto one of these babies
now and then put it on the air anytime
we like. The big boys have had it
for years, but now it's finally
affordable for cheapskates like the
bums I work for.
Vince studies the video cassette.
VINCE (V.O.)
Some revolutions start with a bullet.
Mine started with 500 throbbing inches
of Sony U-Matic Magnetic Tape.
INT. MR. MCMAHON'S OFFICE - DAY
Vince and Linda, now a couple, sit with Mr. McMahon in front
of a TELEVISION with an enormous, early-model VCR.
VINCE
It's gonna save us all types of money,
because now we can just send one of
these tapes to the local stations,
rather than going live. So we can
shoot 5 shows back-to-back in one
day, instead of 5 different days.
Mr. McMahon grins, liking this idea.
MR. MCMAHON
Okay, it's your project, Vinnie. If
we lose a dime though, we're back to
live broadcasts at 11 AM on Saturday.
VINCE
Deal. Video is helping with scouting
too. Jerry's doing a tour in France -
the Frogs have been using video for
a few years already. He sent me a
tape of this new guy big in Paris -
Vince pops in a new video cassette, which plays footage of
an ENORMOUS WRESTLER - he's 7'4'' and a good 500 pounds.
MR. MCMAHON
Good God!
VINCE
Not God - Andre Roussimoff. He's
been wrestling in Europe under the
name of Andre the Great. He's agreed
to fly to America for a few weeks of
matches with us. I can see it now -
we bill him as "Andre the Great -
the Eighth Wonder of the World."
28.
MR. MCMAHON
Of course, you know my First Wonder -
VINCE
His salary is reasonable, Dad. His
per diem is a little high, though.
He apparently eats like... what
expression did Jerry use again, Linda?
LINDA
A starving woolly mammoth.
MR. MCMAHON
Andre the Great, huh?
VINCE
The Eighth Wonder of the World.
Andre the Great. Andre the Strong.
Andre the Mighty. Andre the -
Vince gestures theatrically. Mr. McMahon does the same.
VINCE AND MR. MCMAHON TOGETHER
- Giant!
Mr. McMahon claps his hands.
MR. MCMAHON
Sign him! But you've reached your
quota of big ideas for the next few
months, got it, genius?
VINCE
Thanks, Dad! One other big idea
though - Linda's going to be joining
us on the road for a little while.
LINDA
I hope you don't mind.
MR. MCMAHON
Just as long as you're not bothered
by big, sweaty, half-naked men walking
around all over the place, Linda.
LINDA
Why do you think I started watching
wrestling in the first place?
INT. THE TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - NIGHT
Supered: "Andre the Giant's American Debut - Jan. 1, 1970"
Inside the ring, Andre the Giant engages in a human tug-of-
war with a group of six smaller WRESTLERS. He's got a rope
tied to each hand. Three Wrestlers pull on each rope.
Andre pulls the Wrestlers into each other, dazing them.
29.
AT RINGSIDE, Vince, Linda, and Mr. McMahon all watch. The

Crowd around them goes wild for Andre.
IN THE RING, Andre dumps each of the wrestlers onto a huge
pile and then sits his massive backside down on them. The
Referee counts the 1-2-3 pin on all six Wrestlers at once.
AT THE ANNOUNCERS TABLE, two dull Announcers call the match.
ANNOUNCER 1
He's a big one, this Andre.
ANNOUNCER 2
You know, when somebody that size
wallops you, it must really hurt.
AT RINGSIDE, Vince watches them and shakes his head.
VINCE
They're calling wrestling history
like it's just another match!
MR. MCMAHON
Those two are only filling in until
Pat Patterson starts next week.
LINDA
I've seen Patterson announce on the
boxing shows. He's good.
VINCE
Who's his co-announcer gonna be?
MR. MCMAHON
Haven't figured it out yet.
Mr. McMahon exits. Vince and Linda look at each other.
VINCE (V.O.)
My Dad hated promoters who put
themselves in front of the camera.
He said it was an ego move that ruined
entire companies -
INT. BACKSTAGE AT THE TELEVISION ARENA - THE NEXT WEEK
Vince sits in a make-up chair, wearing a suit with obvious
SHOULDER PADS. He straightens a very loud yellow tie.
VINCE (V.O.)
- but I knew no one could sell my
matches to the public better.
Linda blow-dries his hair into a fancy pompadour.
VINCE (CONT'D)
From the neck up, I look like I'm in
Sha Na Na, honey.
30.
LINDA
Bowser uses pomade. You look like
Vince McMahon, Wrestling Promoter
for the '70s.
Mr. McMahon enters the room, perturbed.
MR. MCMAHON
I go to Chicago for three days and
you lose your mind? A promoter isn't
a celebrity, Vinnie.
VINCE
Not a celebrity, Dad. A spokesman,
like, like -
MR. MCMAHON
Ronald McDonald?
VINCE
Walt Disney.
MR. MCMAHON
So I suppose we're going to open a
chain of WWWF theme parks next?
Vince smiles and shrugs.
INT. RINGSIDE - A BIT LATER
A nervous Vince and a burly blond man, PAT PATTERSON, announce
the play-by-play.
VINCE
(super-fast)
Andre the Giant is back again this
week and one heck of a ruckus is
underway here in the WWWF.
PAT PATTERSON
There hasn't been such a French
phenomenon since Bridget Bardot doffed
her top on the Riviera.
(covers his microphone)
You're doing great. Just slow it
down a few years. Light years.
INT. ANOTHER TELEVISION TAPING - EVENING
Vince and Linda watch a video playback on a monitor. Andre
the Giant, wearing his wrestling trunks, eats a huge tray of
burgers nearby.
ON THE VIDEO PLAYBACK, Vince interviews Andre the Giant,
from just moments earlier.
31.
VINCE
(poised, perfect speed)
So Andre, we're all really looking
forward to your big match against
the Super Destroyer -
Vince winces, watching this playback of himself.
VINCE (CONT'D)
It's not right.
LINDA
You're playing yourself perfectly -
VINCE
That's the problem. It needs to be,
I don't know, larger than life -
INT. THE TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - 15 MINUTES LATER
Vince speaks to the camera. Linda watches from the sidelines.
VINCE
Imagine the results of heads-up, one-
on-one action between the Eighth
Wonder of the World, Andre the Giant,
and the Super Destroyer. So, Andre -
Vince's eyes grow wide with fear as Andre the Giant walks
out on apple boxes, giving Andre the appearance of being two
feet taller than in reality, some nine feet tall. Throughout,
Vince will appear timid and nervous.
ON THE MONITOR, Vince's head is at the far bottom of the
screen and the rest is filled by Andre's massive body.
VINCE (CONT'D)
- I know that you must be very angry
at the Super Destroyer -
ANDRE THE GIANT
(very broken English)
Veence, let me show you what Andre
do to Supadestroya -
Andre chokes Vince, whose face grows red. His eyes bulge.
VINCE
Stop, please! Enough demonstration!!
Andre stops choking Vince and then pats him on the back.
Vince loosens his tie and regains his composure.
VINCE (CONT'D)
(looks into the camera)
If that's what the Super Destroyer
has in store for him, then oh my!
32.
Vince signals for a cut. Linda laughs and claps her hands.
LINDA
Poor wimpy broadcaster scared of the
big bad wrestlers. Where was that
guy lurking in you?
VINCE
Actually, I know all about that guy.
I hate that guy. But if it works,
I'll be him. For a bit.
INT. THE TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - DAY
Supered Title: 1972
Before the evening's television taping, four CAMERAMEN
practice camera moves at ringside. Two EDITORS assemble
brand-new MONITORS and EDITING DECKS.
VINCE (V.O.)
With sales up, I was able to convice
my Dad to buy more equipment for the
TV shows, so we could finally shoot
from more than one fucking angle.
Superstar Billy Graham joined the
WWWF around the same time -
Vince stands in the ring with SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM, an
extremely muscular, bleached-blond man, who wears disco pants
in place of wrestling tights. Bruno Sammartino stands by.
- he was the first wrestler with a
true bodybuilder's physique. An
instant star.
Indeed, Superstar's muscles are ripped like a professional
bodybuilder. Bruno's physique looks old-fashioned by
comparison.
VINCE (CONT'D)
So the match is going to end with
Superstar's getting thrown over the
top rope onto the floor. I want
this to be a big-ass tumble. Think
of yourself as Superman flying while
wearing a Kryptonite necklace.
(points to a Cameraman)
Tony, I want you to be there so we
get a good shot of it. Make sure
we've got some chairs set up so he
slams into them for better effect.
Then Bruno - you're going to jump
down to roll him back into the ring.
(MORE)
33.
VINCE (CONT'D)
But Superstar's been playing possum
and he's gonna grab a folding chair
and smash Bruno over the head with
it. But Bruno's gonna get up and as
Superstar's getting back into the
ring, Bruno'll plant the chair right
in his noggin, beat the count, and
get the win.
CAMERAMAN
(laughs)
Vince, you're the Busby Berkeley of
wrestling!
BRUNO
The only problem is that Bruno
Sammartino never cheats. I won't
use a chair, Vinnie. Particularly
not on a man from behind.
VINCE
Well, how about you just spin around
and punch him in the face then?
BRUNO
Perfect.
Mr. McMahon appears at ringside, fuming.
MR. MCMAHON
A word. Or two. And maybe three.
Vince jumps out of the ring and walks over to his father.
This is a Marquee match-up that we
can sell-out 20 houses in a row with.
And you're out here giving it away
on television!
VINCE
Dad, if the television shows are
better, we might gain more fans and
then our arena sales will go up.
Just let me test the theory.
INT. THE TELEVISION TAPINGS ARENA - THAT EVENING
In the ring, Bruno drop-kicks Superstar. Multiple cameras
film the action. The crowd applauds wildly.
VINCE (V.O.)
For the first time ever, the TV show
were genuinely entertaining. That
month, our television ratings doubled,
and sure enough, our arena sales
actually tripled.
34.
MONTAGE:
- Overhead Shot of the Arena. Some 4,000 FANS inside, more
packed than we've ever seen. Chairs in the aisles.
- Vince and Linda get married. Mr. McMahon stands nearby.
IN THE CHURCH PEWS: On one side, Vince's Guests are all
gigantic Wrestlers - Superstar, Doctor Jerry, Gorgeous George
in a spangled tux, and the Masked Marauder, who wears his
mask with a suit.
On the other side, Linda's Guests are all very conservative,
straight-looking people. They eye Vince's side warily.
- In a HOSPITAL DELIVERY ROOM, Linda holds their newborn
baby SON. Vince rubs the baby's forehead.
VINCE (CONT'D)
We're calling you Shane, little fella.
Because Shane never backed down from
nobody.
(whispers to him)
And I won't either.
- Two new body builder-type wrestlers, JESSE VENTURA, a
flamboyant blond man, and TONY ATLAS, an incredibly ripped
black man, wrestle as a tag team.
They each press JOBBERS over their heads like barbells.
Their physiques glisten.
IN THE ANNOUNCERS BOOTH, Vince and Pat hype up the match.
VINCE (CONT'D)
Jesse "The Body" Ventura and "Mr.
USA" Tony Atlas!
PAT
Uber-wrestlers for the '70s!
IN THE REAR OF THE ARENA, Mr. McMahon and Bruno watch.
MR. MCMAHON
You think it's natural?
BRUNO
They didn't get those rips just from
drinking milk. I feel like
Yesterday's Model, my friend.
MR. MCMAHON
I know what you mean.
But as he watches Vince call the match with such enthusiasm,
Mr. McMahon can't help but smile.
35.
- The Hospital Delivery Room again. Vince and Linda cuddle

their new BABY DAUGHTER. Shane, now 5 years old, watches.
LINDA
Shane, meet your lil' sister,
Stephanie -
- An Overhead Shot of a much-larger ARENA, with 10,000 fans.
VINCE (V.O.)
We were definitely the most successful
promotion in the country, but we
still weren't big enough not to grab
our ankles for the Cauliflower Club.
Nobody was.
INT. CHICAGO HOTEL - DAY
Supered: "The Summit - Chicago, 1977"
Outside the main CONFERENCE ROOM, Shane, now 6, plays "pro
wrestling" with BILLY STACKS, Burt Stacks's 7-year old son.
SHANE
Super-Duper Shane McMahon puts Badass
Billy Stacks up for the piledriver -
Shane jokingly mock-"piledrives" Billy Stacks onto the carpet.
INT. THE CONFERENCE ROOM - SIMULTANEOUS
All the Promoters sit around the same long table. They're
now OLDER MEN who have aged considerably.
Mr. McMahon, looking tired, and Vince, looking quite the
opposite, sit near the cigar-puffing Al Lord.
AL LORD
So we're all in agreement - Vladdy
will be allowed to move into New
Mexico to fill the void left due to
the untimely demise of the Rodriguez
Brothers in that tornado accident.
MR. MCMAHON
(whispers)
Vinnie, I'm going to turn in early.
(waves to the others)
Good night, everybody.
The other Promoters bid their farewells. Mr. McMahon exits.
Vince waits until he's out of earshot to speak.
VINCE
I've got one idea I wanted to float
past you guys, if you don't mind?
36.
AL LORD
Of course, Vinnie.
VINCE
See, cable television's on the horizon -
BURT STACKS
Sure - I just got that Home Box
Office. Can't believe I can watch
titty movies on my own television.
They all laugh. Vince doesn't.
VINCE
HBO is the only thing available right
now. But soon, there'll be more
than 50 new nationwide cable channels.
AL LORD
That's a lot of titty movies!
They all laugh again, frustrating Vince.
VINCE
Right, but I think there's going to
be a big demand for cheap programming
other than just titty fucking movies.
And we're in a unique position to
provide it. My idea is that we do a
TV show together, using all of our
top wrestlers, and get it on one of
these nationwide cable channels.
BURT STACKS
What would the point of that be?
VINCE
Because if the show does well, we
can try some live cards together, in
every one of our major cities. I'm
talking about joining forces to try
the first national wrestling league.
CHAPPY JONES
How would this help us?
VINCE
In regards to -
BURT STACKS
Money - what else? We'd be splitting
our proceeds 20 different ways.
Probably working a lot harder and
not gaining anything more than what
we've already got.
CHAPPY JONES
Maybe less.
37.
VINCE
You're right, if you're just talking
about the percentage of Americans
who watch wrestling now. To make a
national league work, we'll have to
increase the audience for wrestling.
AL LORD
But how do you do that?
The million-dollar question. The other Promoters all lean
forward to see what Vince has to say.
VINCE
Like - I'm just spitballing here -
with our combined resources, we could
maybe get celebrities involved as
special referees and announcers.
Maybe some of them would even be
willing to wrestle a match. Frank
Sinatra sometimes comes to the matches
in New York. Maybe he'd manage a
tag team for one night. That would
increase the audience big-time.
We'd be in every newspaper in the
country, maybe even other countries.
CHAPPY JONES
Parading a bunch of naked broads
around the ring'd increase the
audience too. Can't do that, either.
All the Promoters LAUGH.
BURT STACKS
Vinnie, Vinnie, c'mon. What self-
respecting celebrity is going to get
involved in wrestling?
CHAPPY JONES
Maybe we could have a Steel Cage
Death Match between Sinatra and Elvis.
AL LORD
Sammy Davis Junior and Colonel Tom
Parker, Managers at Ringside.
They all LAUGH again. Vince simmers.
BURT STACKS
And suppose we did get a nationwide
league going? It might give some
jerk with big bucks the idea to start
his own national wrestling league,
put us all out of business.
38.
CHAPPY JONES
Yeah, we've got a good thing here,
living beneath the radar.
AL LORD
But hey Vinnie, I wanted to tell you
that using videotape sure was a score.
BURT STACKS
Yeah, saved me a shitload.
Burt Stacks pours Vince a drink and toasts him.
BURT STACKS (CONT'D)
So you're 1 for 1, kid. Salud.
INT. AIRPLANE - THE NEXT MORNING
Vince, Mr. McMahon, Linda, Shane, and baby Stephanie sit.
Shane plays with a Chewbacca Star Wars ACTION FIGURE.
VINCE
They'll never be able to see how big
wrestling can be!
MR. MCMAHON
Wrestling doesn't need to be any
bigger. You've done amazing things
as a promoter, and times are great
for us now. But at the end of the
day, it's just wrestling.
VINCE
I'm telling you - there's a potential
audience for wrestling in America
that we're not reaching.
(points to Chewbacca)
I bet there's even lots of kids out
there who'll buy wrestling figures.
MR. MCMAHON
But we're not in the toy business.
They all sit quietly for a moment.
VINCE
I guess my problem is that I just
don't know how to live "beneath the
radar," Dad.
Vince gets up angrily and heads for the bathroom.
LINDA
He just wants to create the best
wrestling shows he can.
39.
MR. MCMAHON
It doesn't have that much to do with
wrestling, Linda. If we were in the
hula-hoop business, Vinnie wouldn't
be happy until everyone on the planet
worshipped the hula-hoop.
LINDA
Isn't every successful businessman
like that, though?
MR. MCMAHON
Maybe. Except there's only so far
you can take wrestling. Or should
take it. I won't always be around,
Linda. You might have to reign him
in once in awhile.
Shane makes his action figures do wrestling moves - Chewbacca
piledrives C-3PO.
Let's hope he knows where to stop.
VINCE (V.O.)
Later that year, Bruno retired -
INT. A PACKED ARENA - EVENING
A 50-year old Bruno blows kisses to Fans, who shower him
with roses, and one beer can.
VINCE (V.O.)
- and we were left without a champion
for the first time in a decade. I
knew we had to choose the right person
to be our top dog, or it'd be death
to the WWF.
Vince sits across from Mr. McMahon.
VINCE (V.O.)
My dad saw it the same way.
MR. MCMAHON
I've already found him. On your
scouting tapes actually.
VINCE
Who? I've watched all of those -
MR. MCMAHON
Bob Backlund.
40.
VINCE
Backlund?! You're not serious?
CUT TO:
A TELEVISION SCREEN which plays scouting footage of BOB
BACKLUND, an athletic, All-American type with bright red
hair and freckles.
His moves are very "scientific" - based in amateur wrestling
and decidedly un-flashy.
REVERSAL of Vince and Mr. McMahon watching the tape.
VINCE (CONT'D)
See? Howdy Doody with muscles, right?
MR. MCMAHON
He's a former Olympic and National
Champion. An All-American guy. A
hero, someone the fans can -
VINCE
- relate to. I know, I know. I
just think they can relate to more
than we're giving them. C'mon, Dad -
Bob Backlund, wearing a very conservative suit buttoned to
the top, sits with Mr. McMahon and a miserable Vince.
Backlund speaks with a slight Minnesota twang.
BOB BACKLUND
What you folks really need to know
is that I'm a very religious and
moral man. I'm also a real wrestler,
but I'm doing this because I want to
be an example to kids, to show them
they can succeed by playing within
the rules. That's how I can justify
being a pro wrestler in God's eyes.
So I only use scientific wrestling
moves and I only fight bad guys,
serious villains. I won't cheat or
be disqualified. Ever.
Mr. McMahon smiles, nodding eagerly. Vince looks ready to
vomit.
MR. MCMAHON
I think we can agree to all of that.
INT. QUEENS CENTER ARENA - NIGHT
Supered: "Bob Backlund vs. Superstar Graham - March 21, 1978"
41.
Bob Backlund, in basic blue tights and boots, wrestles

Superstar. Backlund uses very collegiate-style moves to pin
Superstar.
The Crowd CHEERS with moderate enthusiasm as Backlund raises
the Championship Belt.
IN THE REAR OF THE ARENA, Vince watches with Linda.
VINCE
Picking lice out of a dog's ass is
more exciting than this guy.
LINDA
He has a Wheaties appeal.
VINCE
Screw Wheaties. No one ever got big
from just Wheaties. We need the
champion to be someone that can be
on the cover of People, or, fuck it,
Time. A real star. Someone who can
bring wrestling to America's doorstep
and make them fall in love with it.
Wrestling needs its Muhammad Ali.
LINDA
I don't see any Ali's on our roster.
On anyone's wrestling roster.
VINCE
I'm not sure he exists yet.
CUT TO:
A "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS" NEWSPAPER SPINNING INTO FRAME
It lands on a CLASSIFIED AD which reads, "Do you have what
it takes to be a Professional Wrestler?"
INT. THE MCMAHON LIVING ROOM - A FEW WEEKS LATER
Linda walks in with a huge BOX OF VIDEO CASSETTES.
LINDA
They're tumbling in by the bushel.
Vince pops a video in the player. Linda sits down next to
him with a bowl of popcorn.
ON THE TELEVISION SCREEN: An audition tape of a PUNK ROCKER
doing a mock wrestling interview for the camera. He sports
dyed purple hair and a bobby-pinned nose.
Supered Video Title: "Johnny Rottenslammer"
JOHNNY ROTTENSLAMMER
I'll smash Bobo Brazil's wanker ass!
42.
Johnny Rottenslammer strums punk-style on a GUITAR and sings:

JOHNNY ROTTENSLAMMER (CONT'D)
I will lash him/I will thrash him -
Johnny Rottenslammer smashes the guitar against the wall.
CUT TO:
ANOTHER TAPE featuring a skinny MIME in wrestling tights.
Supered Video Title: "The Mighty Mime"
THE MIGHTY MIME
We mimes don't usually talk, but
I'll break the rules just this once,
because I've created a new wrestling
style that is going to revolutionize
the sport. To demonstrate, I've
brought a sparring partner along -
A FAT WRESTLER charges at the Mighty Mime.
THE MIGHTY MIME (CONT'D)
See, normally he would crush someone
my size. But -
The Mighty Mime "mimes" making a box around him. The Fat
Wrestler skids to a halt, unable to get through the box.
CUT TO:
- A NAZI-THEMED WRESTLER with a Hitler mustache, screaming
into the camera, all the while doing the "Sieg Heil" salute.
Supered Video Title: "Adolf Headlock"
ADOLF HEADLOCK
I veel smash heem into vittle peeces!
A RAPID-FIRE MONTAGE of different bad audition tapes follows.
INT. THE MCMAHON LIVING ROOM - MUCH, MUCH LATER
Vince and Linda watch the screen with bleary eyes.
VINCE
This is like finding buried treasure.
LINDA
And right now, we're in an empty
tomb. Gotta put the kids to sleep.
Linda exits. Vince leans down amongst the tapes and GROANS.
VINCE
I need something for my ulcer -
43.
INT. A LONG ISLAND NIGHT CLUB - AN HOUR LATER

The height of Long Island cheese: girls with big hair, guys
with gold chains in muscle-tanks, and a packed dance floor.
Vince sits at the bar, bummed-out, with many empty glasses
in front of him. In the glass he drinks from, the smarmy
News Announcer seen earlier appears in a drunken vision.
NEWS ANNOUNCER
One wonders when Vince McMahon will
accept the fact that he'll always be
no better than a Roller Derby promoter -
Vince grabs the glass to throw it. A DISC JOCKEY interrupts.
DISC JOCKEY
Please welcome back our house band -
The Long Island Expressway!
A few jeers as the dance floor clears out. The Rock Band
known as THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY jams a terrible cover.
Vince finishes his drink, and gets up to leave.
That's when he really notices the LEAD SINGER/GUITAR PLAYER:
TERRY BOLLEA, an enormous, great-looking, very muscular man
of 23 with long blonde hair and a goatee. A good 6'9'' and
350 pounds.
His SINGING VOICE is very average, though. When Terry sees
the Crowd losing interest, he puts down the guitar, gets to
the edge of the stage, and claps his hands. This works.
The Crowd claps along with Terry, who has real stage presence.
In Vince's mind, the sounds of THUNDER crash.
INT. THE BAR - AN HOUR OR SO LATER
Terry Bollea meets at a back table with Vince. When Terry
opens his mouth, a surprisingly high-pitched VOICE emerges.
TERRY
You think I should be a pro wrestler?!
VINCE
Maybe. I see something in you,
something big.
TERRY
Are you a fag? Because I'll rip off
your head and shit down your neck -
VINCE
No, no. No beatingshitdownmyneck
necessary here, tough guy.
44.
Terry stares Vince down. Vince stares back.

TERRY
Suppose I did give this wrestling
thing a shot, would I still have
time for my music?
VINCE
Playing at Lawn Guyland clubs will
get you nowhere, so what difference?
But I've got very big plans for
wrestling in the '80s. If I can
make you a celebrity, then we might
be able to get you a record deal.
Terry looks over at his Bandmates lugging their broken-down
equipment out the door. He sighs.
TERRY
A celebrity, huh? But I don't know
the first thing about wrestling.
EXT. AN OLD GYMNASIUM - THE NEXT DAY
Terry Bollea waits outside with a gym bag. Vince pulls up
in his flashy CORVETTE. Hung-over Vince glances Terry up
and down, as if seeing him for the first time.
VINCE
Good, I wasn't beer-goggling.
INT. THE GYM - MINUTES LATER
Vince and Terry Bollea enter to see three wrestling rings,
where various young WRESTLERS-IN-TRAINING practice moves.
FAMILIAR SNARLING VOICE (O.S.)
Dis da fresh hamburger for my grill
of pain, Vinnie?
Killer Kowalski, now 60, approaches. The years have only
made him scarier. Behind Killer, a giant banner hangs,
reading "Killer's Basement." Terry and Killer shake hands.
TERRY
Nice to meet you.
KILLER
Hope youse say so tomorrow. Drop-
out rate at my school 75%. Most in
da first half-day.
Killer flashes his incisors. Terry gulps.
INT. THE RING AT KILLER'S SCHOOL - A BIT LATER
Now wearing wrestling trunks and boots, Terry practices with
the huge, but childlike, OTIS THE OBLITERATOR.
45.
Killer stands nearby with a whistle. Vince watches.

KILLER
Ok, Otis. Slam on Terry.
Otis picks Terry up and BODYSLAMS him hard. Terry screams.
KILLER (CONT'D)
Terry, youse not falling right.
Wrestler must land in one bounce -
(slaps hands)
- BAM. Dat distribute impact all
across da body. If wrestler land in
two bounces -
(slaps hands twice)
- BAM-BAM - like you just did? Bad,
bad news. Da fused neck supa-highway.
OTIS
He ain't putting over for me, neither.
VINCE
"Putting over" is helping the other
wrestler execute a move on you, Terry.
KILLER
Otis, stick your hand in his crotch
like youse about to bodyslam him.
Otis sticks his hand in Terry's crotch. Terry jumps.
KILLER (CONT'D)
Hey, youse have problem with dick
being grabbink?!
TERRY
(terrified of Killer)
Uh, no problem.
KILLER
Good, cause if you got problem with
dick-grabbink, you in wrong business!
(laughs hysterically)
Ok, the way youse put over da bodyslam
is youse jump in da air and flip
over on youse back while Otis execute
da bodyslam. Try it -
Otis scoops Terry up for the bodyslam - this time Terry moves
with the motion and lands evenly. BAM! One bounce.
KILLER (CONT'D)
It's a faggot's dance. But if youse
work together well with other
wrestlers, nobody get hurtsie.
(MORE)
46.
KILLER (CONT'D)
And youse survive faggot's dance to
lay many women on road - just like
Killer did back in da golden day.
Otis, execute da bodyslam -
QUICK CUTS OF THE TRAINING:
- Terry gets thrown from the top rope by Otis and lands
painfully. Vince watches at ringside, becoming doubtful.
- Otis smashes Terry with a steel chair. A loud CLANG.
Terry really goes down, unconscious. Killer jumps in anger.
KILLER
No, grab the chair at last moment,
youse big jackass, not let it really
hit youse! Hearing da CLANG! Is
worse Dan hearing da BAM-BAM! Da
brain damage supa-highway.
INT. THE RING AT THE SCHOOL - MORE TIME HAS PASSED
Killer spins a RAZOR BLADE with his fingers. Terry watches
in horror.
KILLER
Sooner or later, you be asked to
bleed in da match.
VINCE
(reassuring)
You'll always be paid extra for it.
KILLER
Yah, about six bucks. During match,
youse hide razor blade in wristband.
When youse have moment when youse
head is hidden, youse do one of dese -
Killer casually CUTS a small line across his own forehead.
Blood dribbles from it.
KILLER (CONT'D)
Not too deep, nothink needink
stitches. It like paper cut.
VINCE
If this was a match and Killer was
sweating, blood would be gushing
down his face right now.
Killer hands the razor blade to Terry, who stares at it.
KILLER
Your turn.
Terry paces - a moment of decision for him.
47.
VINCE
You don't really have to do this
right yet, Terry.
Terry reaches for the razor blade.
TERRY
No, let's do it, brother.
INT. ANOTHER CORNER OF THE GYMNASIUM - LATER
Terry, with a large bandage on his head, practices speaking
IN CHARACTER to an early-model HOME VIDEO CAMERA wielded by
Killer. Vince holds the microphone, playing the announcer.
TERRY
(high-pitched, squeaky)
When I get in that ring, I'm gonna
mop the floor with Gorilla Monsoon!
Terry waives his hands wildly and makes great facial
expressions. His high-pitched voice throws it all off though.
VINCE
Cut. I know you've got testosterone.
What, it doesn't make it all the way
up your neck?
INT. THE GYM - FEW MINUTES LATER
Terry smokes a fat CIGAR and does a shot of Killer's Polish
VODKA. He turns to the camera, his voice now deep and raspy.
TERRY
What'cha gonna do when Bollea-mania
runs wild on you?!
VINCE
That's it!!
KILLER
Bollea-mania no good though. How'sa
name comink, Vinnie?
VINCE
Name Schmame, I've got the whole
damn image down.
Vince holds up a winged HELMET and a large RUBBER HAMMER.
He places the winged helmet on Terry's head and hands him
the rubber hammer. Terry looks totally ridiculous.
VINCE (CONT'D)
There you are - the Mighty Thor!
TERRY
You mean like the comic book?
48.
KILLER
Dis cheese, Vinnie.
ON THE SIDELINES, Otis happily reads COMIC BOOKS.
OTIS
I love me some "Thor."
Otis now picks up an "Incredible Hulk" comic.
INT. THE TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - NIGHT
A very nervous Vince sits at the Announcers Table with Pat
Patterson. Linda sits behind them.
VINCE
(into microphone)
Pat, I have to tell you. The advance
word on this new wrestler we're about
to see is nothing short of phenomenal -
Vince holds up crossed fingers to Linda, who holds up two
sets of crossed fingers, then takes her shoes off, revealing
two sets of crossed toes.
RING ANNOUNCER
- and making his first appearance in
this arena, from Venice Beach,
California. HULK HOGAN!
The man once known as Terry Bollea, forever after known as
HULK HOGAN, emerges from the dressing room in a cloud of
smoke. He wears a long flowing white robe and looks like a
god.
A murmur of awe from the Crowd. Hulk smiles.
INT. THE RING - A FEW MINUTES LATER
Hulk presses a hapless JOBBER high over his head and then
slams him to the ground. Hulk leaps up in the air and drops
his leg across the neck of the Jobber, finishing him. The
Crowd goes absolutely bananas.
VINCE (V.O.)
The fans had never seen anything
like Hulk Hogan before. He had all
the color of our best Heels, but he
was cheered like a Babyface. And
his physique could stop traffic.
Hulk Hogan plays to the crowd, flexing his impressive muscles.
IN THE REAR OF THE ARENA, Superstar Billy Graham glances
down at his own muscles, which are half the size of Hulk's.
AT THE ANNOUNCERS TABLE, Vince bounces up and down with
excitement. Linda kisses him.
49.
LINDA
I wasn't sure if you were Dr.
Frankenstein or Dr. Jones, but you
found the buried treasure, Indiana.
VINCE
If I could find you, my Unicorn, I
could find anything.
LINDA
I'll even let you get away with that
line tonight.
They briefly hold hands and smile. Mr. McMahon sits down.
VINCE
Dad, this is the guy who can lead
wrestling into the '80s as our Champ.
MR. MCMAHON
He's definitely a great star, Vinnie.
I'm not sure if he's right for the
Champ slot, but maybe.
Vince loses his smile.
QUICK CUTS of Hulk Hogan in action over the next year -
demolishing opponents, flexing his ever-larger muscles for
the fans, and soaking in their adoration.
INT. QUEENS CENTER ARENA - NIGHT
Supered:"Bob Backlund vs. Hulk Hogan - February 1, 1982"
The Sold-Out CROWD chant "Hulk!" -
VINCE (V.O.)
After nearly two years of watching
Hulk's bleached blonde comet
skyrocket, my Dad finally came around
to giving him the gold strap. But
old habits die hard.
INT. BACKSTAGE DRESSING ROOM - SIMULTANEOUS
Mr. McMahon argues with an angry Vince.
MR. MCMAHON
Backlund still draws.
VINCE
Because he's wrestling Hulk Hogan.
MR. MCMAHON
We don't dump a champion who's still
packing a house, Vinnie.
50.
VINCE
Hulk could pack Madison Square Garden.
"Give the people what they want?"
Vince indicates the roar of the Crowd outside.
VINCE (CONT'D)
You know the real reason you won't
make him champ anyway.
MR. MCMAHON
Yeah, and it's a damn good thing the
news doesn't. I can see the headlines
in the Post now - "Wrestling Champion
Shoots Steroids!" With Backlund, at
least we know our Champ is drug-free.
VINCE
Excitement-free too.
MR. MCMAHON
There are certain types of excitement
we don't need.
VINCE
We used to have ears getting ripped
off in matches, and now you're worried
about what Hulk does in the gym?! I
gotta break the news to him -
Vince walks away, shaking his head.
MR. MCMAHON
Vinnie -
Mr. McMahon starts after him but has a nasty coughing fit.
INT. THE RING - A BIT LATER
Hulk Hogan attempts to do his finishing leg-drop move on Bob
Backlund, who rolls out of the way at the last moment. Hulk
lands on his ass.
AT RINGSIDE, Vince fumes quietly and stares off into space.
He doesn't notice that Mr. McMahon holds his chest.
IN THE RING, Backlund covers Hulk for the pin. 1-2-3!
AT RINGSIDE, Mr. McMahon collapses from his chair.
INT. A HOSPITAL BED - SEVERAL HOURS LATER
Vince sits with Mr. McMahon, who breathes with difficulty.
MR. MCMAHON
I thought it was the ulcers that
would get me.
51.
VINCE
You're going to be okay, dad.
MR. MCMAHON
Remember to always put your family
first, no matter what you do with
wrestling. This business needs to
take care of them too.
Mr. McMahon grips Vince's hand.
I'm sorry for not being there for
you in Havelock, Vince.
VINCE
Dad, stop acting like you're never
going to see me again. Save the
apologies for when it really counts.
MR. MCMAHON
I think it really counts... it really
counts now, Vinnie.
INT. A NEW YORK GRAVE YARD - DAY
A large audience of MOURNERS gather around Mr. McMahon's
CASKET.
Vince sits with Linda, Shane, little Stephanie, Hulk Hogan,
and the Masked Marauder, who takes off a black mask, revealing
a baby-faced man who has been crying.
On the other side of the casket sit some of the Cauliflower
Club - Al Lord, Burt Stacks, and Chappy Jones.
INT. AL LORD'S LIMOUSINE - A BIT LATER
As their limo pulls away from the funeral, Al, Burt, and
Chappy watch Vince through the tinted windows.
BURT STACKS
We've got to make sure that little
bastard knows his place. He'd break
away from us if he could.
AL LORD
He can't, though. What could he
possibly do on his own?
INT. THE STAIRWELL AT WWWF HEADQUARTERS - TWO WEEKS LATER
The 50 permanent EMPLOYEES of the WWWF gather below Vince on
the stairs. Linda stands next to him.
52.
VINCE
Pardon the glamorous conference
facilities, but I want to have these
company meetings once a week. As
much as I will always love my Dad...
I hope you like change, because it's
a'coming.
INT. QUEENS CENTER ARENA - TWO WEEKS LATER
In the ring, Bob Backlund struggles in a submission hold by
THE IRON SHEIK, an "Evil Arab"-themed wrestler.
VINCE (V.O.)
First off, Champion Richie Cunningham
was a dead man -
Supered: "Bob Backlund vs. The Iron Sheik"
Backlund submits, and the referee calls for the bell. The
Iron Sheik waves the Championship Belt triumphantly.
IRON SHIEK
Iran - #1! USA -
On "USA," the Iron Sheik spits on the ground.
VINCE (V.O.)
- and when the Sheik won the strap,
it set up a great U.S. vs. the Middle
East-themed match which installed
our real leading man as champ -
MUSIC CUE: Hulk Hogan's theme song, "Eye of the Tiger" by
Survivor, plays over the next few scenes.
INT. QUEENS CENTER ARENA - THREE WEEKS LATER
Supered: "Hulk Hogan vs. The Iron Sheik"
Hulk Hogan performs his leg-drop on the Iron Sheik.
AT THE ANNOUNCERS TABLE, Vince and Pat Patterson applaud.
PAT
The Iron Sheik collapses like the
junk bond market!
VINCE
Oh my! Hear that crowd, Pat? That's
Hulkamania running wild! The winner,
and new WWWF Champion - Hulk Hogan!
The Crowd explodes for Hulk. Dozens wave American flags and
chant "USA!"
53.

My dad used to say that the champ
should be an "everyman." Well, in
the 1980s, the everyman in American
wanted to be a superman.
Hulk holds the WWWF title belt above his head triumphantly,
then flexes his mighty muscles.
Next, Linda starting counting our
beans as the new CFO, and thankfully,
the beans were piling up.
INT. VINCE'S OFFICE - DAY
Vince and Linda pore over the accounting books together.
They're happy with what they see.
VINCE (V.O.)
We put Pat in charge of the TV
division and damn if our show didn't
start looking like "ABC's Wide World
of Sports."
INT. AN EDITING SUITE - NIGHT
Vince and Linda watch as VIDEO EDITORS splice together one
of the shows, under Pat Patterson's direction.
VINCE AND LINDA (V.O.)
Of course, we had our own version of
"the Agony of Defeat" -
THE VIDEO SCREENS play different versions of Hulk Hogan
hurling the Iron Sheik over the ring ropes, where he bounces
a few times, and then falls to the floor.
PAT
Go from that long shot, right to the
close-up when he hits the concrete.
Then, show it in a slo-mo replay -
ON A MONITOR, Hulk enters the ring wearing a red and yellow
T-SHIRT with "Hulkamania" scrawled across it. He shreds the
shirt off with his bare hands in a soon-to-be trademark pose.
Then the new, iconic WWF logo (shortened from WWWF) flies
into frame. Rock music plays. The slick, fast-cutting has
a very early MTV feel.
INT. A FACTORY - DAY
Machines pump out thousands of large FOAM FINGERS in Hulk's
red and yellow colors, which also say "Hulkamania!"
54.
VINCE (V.O.)
It seemed like for every dollar we
spent, we made three back.
INT. A LARGE HOCKEY ARENA - CONTINUOUS
The weekly television taping now shoots in this much larger
space. Several television camera crews cover every angle.
In the stands, thousands wave the foam Hulkamania Fingers.
AT RINGSIDE, Vince and Linda watch as Hulk does an interview.
"MEAN" GENE OKERLUND, a new, goofy-looking announcer, walks
over to Hulk with his microphone.
MEAN GENE
Hulk, could you tell all your young
fans the secret of your success in
professional wrestling?
Hulk puts his arm around Mean Gene, who makes an "intimidated"
face at the camera.
ON VINCE AND LINDA
LINDA
Mean Gene's copping your act?
VINCE
I insisted he take it.
ON HULK AND MEAN GENE
HULK
Well, Mean Gene, what I want to say
to all the little Hulkamaniacs out
there is to take your vitamins, say
your prayers to the Man upstairs
every day, and believe in yourself.
That's the secret to Hulkamania,
because when you've got a clean body
and mind, nobody can stop you.
Hulk runs over to the stands where dozens of KIDS rush him,
all wearing the red and yellow Hulkamania shirts. Vince and
Linda watch Hulk play with the Kids.
VINCE
This is how we really get to the
next level. The audience for the
WWF isn't that guy -
Vince points to an overweight, drunken CONSTRUCTION WORKER
at Ringside, holding up a sign which reads "I want blood!"
VINCE (CONT'D)
- it's those guys -
Vince indicates the Kids surrounding Hulk.
55.
VINCE (CONT'D)
- and the Grandpa that brought them.
An ELDERLY MAN shakes Hulk's hand also. Vince shouts to the
Guy with the "blood" sign.
VINCE (CONT'D)
Sorry pal, you're gonna be waiting
awhile!
INT. THE TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - A MONTH LATER
Vince and Bruno Sammartino, now 50, walk together backstage.
BRUNO
You know, I can still dropkick every
bit as high as in 1962.
VINCE
Good, good. But what you gotta
understand, if you make a comeback,
is that a lot has changed. You
remember George "The Animal" Steele?
BRUNO
How could I forget? When I came
home from wrestling him, my wife
would moan that he had shedded that
long, black shoulder hair on me.
VINCE
I know. The guys who clean the mat
every night complain about that also.
Vince leads Bruno through a large door. They enter a small
SOUNDSTAGE, where a CAMERA CREW tapes something not yet
visible. Vince speaks quietly.
VINCE (CONT'D)
This is a storyline where the Animal
meets a shrink who heals his insanity
during a few episodes -
In front of them, the Camera Crew shoots on the SET of a
doctor's office where -
- GEORGE "THE ANIMAL" STEELE, a bald and incredibly hairy
wrestler, performs an "insanity" shtick. He sprawls on a
couch, while an actor playing a PSYCHIATRIST interviews him.
PSYCHIATRIST
George, tell me about your
relationship with your mother.
GEORGE "THE ANIMAL" STEELE
My Mamma?! Lemme tell ya about Mamma -
George "The Animal" Steele destroys the Psychiatrist's Office.
56.
EXT. THE MAIN ARENA - A FEW MINUTES LATER

Vince and Bruno, who appears shell-shocked, walk together.
BRUNO
What happened to just plain wrestling?
VINCE
We're trying to make the shows appeal
to a bigger audience.
BRUNO
I'm an athlete, not an actor.
VINCE
You're both. Always were.
BRUNO
Vinnie, you're making a joke out of
being a ring warrior. How can you
even pretend that wrestling's real
now? These guys are circus clowns.
VINCE
Wrestling is an athletic show. We're
just taking it where it was always
meant to go.
BRUNO
Your dad always allowed us to have
our dignity while we wore the tights.
VINCE
Dignity is the one thing my father
never accused wrestling of having.
Everyone knows it's fake anyway.
BRUNO
No, not everyone. My fans always
believed I was on the up-and-up.
You're destroying the illusion, and
people are gonna stop watching your
shows! God help you. Because I
won't.
INT. THE MCMAHON'S BEDROOM - EVENING
Linda lies on the bed with Vince and opens a CARD.
LINDA
"Your presence is cordially requested
at the annual Summit of the
Cauliflower Club of America."
Vince grabs the card and CRUMPLES it.
57.
VINCE
I'm not going. I can't. We're
producing the best wrestling shows
of all time, but outside of the
Northeast, nobody's even heard of
Hulkamania. It's like if Elvis never
left Memphis. We have to go national.
We can do it. We've been making
serious money -
LINDA
Not nearly serious enough to pull
that off on our own.
INT. A POSH EXECUTIVE OFFICE - DAY
Supered: "Yankee Stadium - The Bronx, New York"
Vince and Linda sit across from Yankees owner GEORGE
STEINBRENNER. They all smoke fat cigars.
GEORGE STEINBRENNER
Vinnie, I enjoy your shows, but I'm
in the sports business. Wrestling
is more entertainment than a sport.
VINCE
That's exactly what we're selling,
George - "Sports Entertainment."
GEORGE STEINBRENNER
Some would say that I'm already in
the sports entertainment business
with the way I run things.
They all laugh.
LINDA
It's not the old pro wrestling.
This is a totally different product.
Wrestling for everyone.
GEORGE STEINBRENNER
I wish you the best of luck.
INT. AN EXECUTIVE OFFICE AT A MOVIE STUDIO - DAY
Supered: "Hollywood, California"
Vince and Linda sit with 3 young PRODUCERS.
PRODUCER #1
We're not in the sports business.
VINCE
But it's not just a sport. It's
also entertainment. You see?
58.
The Producers look at them blankly. One of them, MARTIN

BAYER, then slowly grins.
MARTIN
Actually -
Martin gets quickly cut-off by PRODUCER #2.
PRODUCER #2
We just can't get involved in any
risky side ventures. We're too busy
producing our hit for next summer.
He proudly indicates a POSTER for the Warren Beatty-Dustin
Hoffman film Ishtar. Martin stares at the poster dubiously.
INT. THE TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - AFTERNOON
A few hours before the evening's matches, Vince and Linda
sit on opposite turnbuckles and talk across the ring.
LINDA
Putting the entire WWF up as
collateral for a big loan would
probably be enough to create a
national league with. Just barely.
But if the expansion doesn't take,
we'll lose everything.
Linda jumps from the top rope and paces in the ring.
VINCE
What happened to Ms. "Wrestling can
be bigger than religion?"
LINDA
She had kids.
VINCE
We'd be doing this for them. I don't
think we have a choice -
Vince jumps from the top rope also and walks to the center
of the ring.
VINCE (CONT'D)
- because if we don't make the move
to go national, someone else might -
IN VINCE'S MIND: He imagines the "Enormous Arena" again,
filled with hundreds of thousands of fans.
At the far end of the Arena, light appears at the bottom of
a DOOR. Ominous footsteps. The SHADOWS OF TWO FEET.
VINCE (CONT'D)
- and then we'll have lost our moment.
59.
The Fantasy dissipates entirely.

VINCE (CONT'D)
And when that happens, we might end
up back in Havelock White Trash Heaven
anyway. Everything in the world is
consolidating, then going global.
Banks, corporations, countries. The
days of this regional wrestling stuff
are going to be over soon too, with
us or without us. I'm never going
back to Have-no-luck. No, no, no.
No, it's now or never. It's time
America met the WWF.
Vince holds out his hand to Linda to be "tagged." Linda looks
at his outstretched hand and tags it, but with hesitation.
The next day we went to the bank and
mortgaged everything we had.
INT. VINCE'S OFFICE - THE NEXT DAY
Vince introduces Pat to Martin Bayer, the young producer
they first met in Hollywood.
VINCE (CONT'D)
Martin's going to be heading up our
new Sales and Marketing departments.
MARTIN
I've seen the future of entertainment,
and it knows how to bodyslam!
INT. THE WWF BOARD ROOM - LATE THAT EVENING
Vince, Linda, Pat, and Martin work into the wee hours, going
over papers.
VINCE (V.O.)
The first battle was getting our
television shows on in every market
across the country.
Martin props up a giant MAP of the country, and starts
dividing it up with a magic marker.
No nationwide cable company was
willing to take us on yet -
INT. A SMALL TELEVISION STATION - DAY
Supered: Dallas, Texas
Martin meets with the MANAGER of the TV Station.
60.
VINCE (V.O.)
- so we had to prove ourselves on
UHF first, station by station -
MANAGER
Why would I want to run a wrestling
show from New York? Not to mention
running it directly opposite "Lone
Star Championship Wrestling" on
Channel 9! Nobody will watch another
wrestling show in the same time slot.
MARTIN
But our WWF wrestling show is light
years better than "Lone Star."
MANAGER
It could be better than "Benny Hill,"
but I'd still never be able to get
advertisers to buy commercial time.
Martin takes out his CHECKBOOK.
MARTIN
Well, we have an idea. You run our
show for two months, against that
other wrestling show, and we'll buy
all your advertising time ourselves -
INT. ANOTHER TELEVISION STATION - DAY
Supered: "Chicago, Illinois"
Martin hands a CHECK to another STATION MANAGER.
MARTIN
- you have nothing to lose -
INT. YET ANOTHER TELEVISION STATION - DAY
Supered: "Memphis, Tennessee"
Martin sits with two station MANAGERS, hillbilly brothers.
MARTIN
- after two months, you're free to
yank the shows. But we think they're
going to go way up in the ratings -
INT. STILL ANOTHER TELEVISION STATION - DAY
Supered: "Honolulu, Hawaii"
Martin does shots with the Hawaiian shirt-wearing MANAGER.
MARTIN
- and then we'll just ask for the
standard fee to keep running them.
61.
Martin sticks a CHECK in his shot glass and slides it across

the table to the Manager.
VINCE (V.O.)
Every dollar we made was going back
into the expansion, but there was no
turning back now.
Vince, Linda, Pat, and Martin watch an early-model GIANT
PROJECTION TV. Vince waves the remote.
VINCE
Let's drive cross-country. Chicago?
ON THE TELEVISION, Hulk Hogan pounds a hapless opponent.
VINCE (CONT'D)
Memphis?
The channel changes but the match is the same.
VINCE (CONT'D)
At-lanta?
The same match plays in Atlanta. Vince smiles.
VINCE (CONT'D)
Hell-A?
The same match airs in Los Angeles.
VINCE (CONT'D)
Ratings?
MARTIN
It's promising -
PAT
We're getting suplexed. The bottom
line is that the local fans are loyal
to the local stars. I taped this
off of Memphis Wrestling -
Pat uses another remote to play the VCR.
On the television, a wrestler named "MACHO MAN" RANDY SAVAGE
does an interview. He dresses like a rugged cowboy, sports
an incredible physique, and radiates charisma.
MACHO MAN
- just wanna say one last thing -
there's a TV show that some Yanks
from New Yawk are runnin' to put us
out of business. Oh ye-ah?
The Television Taping Crowd boo the reference to the WWF.
62.
MACHO MAN (CONT'D)

Keep your love Southern, you dig?
PAT
Across the board, every Cauliflower
has their top stars cutting these
tapes. And it's working.
VINCE
Hulk tops any of them, though.
PAT
They can't fall in love with Hulk if
they don't even change the channel.
VINCE
Then we have to buy them.
LINDA
Who?
VINCE
All the Marquee wrestlers we can
afford. Offer them all double their
current salaries. They'll take it.
LINDA
And the rest of our money! We bring
those new slobberknockers in here
and things don't turn around fast -
VINCE
We need to roll the dice, honey.
Otherwise, we'll have to pull the
shows off the new stations anyway.
INT. A TAPING OF "MEMPHIS WRESTLING" - DAY
In the ring, Macho Man drop-kicks a JOBBER.
Promoter Burt Stacks watches from behind the Announcers Table,
along with a nervous EXECUTIVE.
BURT STACKS
As long as we've got the Macho Man,
we're good. Love this guy!
EXECUTIVE
Macho's jumping to the WWF.
BURT STACKS
COCKSUCKER! UNGRATEFUL FUCK-FACE!!
Burt Stacks storms into the Ring, oblivious to the Crowd,
and ashes his cigar on Macho Man's arm, causing the huge
wrestler to bounce around the ring in pain.
63.
Macho Man charges at Burt, who runs in fear out of the ring,
down the aisle, and into the locker rooms.
INT. THE STAIRWELL AT THE WWF OFFICES - DAY
Vince, Linda, Pat, and Martin meet with their Employees again.
VINCE
Everyone, I'd like you to meet some
of our great new talent - direct
from Memphis Wrestling but retrofitted
for the WWF, "Macho Man" Randy Savage -
Out of the door behind Vince, the Macho Man enters and waves.
He now wears a hot pink neon version of the cowboy outfit he
sported in Memphis.
VINCE (CONT'D)
Rowdy Roddy Piper from Georgia -
"ROWDY" RODDY PIPER, a Scottish-themed wrestler wearing a
kilt and an obnoxious sneer, steps out and waves.
VINCE (CONT'D)
- the Junkyard Dog from Texas -
THE JUNKYARD DOG, a charismatic black man with a dog collar
around his neck, steps out and GROWLS loudly.
VINCE (CONT'D)
- next is a legend from the '70s who
was going to make his comeback in
Portland Wrestling until he wised
up: Superstar Billy Graham!
Superstar Billy Graham, now much older-looking, steps out in
a white disco suit and does a spin. Marty whispers to Pat:
MARTY
He does know that disco went out
with Travolta?
VINCE (V.O.)
Our TV ratings quickly picked up
when we signed the new wrestlers.
We gained tons of new fans who wanted
to keep watching their favorites -
EXT. THE STREETS OF CHICAGO - DAY
Al Lord walks about his hometown. Two TEENAGE KIDS in
"Hulkamania" t-shirts pass him. He does a double-take.
VINCE (V.O.)
- and just as I hoped, once they
saw Hulk Hogan, they were hooked on
the wrestling version of crack.
64.
INT. THE CHICAGO HOTEL MEETING ROOM - DAY

The Cauliflower Club gathers. Serious as death.
AL LORD
If all of us band together and
cooperate as one unit, we can easily
win. Call it the American Wrestling
Federation. All of our remaining
stars, all of our resources pooled
into one promotion.
BURT STACKS
Who'll be in charge, Al? You?
AL LORD
It's my idea.
VLAD BISMARCK
I've always run my own store.
AL LORD
He's creeping up on all of us in the
ratings. The barbarians are at the
gate, so I'm starting a national
wrestling league. Once the WWF's
six feet under, we can go back to
our own territories and enjoy business
as usual. Who's with me?
They all look at each other. No one raises their hands.
CHAPPY JONES
C'mon. Nobody can keep that kind of
overhead going. Vinnie'll piss out.
VINCE (V.O.)
Had they banded together like Al
wanted, they could have flattened
us. We were bleeding cash. But
that group of egomaniacs wouldn't
have been able to order a pizza as a
team, much less fight me.
INT. THE MCMAHON HOUSEHOLD - EVENING
Vince eats dinner with Linda, Shane, and Stephanie.
STEPHANIE
How was work today, dad?
VINCE
Hanging in there. We need to pull
off successful live cards in all the
new territories this month. This is
the tougher part. The TV shows were
like the air assault. Now comes the
ground war.
65.
STEPHANIE
Can I help?
The phone RINGS. Stephanie gets up to answer it.
STEPHANIE (CONT'D)
McMahon house.
VOICE ON OTHER END
Stay out of Florida!
The Caller hangs up on a terrified Stephanie.
LINDA
Who was it, Steph?
The phone RINGS again. Vince grabs it this time.
VINCE
Speak.
A different VOICE this time.
VOICE ON OTHER END
McMahon, you dirty cockfucker, you
come to Chicago and you'll get your
legs cut off with a chain saw -
VINCE
I WILL TAKE THAT FUCKING CHAIN SAW,
SLICE YOUR FAGGOT NUTS OFF WITH IT,
STUFF THEM DOWN YOUR THROAT, AND
THEN FUCK YOUR WIFE! OKAY?!!!
The other line hangs up quick. Linda, Shane, and Stephanie
stare at Vince, momentarily more frightened of him than the
phone calls. He puts his arms around them all.
VINCE (CONT'D)
We'll just change our phone number.
The phone rings again. They all look at it.
INT. A JAM-PACKED WRESTLING ARENA - EVENING
Vince speaks to the capacity crowd from the ring.
VINCE
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the
WWF's first live card in Dallas!
INT. THE MCMAHON HOUSE - SAME TIME
Linda sleeps soundly in her bed. A BRICK crashes through
the window. A car engine skids away outside.
VOICE FROM CAR (O.S.)
Stay out of Florida Wrestling!
66.
VINCE (V.O.)
It was the last gasp of the
Cauliflower. Too little, too late.
CUT TO:
A MAP OF THE UNITED STATES: An animated SEA OF BLUE washes
out of the WWF's Northeastern Territory and sweeps across
the nation, engulfing the other wrestling territories.
SUPERIMPOSED over this: a MONTAGE of Vince announcing the
WWF's arrival in a bunch of new cities.
VINCE IN MONTAGE
Great to be here in Honolulu! - in
Austin - in Memphis!
We end the Montage on Burt Stacks sitting in a Memphis arena,
3/4s empty. In the ring, two mediocre WRESTLERS attempt to
put on a show.
Billy Stacks, his teenage son, pats his despondent father on
the back.
BILLY STACKS
It's okay, Pop.
BURT STACKS
A fucking shame is what it is.
VINCE (V.O.)
Each of the regional fiefdoms went
the way of the Dodo. We owned the
world of wrestling, and -
INT. VINCE'S OFFICE - ONE MONTH LATER
Linda holds up a financial CHART to Vince.
VINCE
- we're still broke?!
A BLUE LINE, representing the WWF's financial fortunes, is
horizontal.
LINDA
It's costing us a ton just to keep
this huge machine going.
Linda opens the door briefly. In the hall, dozens of
Employees share cubicles in crowded quarters.
LINDA (CONT'D)
Our staff tripled this year, and
they're still overworked. Sell-out
arenas, great ratings, and we're
just barely breaking even.
67.
VINCE
So if we have a few bad months -
LINDA
I wish months. We'd be up Bankrupt
Lane after one bad week!
Linda draws a PIE GRAPH on a blank sheet of paper.
LINDA (CONT'D)
Here's the deal - we have this many
Americans watching wrestling -
Linda draws a pie slice for 1/4 of the graph.
LINDA (CONT'D)
- to stay in business at our current
size, we need this many.
Linda now draws a pie slice for 3/4s of the graph.
LINDA (CONT'D)
I guess this is why there's never
been a national wrestling league.
VINCE
What does it take to get that kind
of audience? We've given them
Hulkamania, all the top wrestlers.
The phone RINGS. Linda picks it up. A look of astonishment.
LINDA
You'd best take this one.
INT. A BASEBALL STADIUM - DAY
Supered: "Atlanta Stadium - Atlanta, Georgia"
A nervous Vince follows a YOUNG EXECUTIVE through the stands.
VINCE (V.O.)
I had completely misjudged the market
for wrestling in America. I was
destined to go down as the man who
not only destroyed his own company,
but also the entire industry.
YOUNG EXECUTIVE
He's just finishing up an interview.
They stop right next to none other than TED TURNER. He
sits in the row of seats right behind the dugout. A REPORTER
interviews him. Turner wears only shorts and sneakers.
TURNER
I'm the little guy's hero.
(MORE)
68.
TURNER (CONT'D)
They love me because I run the team
the way they think they would if
they owned it. I sit in the stands,
drink a few brews, even take my shirt
off. I'm Mr. Everyman, their pal
Ted -
A small portable TELEVISION plays next to Turner, with the
volume down. An early version of CNN fills the screen.
YOUNG EXECUTIVE
(whispers to Vince)
Cable News Network, broadcast
worldwide from Satcom 1, Mr. Turner's
own satellite. No one believed there
would be a market for CNN, but now
Mr. Turner promises we won't sign
off until the world ends.
REPORTER
What would you say drives Ted Turner?
TURNER
You know, my grandfather lost
everything in the Depression. Became
a poor dirt farmer. My dad turned
it around, sort of, but you can always
go back. Except, I'm not going back.
Ever. Hey, good talking with you.
They shake hands. The Reporter exits.
TURNER (CONT'D)
Hello, Vince.
VINCE
Ted, it's a pleasure. Thanks for -
TURNER
(cutting him off)
Sit down and watch the rest of this
play with me. It'll be gorgeous -
ON THE FIELD, one of the Atlanta Braves strikes out. Turner
stands up and screams at the top of his lungs.
TURNER (CONT'D)
What the hell were you swinging at,
you overpaid bum?! When does
Jackson's contract expire?
YOUNG EXECUTIVE
Not for two years, Ted.
TURNER
Find some way to make it two weeks.
69.
VINCE
My father used to say that one of
the joys of owning a professional
wrestling league is that you always
know the outcome.
TURNER
Of course you know the outcome. But
with a real sport, you don't have
that luxury.
Turner takes a CIGAR from a silver case engraved with "TT."
TURNER (CONT'D)
Smoke from my private collection?
He hands Vince a cigar and lights it for him. An AIDE
nervously interrupts with some DOCUMENTS.
AIDE
Sir, those Goodwill Games papers -
Turner takes the documents and signs several pages.
TURNER
I lost 25 million on the Goodwill
Games this year, but I'll do them as
long as I can. Every year. Worth
it for the world. Gotta give back,
you know? You'll feel the same way,
I'm sure, as things get better and
better for you. And they will.
The Aide departs.
TURNER (CONT'D)
I've got to hand it to you, Vince.
You've taken something that nobody
sane believed in and you're making a
horse race out of it. That's an
area I know more than a little about.
VINCE
I figured you would.
Turner nods, sizing Vince up. Vince does the same.
TURNER
Outside of Atlanta no one ever really
thought about the Braves. I bought
'em, put 'em on my Superstation, and
made this team a household name.
More people see the Braves than can
see the Yankees. A lot more. You're
from South Carolina, was it?
VINCE
North.
70.
TURNER
Savannah myself.
Vince's eyes drift to a framed PHOTO on the wall of Turner
posing next to his huge SAILBOAT, which bears the name
"Tenacious" on its side. The sailboat floats in front of
Turner's white colonial MANSION. A true "blue blood" image.
Turner notices Vince staring at the photo.
TURNER (CONT'D)
You sail?
VINCE
No. Like to, sometime.
TURNER
You're welcome to join me, sometime.
Anyway, my Superstation TBS is looking
to develop even more of its own
programming. And my guys tell me
that a wrasslin' show could go over
well. Very well. Now, no offense,
I don't really get wrasslin', but
I'm told you have the best wrasslin'
show around. I know you've been
approaching every cable station to
pick the show up for nationwide
broadcast, and that you've been
laughed out of just about everywhere.
VINCE
No one's actually been laughing -
TURNER
No offense. Again. See, I understand
why you want to be on cable so badly.
You get it, a lot of folks still
don't. Because the old guard doesn't
want to get it. Cable shatters all
their old walls. The old feudal
alliances keeping the airwaves to
three stations, plus UHF. You can
reach into places you never could
before now. Bigger than either of
our fathers could have dreamed, huh?
Vince nods. Ted has done his homework.
TURNER (CONT'D)
So, here's the pitch - my Superstation
becomes the permanent home of the
World Wrasslin' Federation. You get
on nationwide cable. I'll underwrite
all of your expansion costs, you
won't have to worry about things
like ratings and advertising, and
(MORE)
71.
TURNER (CONT'D)
you can put whatever you want up on
the screen, provided it's clean and
family-oriented, which I'm told is
what you're doing anyway. In
exchange, I get exclusive rights to
your shows and I buy 51% of the World
Wrasslin' Federation.
VINCE
Which would be more than what I own.
TURNER
You'll own a lifetime contract as
CEO.
VINCE
It's a very kind offer, Ted. Give
me a few days.
INT. VINCE'S OFFICE - TWO DAYS LATER
Vince sits pensively, with a FAX in his hands. Linda and
Pat gather around him.
VINCE (CONT'D)
I'm afraid we'll just end up another
piece in his "private collection."
LINDA
How bad can he be?
VINCE
"Wrasslin'."
PAT
Acid test.
LINDA
We wouldn't have to worry about money
anymore with this deal.
VINCE
Yeah, but you know how Turner started
TBS? His pop was in the billboard
business and had an advertising
company, that also owned one UHF
station. Turner saw something there.
No one thought cable would fly -
PAT
His father was a millionaire, though.
VINCE
His father also was a nasty drunk
who shot himself in the head.
(MORE)
72.
VINCE (CONT'D)
Turner started buying up stations
that were in trouble and they became
TBS stations, when he wired them
from his satellite. All over the
country. I know this guy. His dream
is to make TBS the biggest thing in
the world. He'll dream until he
can't dream any further.
LINDA
That does sound familiar.
VINCE
But he has to control every part of
his dream.
LINDA
Mmm-hmm.
Martin dashes in, full of giddy energy.
MARTIN
Hold off on inking anything with the
Peachtree Pirate. What's the one
thing we always wanted to get?
VINCE
Sinatra in a Steel Cage Match?
MARTIN
Better. Ol' Blue Eyes doesn't have
the #1 album in the country.
INT. THE TELEVISION TAPINGS ARENA - ONE WEEK LATER
Rowdy Roddy Piper stands with a microphone in an interview
booth with a sign which reads "Piper's Pit," a weekly segment
he does.
Piper interviews a large FEMALE WRESTLER wearing a cowboy
hat and boots, COWGIRL WENDY RICHTER.
ROWDY RODDY PIPER
Round 'em up, here we go, Cowgirl
Wendy Richter is on my show.
(sniffs the air)
Wendy, is that aftershave you're
wearing or just the lingering aroma
of the pigslop in your toenails?
Cowgirl Wendy cocks her fist at Piper. He cowers in fear.
ROWDY RODDY PIPER (CONT'D)
No need for any pugilistics. I'll
just take your word that it's after
shave. Now, you have a very big
match coming up -
73.
COWGIRL WENDY RICHTER

That's right, Piper. I'm wrestling
the Womens Champ for the belt.
When Cowgirl Wendy turns her head to acknowledge the
audience's cheers, Piper holds his nose and wafts the air.
She looks back at him. He smiles innocently.
ROWDY RODDY PIPER
Just swatting a fly. So what is
this I've been hearing about a Special
Manager who's gonna be in your corner?
COWGIRL WENDY RICHTER
My new manager will be my favorite
star in the world, the Girl Who Just
Wants To Have Fun. Cyndi?
'80s pop sensation CYNDI LAUPER, decked out in her then-
trademark junk jewelry and orange hair, enters Piper's Pit.
The Crowd goes nuts, having never seen a mainstream celebrity
on a wrestling show before.
IN THE ANNOUNCERS BOOTH, Vince, Linda, Pat, and Martin clap.
PAT
How'd you guys pull this off?
VINCE
Her new tour was costing a lot more
than she expected. Plus, she has a
crush on Hulk.
BACK IN "PIPER'S PIT"
CYNDI
This from a man who wears a skirt?!
ROWDY RODDY PIPER
It's not a friggin' skirt - it's a
friggin' kilt!!
Cyndi Lauper smashes Piper over the head with her pocket
book, then she and Cowgirl Wendy chase him out of "Piper's
Pit." Cyndi grabs the microphone and shouts to the Crowd.
CYNDI
Next week, these girls are gonna
have some serious fun!
"Girls Just Want To Have Fun" blares, and Cyndi dances through
the Crowd, who go wild.
AT THE ANNOUNCERS TABLE, Vince and Pat practically bounce
out of their seats. Linda sits behind them, also happy.
Martin sits down, with a handful of message slips. Concerned.
74.
MARTIN
Turner's called three times today.
He wants an answer.
VINCE
Tell my pal Ted to stick it.
LINDA
The new USA Cable Network just offered
us nationwide cable, Marty. And we
keep ownership!
INT. ABC STUDIOS - NEW YORK CITY - EVENING
A taping of the news magazine show "20/20." Anchor HUGH
DOWNS speaks to the Camera.
HUGH DOWNS
Suddenly, everyone is talking about
pro wrestling. The World Wrestling
Federation's weekly TV show recently
quadrupled its ratings. We have
with us the mastermind behind all of
this hoopla, a man some have called
"the Don King of Pro Wrestling,"
Vince McMahon.
Vince sits next to Hugh, smiling broadly.
HUGH DOWNS (CONT'D)
Where are these new fans coming from?
VINCE
It's what I call "The Rock 'N
Wrestling Connection." Cyndi brought
a whole new group of fans to pro
wrestling that had never seen it
before. Now you've got Yuppies seated
next to construction workers at the
matches. In fact, next week there's
another big star appearing. I pity
the fool who would miss it.
INT. "PIPER'S PIT" AT THE TELEVISION TAPINGS - EVENING
"A-Team" star MR. T sits down with Rowdy Roddy Piper.
ROWDY RODDY PIPER
So I've heard you want a piece of
me, you big tough Hollywood star?
MR. T
I most definitely want a big 'ol
piece of you, fool. I've been
watching you run your fat sucka lips
off on TV and I just couldn't take
it anymore. So here I am.
75.
ROWDY RODDY PIPER

Let me show you what will happen if
you dare to step in that ring.
Piper holds up a PAINTING of Mr. T in a full body cast. Mr.
T stands up to attack Piper, who cracks him over the head
with the microphone. Mr. T hits the ground.
Hulk Hogan runs out of the dressing room and chases away
Piper. He helps Mr. T to his feet. They shake hands, partner-
style. The Crowd goes bonkers.
INT. THE MCMAHON LIVING ROOM - DAY
Vince and Linda are in the middle of an argument.
VINCE
You can't ask me to stop now. Not
in the home stretch!
LINDA
But we've won. The ratings are
through the roof! We don't need to
take out another 5 million dollar
loan!
VINCE
We need to make the WWF an American
institution. So, we're not just a
passing fad like Boy George or
something. An annual Superbowl of
Wrestling will do it. We'll finally
be safe!
LINDA
Safe from what?!
VINCE
Just trust me, okay?
LINDA
After this, the train slows down,
right?
Vince nods vigorously. Linda looks at him dubiously.
MONTAGE:
- National magazines with Hulk and wrestling as the cover
story spin into frame: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, NEWSWEEK, etc.
VARIOUS ANNOUNCERS
The event called WRESTLEMANIA, excuse
me, WRESTLEMANIA 1, is coming soon -
Madison Square Garden sold out in
minutes - the first wrestling Pay-
Per-View in history - the most
(MORE)
76.
VARIOUS ANNOUNCERS (CONT'D)

anticipated wrestling match ever:
featuring the tag team of Hulk Hogan
and Mr. T versus Rowdy Roddy Piper
and Paul Orndorff - Aretha Franklin
to sing the National Anthem -
- A handwritten sign reading "The Power Factory" hangs on a
door in the WWF Headquarters.
Inside, an office has been transformed into a makeshift GYM.
Vince lifts weights with Hulk and Macho Man.
With a spindly physique compared to those of the wrestlers,
Vince struggles to lift a huge barbell. Hulk spots him.
VINCE
Sorry if I'm dragging.
HULK
No prob, Vin-man.
Vince stands in the mirror and flexes his muscles. He glances
over at Macho Man's physique with envy. Macho Man notices.
MACHO MAN
They bottle it these days, you know.
Behind them, Hulk casually sits down on the bench and takes
out a SYRINGE of steroids.
MACHO MAN (CONT'D)
It's totally safe. I know guys who've
been on it for 10 years.
HULK
Gotta get as big as possible, right?
The whole world'll be watching us
soon. Juice me, brah?
Macho Man nods and Hulk hands him the syringe. Hulk drops
his pants, exposing his bare ass, with visible needle tracks.
- JOHNNY CARSON interviews Hulk and Mr. T.
- Vince himself sits down for an interview on "Late Night
With David Letterman."
DAVID LETTERMAN
Best of luck with this Wrestlemania,
Vince. But, something on my mind,
this professional wrestling, it's
all on the up and up, square,
bonafide, kosher, honest injun?
Vince pauses uncomfortably. Linda watches backstage, nervous.
77.
VINCE
It's all real, Dave.
Many in the Audience CHUCKLE. Dave makes one of his comical
"surprised" looks to the Camera.
- At Killer Kowalski's School, Vince, Hulk, and Killer train
Mr. T. Killer throws Mr. T to the mat. Mr. T screams.
KILLER
No, thas da Bam-Bam! No good -
INT. MADISON SQUARE GARDEN - NIGHT
The roar of the standing room-only Crowd deafens.
Supered: "Wrestlemania I - March 31, 1985"
IN THE ANNOUNCERS BOOTH, Vince, Pat Patterson, and Jesse
Ventura call the action. Vince's muscles have grown
considerably since the last scene.
JESSE VENTURA
History is being made here tonight!
VINCE
What else can you say about a Main
Event match-up which features Muhammad
Ali as the Special Ref?
In the ring, MUHAMMAD ALI indeed plays the referee.
Mr. T picks up Rowdy Roddy Piper and deposits him on his
head. Hulk Hogan cheers for Mr. T.
Vince looks up at the stands - the fans seem to go on forever,
just like in his Vision.
He turns to Linda behind him.
VINCE (CONT'D)
How much?
LINDA
A million dollars -
Vince looks horrified. Linda smiles.
LINDA (CONT'D)
- at the gate alone. 50 million in
Pay-Per-View sales, and 20 million
in merchandising sales.
Vince grabs Linda and gives her a passionate kiss.
VINCE
Don't forget to say it.
Linda and Vince get up and shout to the crowd.
78.
VINCE AND LINDA

Look at us, you bastards!!!!!
VINCE
The moment you first said that was
the moment I fell in love with you.
LINDA
It was a helluva first date.
VINCE
Get ready for the second honeymoon -
They kiss again. Vince opens one eye, distracted by
something.
INSIDE VINCE'S MIND, he sees a DOOR slam open behind the
furthest row of Madison Square Garden. An ominous SHADOW
appears in the doorway.
INT. ATLANTA STADIUM IN ATLANTA - THE NEXT DAY
Ted Turner sits in the dugout, wearing an Atlanta Braves
uniform. A NEWSPAPER turned to a Wrestlemania article lies
at his feet. Turner speaks to a different REPORTER.
REPORTER
Mr. Turner, you have to admit that
it's very unusual for an owner to
take over as manager of his team.
TURNER
We're already in last place. It's
not like I can do any worse.
Two young EXECUTIVES enter. The Reporter exits.
EXECUTIVE #1
I think we've got something on the
wrestling front, Mr. Turner.
EXECUTIVE #2
A promoter named Jim Crockett has
been putting on shows in the South.
His company's called the National
Wrestling Alliance - the NWA.
EXECUTIVE #1
When Vince McMahon was buying up all
the wrestling stars from the other
promotions, Crockett picked up some
of the guys McMahon couldn't afford
to add. He's got some pretty popular
wrestlers - "Nature Boy" Ric Flair,
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes -
if we buy Crockett's promotion and
keep him in charge with some funding,
(MORE)
79.
EXECUTIVE #1 (CONT'D)
I think we can take down McMahon,
buy him out, and then corner the
market on the most popular "sport"
on cable.
EXECUTIVE #2
It'll be great for the Superstation.
That's all Turner needs to hear. He nods vigorously.
TURNER
How hard can this wrasslin' be?
Turner stops a BRAVES PLAYER en route to bat.
TURNER (CONT'D)
You!
BRAVES PLAYER
Coach?
TURNER
It's home run time!
EXT. AN ENORMOUS CORPORATE BUILDING - DAY
Brand-new, made entirely of mirrored glass. A colorful FLAG
reading "Larger Than Life" flies from the roof.
VINCE (V.O.)
I'd like to welcome you all to your
new home - Titan Tower!!
INT. THE BUILDING'S SWANK AUDITORIUM - CONTINUOUS
Vince speaks to his company from the podium. Linda, Pat,
and Martin stand nearby. A few hundred Employees applaud.
VINCE
Just as our meeting facility has
grown, so too must the WWF keep
growing. I want to be here for
Wrestlemania 20 and for it to be 20
times larger. I thought we'd be
able to take our time to grow after
Wrestlemania I, but as many of you
are aware, Ted Turner is starting
his own wrestling league, backed by
the financing of Turner Broadcasting.
I know this type of pirate - he'll
spend whatever it takes to put us
out of business. Because then the
Mouth of the South'll have everything
we pioneered all to himself.
(MORE)
80.
VINCE (CONT'D)
He's going to be cutting into our
market share immediately, so we need
to keep growing our audience, as
fast and as furious as we possibly
can. So, every week, you're each
responsible for bringing one good
idea for expanding the WWF to the
table. Never forget that we're being
challenged by a man with unlimited
resources. And never forget this -
we're only at the tip of the iceberg
of how big the WWF can become.
Linda grimaces at this, but says nothing.
INT. ANOTHER PART OF TITAN TOWER - LATER THAT DAY
Vince, Hulk, and Macho Man work out in the new, state-of-the-
art GYM. A gold-plated sign reading "The Power Factory" has
replaced the hand-written one.
Vince's muscles are becoming as huge as those of the
Wrestlers. He FLEXES proudly in the mirror.
INT. THE WWF TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - A FEW DAYS LATER
Prior to the matches, a frustrated Vince walks about the
ring with two WRESTLERS: BRIAN PILLMAN, a relatively small
guy with a wiry physique, and PRINCE JOHN, a bigger wrestler
with a "British Royalty Theme," including a GOLD CROWN.
VINCE
Guys, show me something fresh or I'm
gonna have to cut this one -
BRIAN PILLMAN
I got something to try. I'm not as
big as the other guys, you know,
Vince, so I have to get over in other
ways. Prince, assume the position -
Prince John lies down in the middle of the ring. Brian mounts
the top rope.
BRIAN
- maybe we could end like this?
Brian bounces a few times on the top rope and then LEAPS off -
he does a SOMERSAULT in mid-air and lands on Prince John.
INT. TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - THAT EVENING
Brian performs the spectacular Flying Somersault maneuver
again, to the roaring approval of the Crowd.
VINCE (O.S.)
That's Flyin' Brian Pillman!!
81.
IN THE ANNOUNCERS BOOTH, Vince speaks low to Pat:

VINCE (CONT'D)
Spread the word to all the guys - as
long as they don't knock down the
overhead lights, the sky's literally
the limit.
Pat nods, but he isn't happy about this order.
QUICK CUTS:
- Flyin' Brian Pillman performs a series of death-defying
aerial moves.
- The bigger Wrestlers in the WWF try out these flying moves
too: Hulk soars through the air to do an elbow-smash on an
Opponent. Roddy Piper does a drop-kick off the top rope.
The moves get more dangerous and painful.
- In the LOCKER ROOM, Brian Pillman pops a huge handful of
PAINKILLERS before a match.
Vince and Pat argue politely, but heatedly.
PAT
These fellows are closer to stuntmen
now. And stuntmen don't really hit
each other most times!
VINCE
The old arm drags and drop kicks
don't cut it anymore though.
PAT
Suppose somebody dies?
VINCE
People die in wars, Pat.
Pat stares at Vince, ready for the punch line, but there
isn't one. Vince just stares back at him. Pat nods and
exits. Vince goes back to work.
The fans loved the new high-flying
style, which was good because Turner's
league was gearing up in Atlanta,
and even I had to admit that they
had learned my lessons well -
INT. AN INDOOR WRESTLING ARENA - DAY
Supered: "NWA Television Taping at TBS Studios - Atlanta"
82.
Several television cameras film RIC FLAIR, a great-looking

and flamboyant wrestler with long, blonde hair, as he walks
into the ring in a cloud of smoke. Strauss's "Thus Spoke
Zarathustra/2001 Theme" plays on the loud speakers.
Flair's very popular with the FANS, who cheer wildly. Many
of the fans wear cowboy hats.
AT THE ANNOUNCERS TABLE, head promoter JIM CROCKETT, a rotund
and ruddy man, who also wears a cowboy hat, announces.
CROCKETT
There's no question that Ric Flair
is the hottest star today -
INT. BACKSTAGE AT A WWF WRESTLING MATCH - EVENING
Linda speaks with Superstar Billy Graham, who now wears a
white KARATE SUIT, a shaved head, and an ugly mustache.
SUPERSTAR
I was hoping you could talk to Vinnie
about me. My new look is rad -
Superstar performs a few karate chops, and then the famous
Bruce Lee "Battle Scream/Arm Flail" from the final scene of
Enter the Dragon. It's just not working.
SUPERSTAR (CONT'D)
- and I've even got myself believing
I'm a Sensei of Kung Fu. But they've
got me jobbing in the undercard.
I'm a Marquee, Linda!
A middle-aged MAN carrying a SATCHEL CASE enters the backstage
area. Several Wrestlers follow the Man into an office.
LINDA
Who's that?
SUPERSTAR
Oh, Dr. Zahorian. He's a new Ring
Doc that came aboard last week.
LINDA
Awful popular with the talent.
SUPERSTAR
Yeah, I actually have to see him
about my hamstring.
Superstar heads to the medical office, as a YOUNG WRESTLER
exits, carrying a BROWN LUNCH BAG. Linda watches this.
INT. THE DEEPER RECESSES OF THE LOCKER ROOM - MINUTES LATER
Superstar removes a small BOTTLE OF STEROIDS and a hypodermic
NEEDLE from his own brown lunch bag.
83.
He takes off his shirt, revealing his muscles as grotesquely

large.
The YOUNG WRESTLER sits down nearby, with a brown lunch bag.
YOUNG WRESTLER
Hey, how do you make this work?
SUPERSTAR
You sure you wanna start on the Juice?
YOUNG WRESTLER
You've got to be big in the WWF,
right? All the top dogs do it. I
mean, they don't say you have to get
on the gas, but -
SUPERSTAR
Yeah, you got to be big. But you
can never be big enough for Vince.
AT THE END OF THE ROW OF LOCKERS, Linda watches as Superstar
shows the Young Wrestler how to load up the hypodermic needle.
Other Wrestlers also shoot the steroids nearby. She exits.
EXT. THE MCMAHON ESTATE - EVENING
A brand-new, gorgeous white MANSION in tony Greenwich,
Connecticut. Much like the mansion of Ted Turner, the outside
is a classic colonial design -
INT. THE MANSION LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
- although the inside is decorated in somewhat tacky nouveau
riche fashion. Vince and Linda argue.
VINCE
Whatever Dr. Zahorian does has nothing
to do with us.
LINDA
I don't want to be a drug dealer!
VINCE
You're not. He's a licensed medical
doctor. If he feels like the
wrestlers need steroids, he's allowed
to prescribe them. We only pay him
to be a ring doctor. Any extra-
curricular activities between the
doctor and the wrestlers is their
business. Steroids aren't illegal
for wrestlers to have or trade.
C'mon, Linda. Just until we choke
Turner long enough. We're in this
together.
84.
Vince holds out his hand to be "tagged." Linda just looks at

his hand this time.
LINDA
Even your tiniest Jobbers were
shooting up last night. They think
you're going to make them big stars!
VINCE
Maybe I am! This is what America
wants. You think Schwarzenegger's a
star for his acting?! We need all
of our guys to look their best.
LINDA
I could deal with Doc Roids on the
payroll. What I can't handle is you
bringing this into our home.
VINCE
I'm not bodybuilding just for myself.
The fans expect me to look the part
of the King of Wrestling, Linda.
LINDA
They loved you when you were Vince
the Wimp Announcer!
VINCE
Fuck Vince the Wimp!
LINDA
I did!! And there's a lot of people
who believe steroids can kill you.
VINCE
There's no proof of that. None! If
you just do a liver dialysis once a
month, you know if there's problems.
LINDA
Anything you have to check your liver
for isn't worth doing! This isn't
the guy I married, Vinnie!
VINCE
Yeah it is! He's just finally
becoming everything he wanted to be!
Vince suddenly overturns a huge TABLE in a fit of anger.
His eyes flare wild. Sweat drips down his face.
LINDA
'Roid Rage and all?
Linda exits. Vince shrugs and looks up at a giant, tacky
OIL PAINTING of himself in a muscle pose. He flexes his
muscles to match the painting.
85.
INT. THE TBS/NWA TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - EVENING

In the Ring, Ric Flair slams an OPPONENT. While Flair still
gets loyal cheers, the stands are half-empty now.
VINCE (V.O.)
We were beating Turner almost too
easily, despite the fact that he was
dumping millions into his NWA -
IN THE ANNOUNCERS BOOTH, Jim Crockett calls the match. A
RING BOY brings a phone over to him. He picks it up.
CROCKETT
Hi sir, I'm just in the middle of
taping our weekly show -
INTERCUT. Turner watches the TBS show on a video feed in
his palatial OFFICE.
TURNER
I know. Who's this blonde guy?
CROCKETT
That's Ric Flair. One of our stars.
TURNER
Oh, so that's Ric Flair. He'd better
be a big star with his salary.
Ric Flair struts around the ring. At each corner, he stops
and shouts "Whoo!"
TURNER (CONT'D)
What's he saying?
CROCKETT
Uh, Ric Flair always yells "Whoo!"
TURNER
Why? Tell him to stop. And what's
with the cowboy hats?
CROCKETT
You mean in the stands? Well, we're
a Southern wrestling promotion -
TURNER
We're trying to hook a national
audience. This isn't a rodeo! Tell
the cameras not to film those people.
Crockett takes off his cowboy hat. He's bald underneath.
TURNER (CONT'D)
Good. I've been watching both our
show and their shows - they seem the
same. What have they got on us?
86.
CROCKETT
Hulk Hogan.
TURNER
I assume we've made this Hulk Hogan
substantial offers to join our team?
CROCKETT
We've offered him the sun and the
moon, but he's got sort of a samurai's
loyalty to Vince McMahon.
TURNER
So let's create our own Hulk Hogan
then. He's just a big blond guy
with muscles, right?
INT. THE TBS/NWA TAPING ARENA - NIGHT
Wearing a toupee, Jim Crockett interviews STING, a blond,
crew-cutted MUSCLE MAN, with colorful face paint.
STING
And I want to say to all the little
Stingers out there that as long as
the Big Man in Heaven's behind us,
we're gonna come out okay!
He flexes his muscles in a variety of poses.
The CROWD at the Television Taping wave large foam "Sting"
fingers, a complete rip-off of the Hulk foam fingers. The
Crowd is only sort of into it.
VNCE (V.O.)
Everything they tried was a lame
imitation. Meanwhile, every week we
were boldly going where no slobber-
knocker had gone before -
INT. THE TITAN TOWER BOARD ROOM - DAY
Vince meets with his Executives.
YOUNG EXECUTIVE
I thought to myself, "Who's the most
popular man in America?" I know
it's a long shot, but maybe he'd be
willing to make an appearance if we
worked in a patriotic theme. He
could manage Sgt. Slaughter in a
feud against Krusher Krushchev.
What a concept -
(does "Ronald Reagan")
"No illegal clotheslines! Not on my
watch, Mr. Gorbachev!"
87.
The other Executives stare at him with disbelief. But Vince

applauds.
VINCE
Now that's dreaming big. Write to
the Gipper and see what you can do.
MARTIN
Does the next thing we do even have
to involve a wrestling ring?
Vince smiles broadly.
VINCE
Now we're talking.
INT. RECORDING STUDIO - DAY
Supered: "'Piledriver - Album Recording Special'- December
21, 1986 - MTV"
In a nutshell, that was the difference
between the WWF and the NWA. Turner
said he was in the Wrasslin' Business.
He could fucking have it. We were
in the Entertainment Business.
All of the WWF WRESTLERS line up with the "Good Guys" on one
side, and the "Bad Guys" on another. A MUSIC PRODUCER
instructs them. Vince watches.
MUSIC PRODUCER
Nikolai, that was a little off-key.
NIKOLAI VOLKOFF, a large "Russian" wrestler, wearing a
bearskin hat and a t-shirt with the USSR Hammer and Sickle
on it, groans. When he speaks, it's with a Brooklyn accent.
NIKOLAI
I'm trying, buddy.
MUSIC PRODUCER
Then on this take, just don't sing.
Move your lips but don't actually
let any sound come out.
MARTHA QUINN, one of the original MTV VeeJays, stands in
front of the group, broadcasting.
MARTHA QUINN
Let's listen in, shall we?
The music to "Land of 1000 Dances" cranks up. All the
Wrestlers clap their hands, sway in unison, and SING:
GEORGE "THE ANIMAL" STEELE
You've got to know how to Pony -
88.
ALL THE WRESTLERS

Oh yeah!
THE IRON SHEIK
- like Bony Maroni -
INT. THE RECORDING STUDIO - LATER
Hulk Hogan plays the guitar and sings his new theme song
"Real American." Horrible '80s rock.
HULK
I am a Real American/Fight for the
rights of every man -
Vince shares a smile with Hulk, his promise to make Hulk a
rock star fulfilled. Sort of.
INT. THE RECORDING STUDIO - LATER
Vince now sings himself, recording his own autobiographical
theme song, "Stand Back." Another godawful '80s rock cut.
VINCE
Never gonna stop/I'm a man running
wild/Heading for the top/Along the
way, you'll see a lot of men drop!
A line of DANCING GIRLS run out and do a choreographed dance
routine, which Vince joins in with.
INT. MANHATTAN NIGHTCLUB - EVENING
The posh album release party. A display of Piledriver ALBUMS,
with Hulk Hogan and his guitar on the cover, dominates the
room. The guest list is an '80s Who's Who.
Hulk Hogan, Macho Man, Roddy Piper, and Martin hold court in
the middle of the party with beautiful WRESTLING GROUPIES.
A Groupie feels Macho Man's massive arm.
MACHO MAN
You really wanna see something?
Macho Man steps back and takes off his neon green tuxedo
jacket. He makes what seems to be every muscle in his body
vibrate at once. The Wrestling Groupies all giggle.
Vince, Linda, Shane, and Stephanie walk through the party.
STEPHANIE
I can't believe Duran Duran are here.
SHANE
And David Lee Roth!
"DOWNTOWN" JULIE BROWN, another popular MTV VeeJay from the
'80s, struts up to Vince, wearing a neon pink jumpsuit.
89.
DOWNTOWN JULIE BROWN

Vinnie, could we do that interview?
Downtown Julie Brown's Camera Crew starts taping immediately.
DOWNTOWN JULIE BROWN (CONT'D)
It boggles my mind to see how you've
continued to keep wrestling so hot.
We all thought it would be over with
Wrestlemania I, but nooooooo.
VINCE
Mark my words, Julie, one day the
WWF'll be bigger than the NFL.
But you're in a sport which many
consider to be, well, a big show.
Vince, the million-dollar question -
The room falls silent. Most of the party-goers stop what
they're doing to watch this interview.
DOWNTOWN JULIE BROWN (CONT'D)
- is wrestling fake?
VINCE (V.O.)
No matter what we did, we were still
haunted by our carnival roots.
Vince looks at Linda. Shane and Stephanie both shrug.
VINCE (CONT'D)
The matches are staged, Julie.
A collective gasp. Linda's jaw drops. One of the Groupies
stops rubbing Hulk's muscles and looks at him strangely.
Did I just hear you right?
INT. BRUNO SAMMARTINO'S LIVING ROOM - SIMULTANEOUS
Bruno throws a shoe right through his TV. It explodes.
BRUNO
Kay-fucking-fabe!!
INT. THE TITAN TOWER AUDITORIUM - THE NEXT DAY
Vince stands at the podium, rallying his Employees.
VINCE
I know that you may be worried about
what I said on television last night.
But it will be the best thing that
ever happened to us. Trust me.
(MORE)
90.
VINCE (CONT'D)
Even with our success, wrestling has
still been fringe entertainment.
People either loved it or hated it -
INT. ABC SPORTS BROADCASTING CENTER - EVENING
Two BROADCASTERS discuss the WWF.
ABC SPORTS BROADCASTER
In case any of you were wondering
whether the World Wrestling Federation
would go belly-up after admitting
wrestling was fake, the ratings for
their syndicated programs this week
actually increased.
CO-BROADCASTER
Who didn't know it was fake?
A MONTAGE OF THE WWF'S CONTINUED EXPANSION:
- An APPLIANCE STORE WINDOW: 20 televisions play "The Hulk
Hogan Saturday Morning Cartoon Show." An animated Hulk Hogan
and Macho Man beat up some CROOKS.
VINCE FROM THE PODIUM, CONT. (V.O.)
People used to think "Ice Capades" -
great! "Wrestling" - ugh! No more.
- "The WWF On Ice," an "Ice Capades"-style show. Professional
SKATERS wear giant Hulk Hogan and Rowdy Roddy Piper rubber
heads and do pirouettes.
- The "Wrestlemania II" logo spins into frame, followed by
logos for Wrestlemania III, and IV.
- A young DONALD TRUMP and Vince pose for photographs together
at a press conference at THE TRUMP PLAZA IN ATLANTIC CITY.
DONALD TRUMP
I've always been a fan of wrestling,
going back to the days of Bruno
Sammartino. And I'm proud to welcome
the WWF here to the Trump Plaza,
where we will host Wrestlemania IV!!!
- Hulk Hogan tapes "The Hulk Hogan Workout Video," doing
aerobics. KIDS in aerobics outfits work out in step behind.
We'll finally really compete for
family audiences with the Ringling
Brothers and the Walt Disney Company -
- A NEWSCASTER reports about steroids.
91.
NEWSCASTER
Trafficking in steroids has finally
been made illegal -
- At the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City,
Vince and his top Wrestlers ride on a WWF float.
- Return to Vince at the podium in Titan Tower.
Think of our wrestlers as your own
Mickey, Goofy, and Donald, to market
and merchandise every way possible.
- Toy Store shelves get stocked with Hulk Hogan, Macho Man,
and Roddy Piper action figures, bed spreads, and toothpaste.
VINCE (V.O.)
As the '80s drew to a close, we
weren't quite bigger than Disney
yet, but we didn't have a lot to
worry about either -
- Outside the MANN'S CHINESE THEATER in Hollywood, the marquee
reads "Hulk Hogan stars in his first movie: No Holds Barred."
A huge Hollywood Premiere in progress.
Turner kept pouring money into the
NWA, and things even got so pathetic
that he decided to take a more hands-
on approach -
INT. THE TBS/NWA TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - AFTERNOON
Ted Turner attempts to choreograph the night's matches, with
wrestlers Sting and Ric Flair. Jim Crockett watches, unhappy.
TURNER
Sting, you'll do one of those flips -
STING
A Sunset Flip, a Tokyo Flip, or a
South Detroit Superflip, sir?
TURNER
Ah, just a good flip. While you've
got Richard down there for the pin,
my big surprise is going to come
out. See, next week the Robocop
movie will premiere on my
Superstation. This will be a great
cross-promotion. Synergy in action -
A MAN in a ROBOCOP costume jumps into the ring.
TURNER (CONT'D)
- Ric Flair's secret partner!
92.
Robocop holds up a prop RAY GUN which shoots light beams.

CROCKETT
Mr. Turner, there's a big difference
between Mr. T and Robocop. The fans
won't buy this.
TURNER
I know people. They'll love it.
INT. THE TBS/NWA TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - THAT EVENING
Robocop chases Sting around the ring with his ray gun. It
looks absolutely ridiculous. The Fans laugh.
IN THE REAR OF THE ARENA, Turner fumes.
VINCE (V.O.)
Even I knew we could finally relax.
EXT. A FANCY MIAMI NIGHT CLUB - EVENING
Vince, Hulk, Macho Man, Roddy Piper, Martin, and a posse of
BEAUTIFUL GROUPIES pull up to a DOCK in Vince's huge, garish
CIGARETTE BOAT, named Sexy Bitch. Their waves nearly capsize
a group of PREPPIES on a small SAILBOAT.
INT. THE NIGHT CLUB - LATER
Vince, the Wrestlers, and Groupies hold court at a huge table.
VINCE
(whispers to Macho)
When you're juicing, do you, um -
MACHO MAN
Do I wanna fuck everything, oh yeah?
Vince looks across at a sexy Groupie smiling at him.
INT. A LARGE HOTEL SUITE - NIGHT
A POV SHOT
The person whose eyes we're looking through is trashed. He
enters the dimly-lit hotel suite from the bright lights of
the bathroom.
Horrible '80s dance music throbs. All around the room - on
the floors, couches, and beds - are the naked bodies of
musclebound wrestlers and groupies going at it.
REVERSAL SHOT
These are Vince's eyes we've been looking through. He's
also naked and covered in sweat. His muscles ripple.
A NAKED BLONDE GROUPIE beckons to him.
93.
Vince tackles her, wrestling style, and they roll around on

the ground. He then mounts the Groupie and takes her on the
floor, from behind.
As they are having sex, Vince sees himself in the mirror and
smiles, then screams a war cry at the top of his lungs,
flexing his arm muscles at the same time.
The orgy is so intense that none of the other participants
even notice Vince's screaming.
VINCE'S POV:
Hallucinogenic shots of muscles and bare bodies everywhere.
FOOTSTEPS echo.
The two ominous SHADOWED FEET appear in the doorway of the
room.
Vince SCREAMS fiercely at the top of his lungs again, in the
direction of the doorway, as he continues to take the Groupie
from behind, equally fiercely.
The door opens and the two Shadowed Feet become the high-
heeled feet of another SEXY GROUPIE. She smiles at Vince,
and struts over to join the action with him.
Vince smiles broadly, grabs the new Groupie, and tackles her
to the ground as well. He roars more joyfully now,
triumphantly. The bacchanalia continues.
INT. THE MCMAHON MANSION - EARLY MORNING
Vince stumbles in after a night of partying. Linda's fist
greets Vince's jaw and sends him to the ground.
Linda turns and head upstairs. Vince leaps to his feet.
VINCE
Wait just one goddamn fucking second -
Vince grabs Linda and reaches back his hand.
LINDA
Do it - be just like your Stepfather -
Vince sees himself in the huge MIRROR over the stairs. He
lowers his hand and Linda kicks him in the groin. Vince
tumbles down the stairs. Linda locks herself in a room.
Black Title Card: "The '90s"
INT. TED TURNER'S PRIVATE BASEBALL BOX - DAY
No longer sitting with the "common man," Ted Turner relaxes
in a huge private box with his new wife JANE FONDA, inside
his brand-new TURNER STADIUM.
94.
In the rear of the Box, an EXECUTIVE enters with ERIC

BISCHOFF, a late 30s, good-looking MAN in a slick black
leather jacket and jeans.
A Braves Player cracks a line drive up the middle. Turner
bounces up and cheers, as do all of his Executives.
TURNER
Now that's a guy who can deliver!
EXECUTIVE
Ted, I've got another guy who we
think can deliver here with me -
The Box falls silent as Turner turns around to see Bischoff.
EXECUTIVE (CONT'D)
This is Eric Bischoff. He was working
as Jim Crockett's Head Match Booker
until Crockett's termination.
TURNER
I've got only one question for you -
how do we beat Vince McMahon?
Bischoff smiles confidently.
BISCHOFF
Mr. Turner, Vince McMahon always
complains that people don't take him
seriously because he's in the
wrestling business. Well, I've heard
through the coconut telegraph that
the wrong type of people are taking
him very seriously. Now's our time.
INT. TITAN TOWER - AFTERNOON
Vince and Linda enter. Three FBI AGENTS approach.
FBI AGENT
Mr. McMahon, you're being charged
with 15 felony counts of conspiracy
to illegally distribute steroids -
INT. VINCE'S LIVING ROOM - EVENING
Vince and Linda meet with their Attorney, LARRY BRAHMAN.
VINCE
To win, they'll have to prove that I
ordered the wrestlers to take
steroids, right?
LARRY BRAHMAN
Not necessarily.
(MORE)
95.
LARRY BRAHMAN (CONT'D)

See, they might be able to get a
conviction with another argument:
that you created an environment where
the use of steroids was so strongly
encouraged that the wrestlers
essentially had to take them to keep
their jobs.
Vince holds his head in his hands. He knows he's in trouble.
LINDA
The bad publicity might kill us long
before we ever reach a courtroom.
INT. HULK HOGAN'S MANSION - TWO DAYS LATER
Hulk lies on his couch, despondent.
HULK
"Take your vitamins and say your
prayers, little Hulkamaniacs." Don't
forget the Deca-Durabolin.
Out the window, a dozen REPORTERS can be seen. The Phone
rings. Hulk's WIFE picks it up off-screen.
WIFE (O.S.)
Terry, you-know-who's calling again.
INT. A TOYS 'R US STORE - DAY
A STORE EMPLOYEE removes WWF dolls from the shelves.
VINCE (V.O.)
All of our biggest sponsors demanded
out of our contracts. And the worst
was still to come -
INT. HULK HOGAN'S LIVING ROOM - ONE WEEK LATER
Vince, unshaven, paces. Hulk sits on the couch.
VINCE
How much?!
HULK
Turner said 12 million, plus my own
action series on TBS.
VINCE
If you stand by me, the WWF will
survive. But if you leave, it'll
look like I was the bad guy who was
making you juice-up.
HULK
It is your company though, Vinnie.
96.
VINCE
You were juicing long before we met!
HULK
Hulk Hogan is bigger than just the
two of us. He's like Jesus to some
people. I have to consider that.
Going to Turner will let the Hulkster
have a clean slate.
VINCE
Because you'll be on a so-called
family network instead of working
for the evil WWF. I CREATED you!!
HULK
Not alone you didn't.
VINCE
If not for me, you'd still be playing
in fucking Long Island cheese dumps!
I can destroy anything I want to in
this place because I gave it to you -
Vince runs over to Hulk's giant-screen TELEVISION and pulls
it over. Hulk grabs onto Vince, pinning his arms together.
HULK
That's enough -
VINCE
I tell you when it's enough!
Vince elbows Hulk in the stomach, buckling him over. Hulk
punches Vince's jaw, then hurls him through his screen door.
Vince lies on Hulk's front walkway. Hulk locks his door.
EXT. U.S. DISTRICT COURT HOUSE - DAY
REPORTERS swarm a taxi. SOMEONE with crutches gets out.
REPORTER #1
Who's the big cripple?
INT. THE COURTROOM - LATER
Vince sits with his attorney Larry Brahman. Linda, Shane,
Stephanie, Pat, and Martin sit behind him.
The GOVERNMENT PROSECUTOR questions a haggard Superstar Billy
Graham, whose crutches lean against the stand.
PROSECUTOR
Mr. Graham, how many wrestlers in
the World Wrestling Federation would
you say were using steroids supplied
by one Dr. George Zahorian III?
97.
SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM

90 percent. Maybe more.
PROSECUTOR
Did Vince McMahon ever tell you or
any other wrestlers to take steroids?
Well, never directly.
PROSECUTOR
But it was implied?
Of course! You can tell by the
wrestlers that the WWF makes their
stars - none of them are missing the
big muscles. Look at the boss!
PROSECUTOR
The WWF maintains that they have a
stringent drug testing program -
There was a saying in the locker
room: the only way to get fired in
the WWF is to test positive for coke,
or negative for steroids.
INT. THE TRIAL - A BIT LATER
The Prosecutor shows a horrific medical PHOTOGRAPH of a knee
cap popped completely out of a man's leg. Blood and bone
stick out everywhere. A DOCTOR testifies.
DOCTOR
On separate occasions, both of Mr.
Graham's knee caps burst out from
the strain of the huge muscles around
them. See - steroids make muscles
grow, but not bones.
PROSECUTOR
Are these the only problems that Mr.
Graham has had?
DOCTOR
I wish they were. His heart got
larger, because that's a muscle too.
He's pumped his body so full of
steroids that his bones and organs
are basically collapsing.
Many Spectators in the Court Room shift with discomfort.
Superstar glowers at Vince from the Witness Stand.
98.
EXT. THE COURTROOM - AFTERNOON

A short recess. Shane and Stephanie sit together.
SHANE
Superstar was 'roiding it up when
Dad was still in high school.
STEPHANIE
Why are they singling Dad out anyway?
Half the players in the NFL juice.
EXT. THE COURT HOUSE - DAY
A REPORTER speaks to the camera.
REPORTER
We're all awaiting the prosecution's
star witness -
A limousine pulls up. Dozen of Reporters swarm it.
INT. THE COURTROOM - A BIT LATER
A miserable Hulk Hogan, in a sharp blue suit, has been under
questioning for awhile.
PROSECUTOR
Isn't part of the appeal of Hulk
Hogan his "Larger Than Life" physical
size? His 22-inch arms, or "pythons?"
HULK
Of course.
PROSECUTOR
Did Vince McMahon direct you to take
steroids?
Hulk looks at Vince momentarily. Vince shifts uncomfortably.
The moment of truth.
HULK
Never. It was my choice and decision.
The Prosecutor looks at Hulk with surprise.
PROSECUTOR
However, you do have personal
knowledge that Titan Sports paid for
steroids for certain star wrestlers?
HULK
No, absolutely not.
99.
PROSECUTOR
But isn't it fair to say that Vince
McMahon created an environment that
was conducive to steroid abuse?
HULK
No. We all wanted to be huge because
the biggest wrestlers were the most
popular with the fans. How can you
hold Vince responsible for that?
Vince nods to Hulk, who looks away.
VINCE (V.O.)
Hulk could've destroyed me and
probably should have for his career's
sake. I guess he finally remembered
who made him capable of being referred
to as a "star witness." But even so,
Thor was Turner's super hero now.
The Prosecutor sits down and mumbles under his breath.
PROSECUTOR
Fucking carnies.
EXT. THE COURTROOM - ONE DAY LATER
Vince McMahon emerges, his arms around Shane and Stephanie.
Linda walks with them too, noticeably less jubilant.
INT. THE LIMOUSINE - A MINUTE OR SO LATER
Linda, Pat, Martin stare at Vince somberly.
VINCE
Who died?
PAT
Randy Savage, Roddy Piper, Curt
Hennig, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall...
all just signed with Turner.
VINCE
We made them great offers to re-sign!
MARTIN
Turner's were better. A LOT better.
He's in full Richie Rich mode. Buying
everything we created.
PAT
They all wanted to get as far away
from us as possible, anyway. On
Planet Turner, they'll be able to
reinvent themselves with the fans.
100.
VINCE
Those guys were like family -
LINDA
Not exactly like family, obviously.
INT. LOCKER ROOM AT TELEVISION TAPINGS - THE NEXT NIGHT
Vince yells on his cell phone as he walks.
VINCE
Macho, please pick up. FUCK!!
Vince walks past Flyin' Brian Pillman, who sits in a darkened
stretch of the locker room. Neither of them notice each
other. We stay with Flyin' Brian.
Brian's hands shake, and he sweats. He tries to stand up
but sits back down quick, gripping his SWOLLEN ANKLE. Brian
jabs a dirty SYRINGE into his ankle.
On April 23, 1994, Turner launched
"WCW Monday Night Nitro" to compete
directly with our flagship show,
"WWF Monday Night Raw."
INT. TBS STUDIOS - ATLANTA
Mean Gene Okerlund, Vince's former top announcer, stands in
front of the WCW LOGO, which looks very similar to the WWF's.
He does the intimidated announcer act, just as in the WWF.
MEAN GENE
Welcome to the new World Championship
Wrestling! And I'm not alone -
Hulk Hogan enters in his familiar red and yellow outfit.
The fans erupt with applause.
HULK
Hulkamania has invaded WCW, brother!
He shreds his shirt off, in his trademark pose.
MORE MOMENTS FROM THE SAME NIGHT:
- Macho Man interviewed by Mean Gene.
MACHO MAN
It's "Macho Time" in WCW -
- Eric Bischoff, the co-host, speaks to the camera.
BISCHOFF
We're going to provide a little weekly
service to all of our fans.
(MORE)
101.
BISCHOFF (CONT'D)
We know that there's another wrestling
show on right now. We're going to
make it easy for you. Since that
other show was taped two weeks ago,
and we're live, we'll just let you
know who won there. Then you'll be
free to enjoy "Nitro" -
(reads from notepad)
So here goes - on WWF "Raw" Dustin
Rhodes beat Shawn Michaels, the
Patriot beat Big Van Vader -
VINCE (V.O.)
Turner owned his network, so he could
afford to go live. If we did a live
show, though, the costs would kill
us. But we were dying this way too -
INT. VINCE'S OFFICE - THE NEXT DAY
Vince and Pat watch CNN NEWS, which displays pictures of
Vince McMahon and Ted Turner.
CNN REPORTER
In our last story, a death match is
on for control of the professional
wrestling world. In what has become
quickly known in wrestling circles
as the "Monday Night Wars," Vince
McMahon's WWF and Ted Turner's WCW
are in a ratings battle to be the
dominant Monday night wrestling show.
Until recently, the WWF was the top
dog in wrestling, but for the first
time this week, it was beaten ever-
so-slightly in the ratings by WCW.
PAT
Why are the stories that slam us the
worst always on CNN?
Martin enters the room. He's crying.
VINCE
We saw it.
MARTIN
Not the ratings. Brian Pillman just
died of a heart attack.
INT. VINCE'S OFFICE - LATE THAT EVENING
Vince lies on the couch, watching television. He looks
horrible. Everyone else has gone home. On the television,
the original Frankenstein plays.
102.
DR. FRANKENSTEIN
It's alive! Alive!
Vince turns on the VCR with his REMOTE, playing another NEWS
REPORT of Flyin' Brian Pillman's death.
NEWS REPORTER
- the coroner's report revealed heart
disease, believed to have been caused
by an addiction to painkillers, and
possibly anabolic steroids -
Vince fast-forwards a bit.
NEWS REPORTER (CONT'D)
- he was only 34 years old -
Vince fast-forwards again.
NEWS REPORTER (CONT'D)
- another blow to the struggling WWF -
Vince shuttles back and forth on the tape, playing only
sentence fragments, creating a surreal strobing effect.
Vince grabs a LAMP and angrily smashes it through the TV.
INT. THE POWER FACTORY GYM - MUCH LATER THAT EVENING
Having lifted the same huge BARBELL for hours, Vince screams
in agony each time he raises it, torturing himself.
He tosses the barbell, staggers to his feet, walks up to one
of the MIRRORED WALLS, and stares into his own eyes.
VINCE
Larger Than Life.
He contorts his face, pointing at it wildly.
Vince smashes his fist into his mirrored face, cutting his
hands. A multiple, distorted reflection of himself bounces
about the room.
He grabs one of the weight-lifting POLES and SMASHES all of
the mirrors in the weight room.
EXT. THE ROOF OF TITAN TOWER - A FEW MINUTES LATER
The wind blows fierce. Vince grabs the huge "Larger Than
Life" flag, which flies from the side. A gust of wind takes
hold of the flag, pulling Vince straight off the roof.
He crashes several stories through trees and a huge bush.
INT. A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM - SOME TIME LATER
Vince wakes up with bandages on his hands and scratches all
over him. The first thing he sees is Linda.
103.
VINCE
Am I dead?
LINDA
Not unless I'm dead too.
VINCE
It's just that you looked like an
angel.
Vince reaches up and grabs Linda's hands.
VINCE (CONT'D)
I'm retiring. We'll sell the WWF.
LINDA
You're not capable of relaxing, much
less retiring. I can deal with what
goes on at the company, Vinnie. You
were definitely right about Turner
and how dangerous he is. But what I
do need to know is that you're mine
and mine alone. Or I'm gone.
VINCE
That's a better deal than I deserve.
LINDA
You're goddamn right it is.
Vince holds out his hand to be "tagged." Linda gently tags.
Shane quickly enters the room. He's frantic.
SHANE
Dad?! I drove down from New York.
Stephanie's coming too.
LINDA
He's okay, Shane.
Vince and Linda hold hands with Shane.
VINCE
We're all okay.
EXT. THE GROUNDS OF TITAN TOWER - THE NEXT DAY
Vince and Shane stare at Vince's hole in the bush.
VINCE
It's like the ROAD RUNNER cartoon,
when the Coyote goes through a wall.
SHANE
You can see the outline of your 'do.
104.
VINCE
I bet that fall would have killed
Eric Bischoff.
SHANE
If he had to build this business
from the ground up like you did,
Bischoff would have slit his wrists.
VINCE
It's a lot easier to steal a wrestling
star than create one. I should know.
SHANE
I can help you fight them, Dad. I'm
a McMahon. With the two of us
together, Turner and Bischoff won't
stand a chance.
VINCE
I don't know if they're beatable at
this point, though.
SHANE
You're the one who taught me that
when life hits you, just hit back
harder. In the balls, even.
VINCE
I don't want to see more wrestlers
die.
SHANE
Neither do I, but that wasn't your
fault. All types of jocks are
addicted to painkillers. It's part
of the game. No one makes the
wrestlers do it. These are guys
who'd be working in gas stations if
it weren't for us. Now, we gotta
strike back at Turner soon or we'll
lose everything.
VINCE
How do we fight someone with that
much money?
SHANE
We use it against him.
INT. THE WWF "RAW" TAPING ARENA - THE NEXT MONDAY NIGHT
ROCKY MAIVIA, a bulky young wrestler of mixed race, drop-
kicks a wiry, smaller wrestler named CHRIS BENOIT.
VINCE AS ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
Rocky Maivia, a new star here in the
WWF, has Chris Benoit under control -
105.
A MAN appears at ringside, clearly intended to be a caricature

of Ted Turner: mustache, yachting cap, blue blazer, and a
cigar. He hands Chris Benoit a pair of BRASS KNUCKLES.
Chris Benoit knocks out Rocky Maivia with the knuckles.
VINCE AS ANNOUNCER (CONT'D)
Omigod, Benoit's manager, the evil
Billionaire Ted, has stolen this
match from Rocky! Just like Ted
steals everything that isn't his!
INT. THE WCW "NITRO" TAPING ARENA - THE NEXT MONDAY NIGHT
Eric Bischoff walks around the Arena with a group of CREW
TECHNICIANS. On each seat, a Technicians places a FAN SIGN,
a handwritten poster board.
BISCHOFF
I want this place to look so happening
that no one would think of turning
the dial to "Raw." I'm gonna get
him for that Billionaire Ted shit.
INT. THE SAME ARENA - HOURS LATER
Thousands of fans wave these signs like mad - some of the
signs say "I Love WCW!", others say "Raw's a Bore!"
INT. THE WWF "RAW" TAPING - NIGHT
Fans file in and find even more signs than Bischoff put out.
VINCE (V.O.)
Because we kept getting slammed in
the ratings, we went live for the
first time in 20 years -
INT. THE WWF "RAW" CONTROL ROOM - A BIT LATER
Vince and Linda watch the SOUND ENGINEER play with a sound
effects loop of a crowd cheering.
VINCE
Even louder, make it sound like there
are 200,000 here -
Shane runs in, looking ashen.
SHANE
It's already on!
LINDA
What's already on?
SHANE
"Nitro!" It started 10 minutes early!
106.
Vince flips on a nearby TELEVISION SET. Sure enough, "Nitro"

has already begun. Eric Bischoff speaks to the camera.
BISCHOFF ON-SCREEN
We own our network and we may go all
night!! Who knows?
SHANE
Mom, can we afford to -
LINDA
Guys, we can't afford anything else.
We're hemorrhaging money right now.
VINCE (V.O.)
Fans were tuning into Turner's show
early and forgetting that ours was
even on. It was a brilliant move.
Vince, Shane, Linda, and Pat somberly talk.
LINDA
If we lose the Tower and stop the
live broadcasts, we can keep the
lights on at least.
SHANE
I have some new ideas which wouldn't
cost much to try.
The others indicate that Shane has the floor.
SHANE (CONT'D)
Okay, I stumbled on this tiny league
called Extreme Championship Wrestling,
ECW. They're out of Philadelphia
and buying their way onto cheap cable -
Shane turns on the conference room television. A video
displays an ECW television match.
On the monitor, the larger WRESTLER hits a smaller WRESTLER
with a BASEBALL BAT wrapped in BARB WIRE, right in the head.
When the Bat hits the other Wrestler's face, skin visibly
rips right off and blood spurts out.
A GASP from everyone, even Vince. This ECW is more
deliberately vicious than any matches ever seen.
The larger Wrestler then picks the smaller Wrestler up over
his head and drops him out of the ring, onto a TABLE filled
with THUMB TACKS, which stick into his back and face.
The ECW Crowd, largely young males with long hair and wearing
t-shirts for bands like Korn, scream for more blood.
107.
SHANE (CONT'D)
These guys are small-time, but I
think people would go nuts for this
if we did it. Not as, well, extreme,
as this, obviously.
LINDA
Obviously! And they'd go nuts
alright, not the good kind.
Vince is more intrigued though.
VINCE
Well, this stuff in Philly... we
can't do it exactly, but there's
something there, sort of. An
attitude...
SHANE
An attitude, right! Like a bunch of
pirates. That's what we need our
new star to be like.
VINCE
Yeah. That. I've looked all over
the place and I don't see our new
Ali on the horizon.
They all nod, defeated.
VINCE (CONT'D)
Let's get some rest. We still have
a taping tomorrow.
INT. "RAW" TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - EVENING
Vince and Shane watch in the back as JAKE ROBERTS, a wrestler
doing a "preacher gimmick" is carried out of the ring, after
a match where he has taken a beating.
STEVE AUSTIN, the bald-headed, muscle-bound wrestler who
just defeated him, saunters up to the ANNOUNCER for a post-
match interview. There is something unique about Austin,
from the other more cartoon-y wrestlers we've been gotten
used to. Something edgier, grittier, genuinely dangerous.
ON VINCE AND SHANE
VINCE
Steve looks different.
SHANE
Yeah, he shaved his head. And he
doesn't want to be called "Stunning"
Steve Austin anymore.
VINCE
Good. It was a lame gimmick.
108.
ON STEVE AUSTIN AND THE ANNOUNCER

ANNOUNCER
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin, you just
laid a beating on Jake Roberts -
Stone Cold points to the camera fiercely, very intense.
"STONE COLD" STEVE AUSTIN
Jake Roberts, you can say your
prayers, and thump your Bibles, but
that didn't get you anywhere! You
can talk about your psalms, about
"John 3:16." Well, Austin 3:16 says
"I just whipped your ass!!"
The Crowd goes wild, never having seen a wrestler swear on
camera before.
Vince and Shane both look at each other.
SHANE
Dad, maybe we don't need a new Ali
after all.
Vince slowly smiles.
VINCE
Not if we've got a Mike Tyson...
INT. VINCE'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Vince, Shane, Stephanie and Linda watch "The Jerry Springer
Show," which features a panel of DRAG QUEENS.
DRAG QUEEN
Why limit yourself to boys or girls?
Vince chuckles.
STEPHANIE
I guarantee you a lot of our fans
already love Springer.
LINDA
You're not... our brand is family
entertainment! Or was.
SHANE
Saving our own family comes first
though, Mom.
Linda leans back in and lets the idea sink in.
LINDA
I want you all to promise me that
nothing you do will be worse than
(MORE)
109.
LINDA (CONT'D)
what kids can already see in movies,
TV, or video games.
VINCE, SHANE, AND STEPHANIE TOGETHER
No problem.
INT. TITAN TOWER AUDITORIUM - DAY
Vince rallies his assembled Employees. Linda, Shane, and
Stephanie stand behind him.
VINCE
I've always proudly called myself a
populist. My father actually taught
me this, and it's always been the
McMahon family motto: Give the people
what they want. The thing is, what
the people want changes every ten
years or so, and we have to change
also. Or die. We want people to
tune into us to be entertained like
they can't anywhere else. We want
wrestling to reflect what's really
going on in America. Turner owns
all of our wrestlers and ideas from
our Take Your Vitamins/Say Your
Prayers Era. He can choke on them.
The days of good versus evil are
over in the WWF. The real world is
painted in the blood of both. Our
new brand can be summed up in one
word....
EXT. TITAN TOWER - DAY
A pirate-like BLACK FLAG is raised outside with the word
"ATTITUDE" scrawled across it in white letters.
VINCE (CONT., V.O.)
This is going to be a big change for
some of you, and I wanted to give
you fair warning about our new story
lines -
INT. "RAW" TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - DAY
An ANDROGYNOUS WRESTLER, wearing a blond wig and make-up,
along with a shiny gold jumpsuit, enters the ring.
VINCE AS ANNOUNCER
This is GOLD DUST!
Wrestler Chris Benoit, much more muscular than a few years
ago, charges Gold Dust, who hits Benoit hard with a STEEL
CHAIR in the head.
110.
INT. THE RAW ARENA - ANOTHER MATCH

Two curvaceous WOMEN - SABLE, a blond Pamela Anderson-style
bombshell, and JACKIE, a tough black girl in a bikini - face
off with microphones.
JACKIE
You are a tramp! You are a ho,
showing your wares the way you do!
SABLE
At least I've got wares to flaunt!
Jackie rips off Sable's dress, revealing only a tiny g-string
and pasties underneath. They tackle each other and wrestle.
The lights go off in the arena. "Evil chanting" plays. An
upside-down Catholic cross appears on the giant video screen.
A WRESTLER dressed in Satanic Robes walks to the ring.
SHANE AS ANNOUNCER
Ladies and Gentlemen, the UNDERTAKER!
INT. THE RAW ARENA - THAT SAME NIGHT - 20 MINUTES LATER
The Undertaker fights MANKIND, a large, hairy wrestler with
a "Leatherface" mask, on top of a STEEL CAGE. Blood pours
down both of their foreheads.
The Undertaker picks Mankind up by his neck and SLAMS him
down on the top of the cage. Mankind actually falls through
the top of the cage, 20 feet down to the mat.
The metal piece of the cage crashes into his head. This is
the wildest wrestling stunt ever seen. Anywhere.
On the mat, a few of Mankind's bloody teeth lie next to his
unconscious head. The Crowd screams for more.
VAL VENUS, a long-haired muscle man in purple shorts, stands
in the middle of the ring with a microphone.
VAL VENUS
Hell-o, ladies! I used to work in
exotic pictures. Along with my friend
down there in my shorts. I call him
"The Big Bulbowski" -
Val Venus rubs and gyrates his crotch, which looks to be
stuffed with a tremendous sock.
111.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin, now the WWF CHAMPION, shotguns
two BEERS at once in the middle of the ring.
The Crowd goes crazy, waving "Austin 3:16" signs. Many of
them wear "Austin 3:16" t-shirts.
Drenched with beer, Stone Cold shouts into the microphone:
STONE COLD
America, I just want to tell you not
to take any crap from nobody!!! You
give 'em this!
Stone Cold flashes a double MIDDLE-FINGER SALUTE.
Thousands of fans also wave their middle-fingers. Some wave
giant FOAM FINGERS, but shaped like a giant middle finger.
Vince and Linda watch from the back.
LINDA
I just realized why you love the
Stone Cold character so much.
VINCE
(shrugs)
Because he's what the everyman wants
to be in the 90s?
LINDA
That and -
Stone Cold waves his middle fingers right to the camera.
LINDA (CONT'D)
- he's basically you.
INT. TED TURNER'S OFFICE - DAY
An exasperated Eric Bischoff meets with Turner.
BISCHOFF
How am I supposed to compete with
strippers, sex, blood, and middle
fingers? Suddenly, we're stuck in
the ancient '80s with our program.
I need your permission to compete -
TURNER
Not on my Superstation. Any pimp on
can tell you that sex sells. But
we're not pimps.
112.
BISCHOFF
They've actually just introduced a
pimp-themed wrestler that passes out
these to the crowd -
Bischoff holds up a plastic CONDOM with the WWF symbol and
"Attitude" scrawled across it.
TURNER
You think these things work?
BISCHOFF
I wouldn't trust anything the McMahons
produce, sir. They truly have no
morals whatsoever.
TURNER
Hey, even Jerry Springer just took
the fights out of his show because
he knows people got sick of them.
BISCHOFF
But Springer's ratings crashed.
He's putting the fights back.
TURNER
Maybe we'll just be the wrestling
federation for the family crowd.
How long'll parents let their kids
keep watching his shows now?
BISCHOFF
I saw an awful lot of young kids
flashing their middle fingers on
"Raw." Their parents didn't blink!
TED
Even when the people want something,
you shouldn't always give it to them.
BISCHOFF
Ted, you've invested hundreds of
millions -
TURNER
- which are just a number. McMahon
is willing to let his own dream eat
him, and everyone around him, to
keep it alive. That's the difference
between us. Always has been.
Turner sits back at his desk, puts his feet up, and exhales.
TURNER (CONT'D)
Screw it. It's just wrasslin'.
113.
INT. A TAPING OF "LARRY KING LIVE" - NIGHT

Vince sits for an interview with LARRY KING.
LARRY KING
So you're back on top, Vince. What's
next for the WWF?
VINCE
Well, our popular lady wrestler Sable
has a 15-page spread in Playboy.
Highest-selling issue ever.
Vince holds up the cover of PLAYBOY with Sable half-naked.
VINCE (CONT'D)
We've also recently purchased the
Las Vegas Casino that Debbie Reynolds
previously owned and we're going to
start a WWF-themed casino there.
I'm going to make the bold prediction
that Ted Turner will also purchase a
Vegas casino shortly for the WCW.
LARRY KING
Do you really think there's a market
for a wrestling casino?
VINCE
Of course.
LARRY KING
(chuckles)
I'll gamble there, but I won't invest.
VINCE
You'll be losing out, Larry. Every
step of the way people have laughed
at me. Television, movies, theme
parks... one day, you may even see a
wrestler in the White House. Or at
least Congress.
LARRY KING
Now, I understand that you yourself
are wrestling this week.
VINCE
That's right. In one of our most
popular storylines, I've gotten in a
feud with our champion Steve Austin
and we'll be facing off. Kind of a
dream come true because I always
wanted to be a wrestler.
LARRY KING
Good luck. Last question.
(MORE)
114.
LARRY KING (CONT'D)

The man who pays my checks, Mr.
Turner, spent a lot of money competing
with you. What do you think decided
the war?
VINCE
I know people, Larry. I know what
they want. I listen to our audience
and I respond to it.
Vince thinks, then grins.
VINCE (CONT'D)
But Larry, I've learned that the
best way to beat a billionaire... is
to become one.
INT. MATCHES AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN - THAT EVENING
Vince struts into the ring wearing WRESTLING TRUNKS. On
either side of him strut Shane and Stephanie, both acting as
Vince's managers for the night.
Vince flexes his muscles for the crowd. "Stone Cold" Steve
Austin sneak attacks him. Vince looks out to Ringside and
sees Linda chuckling in spite of herself. Vince winks at
her. FREEZE-FRAME.
Supered: "Vince won the WWF Championship from Steve Austin,
and then lost it back a week later."
Followed by: "The WWF continued to trounce Ted Turner's WCW
during the final years of the Monday Night Wars. 'Raw' even
beat 'NFL Monday Night Football' for several months."
CUT TO:
Vince McMahon happily signs a contract, as a few of Ted
Turner's Executives look on with frowns.
Supered: "In 2001, Vince McMahon bought out Ted Turner's WCW
for the bargain price of 5 million dollars, absorbing it
into the WWF, and finally becoming the only national wrestling
company in the United States."
Followed by: "However, due to a lawsuit from the World
Wildlife Foundation, the WWF was forced to change its name
to World Wrestling ENTERTAINMENT, the WWE."
CUT TO:
An older Ted Turner signing a GIANT CHECK at a CHARITY EVENT.
Supered over FREEZE-FRAME: "When Time-Warner, of which Turner
Broadcasting was a part, merged with AOL in 2001, Ted Turner
eventually lost some 7 billion dollars when the stock
crashed."
115.
Followed by: "He has since spent much of his time as a

philanthropist, donating close to 1 billion dollars of his
own money to charity."
Turner smiles. He finally seems relatively content.
CUT TO:
AN OLDER HULK HOGAN, well into his 50s, does his famous leg
drop on an OPPONENT. Hulk winces in pain as he lands.
Supered over FREEZE-FRAME: "Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea is
still one of wrestling's biggest stars when he does enter
the ring. His efforts to be a movie star failed, although
he found a brief resurgence of his '80s mainstream fame with
his hit Vh1 reality series 'Hogan Knows Best.'"
CUT TO:
The wrestler previously introduced as "Rocky Maivia" leaps
into the ring, much sleeker and toned. The crowd loves him.
Supered over FREEZE-FRAME: "Rocky Maivia changed his stage
name to THE ROCK and became one of the biggest stars of the
WWE's 'Attitude Era.'"
Followed by: "He has gone on to become a genuine movie star,
now using his real name of Dwayne Johnson. Several of his
films have even been hits for the Walt Disney Corporation.
CUT TO:
Jesse Ventura waving to fans...at a POLITICAL RALLY.
Supered over FREEZE-FRAME: "Using his fame as a one-time
wrestling star, Jesse 'the Body' Ventura was elected the
Governor of Minnesota, serving one term."
Followed by: "Thereafter, he announced plans to run for
President of the United States."
CUT TO:
Bruno Sammartino, now a balding man of 70, doing an interview.
BRUNO
Despite what Vince McMahon says,
lots of his wrestlers are still using
steroids and abusing pain killers -
Supered over FREEZE-FRAME: "Over the 90s and 2000s, Bruno
Sammartino frequently appeared on talk shows to criticize
Vince McMahon, and what he saw as a ongoing substance abuse
problem within the WWE."
CUT TO:
116.
SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM, in a wheelchair and wizened, holds a

microphone and speaks to a CHURCH CONGREGATION.
Supered over FREEZE-FRAME: "Superstar Billy Graham has had a
liver transplant. He is a Born-Again Christian and preacher."
CUT TO:
The FACES of numerous WRESTLERS, in black and white.
Supered: "Between the years 2000-2010, numerous former and
current WWE Wrestling Stars died before the age of 50,
including Eddie Guerrero, Davey Boy Smith, 'Mr. Perfect'
Curt Hennig, Miss Elizabeth, Road Warrior Hawk, Crash Holly,
Bam Bam Bigelow, the Big Boss Man, Earthquake, and Sensational
Sherri. Many of these deaths were heart attacks."
CUT TO:
Wrestler Chris Benoit being hit hard in the head by a CHAIR.
Supered over FREEZE-FRAME: "The most notorious wrestler-
related deaths occurred on June 24, 2007, when one-time WWE
Champion Chris Benoit hanged himself after murdering his
wife and young son. An autopsy showed that Benoit had
severely elevated levels of testosterone in his blood."
Followed by: "Steroids were found in Benoit's home, leading
many to speculate that the murders happened in a steroid-
fueled 'roid rage.'"
Followed by: "The autopsy further revealed that Benoit also
had considerable brain damage, potentially from the amount
of 'extreme wrestling' he had done over the years."
CUT TO:
Linda McMahon, dressed in a business suit, waving to the
crowd... also at a major POLITICAL RALLY.
Supered over FREEZE-FRAME: "In 2010, Linda McMahon ran to
become a U.S. Senator from Connecticut, spending 40 million
of her own money on the campaign. She narrowly lost."
CUT TO:
INT. ARENA -- NIGHT
Donald Trump "cuts a promo" at a WWE arena event, as the
crowd goes wild.
DONALD TRUMP
Vince McMahon, let me break it down
for you. I'm going to take over
your company and then I'm going to
enjoy saying this to you: You're
fired!!
117.
Supered: Throughout the 2000's, Donald Trump made numerous

appearances in the WWE storylines, playing himself as a
billionaire competitor to Vince McMahon, who wanted to take
over the company.
At ringside, Donald Trump tackles Vince and unloads a bunch
of punches on him.
EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE -- DAY
Donald Trump is inaugurated as President of the United States.
Supered over Inaugural Footage: "In 2016, Donald Trump was
elected 45th President of the United States."
Followed by: "One of President Trump's first acts was to
appoint Linda McMahon to the Cabinet-level position of Head
of the Small Business Association."
Linda and President Trump shake hands at the press conference
announcing her as Head of the SBA.
- A SHOT OF TITAN TOWER WITH VINCE IN FRONT, SMILING.
Now in his late 60s, Vince is more muscular than ever, and
tanned nearly orange. His muscles practically burst from
his suit. At his age, the effect of the muscles borders on
grotesque.
Supered: "The WWE remains the only major wrestling company
in the world. It is a publicly-traded company on the New
York Stock Exchange, with multi-billions in revenue."
VINCE (V.O.)
We're just at the tip of the iceberg
of how big the WWE can become...
FADE OUT

MAT WARS by Terry Keefe &amp; Michael Wechsler

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MAT WARS by Terry Keefe &amp; Michael Wechsler

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MAT WARS

The Vince McMahon Story

by Terry Keefe & Michael Wechsler

INT. VINCE'S BEDROOM - ONE YEAR EARLIER

His father, MR. MCMAHON, 50, drives. Mr. McMahon sports a

Mr. McMahon catches the Referee's eye and discreetly motions

ARTY, Mr. McMahon's nervous second-in-command, joins them.

VINCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)

IN THE AUDIENCE, a MOB forms.

VINCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)

DOCTOR JERRY (CONT'D)

INT. KILLER KOWALSKI'S BASEMENT - DAY

DOCTOR JERRY (CONT'D)

MR. MCMAHON (CONT'D)

INT. THE SAME ARENA - A FEW HOURS LATER

AT RINGSIDE, Vince, Linda, and Mr. McMahon all watch. The

- The Hospital Delivery Room again. Vince and Linda cuddle

Bob Backlund, in basic blue tights and boots, wrestles

Johnny Rottenslammer strums punk-style on a GUITAR and sings:

INT. A LONG ISLAND NIGHT CLUB - AN HOUR LATER

Terry stares Vince down. Vince stares back.

Killer stands nearby with a whistle. Vince watches.

VINCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)

EXT. THE MAIN ARENA - A FEW MINUTES LATER

The Producers look at them blankly. One of them, MARTIN

The Fantasy dissipates entirely.

Martin sticks a CHECK in his shot glass and slides it across

MACHO MAN (CONT'D)

INT. THE CHICAGO HOTEL MEETING ROOM - DAY

COWGIRL WENDY RICHTER

ROWDY RODDY PIPER

VARIOUS ANNOUNCERS (CONT'D)

VINCE AND LINDA

IN THE ANNOUNCERS BOOTH, Vince speaks low to Pat:

Several television cameras film RIC FLAIR, a great-looking

He takes off his shirt, revealing his muscles as grotesquely

Vince holds out his hand to be "tagged." Linda just looks at

INT. THE TBS/NWA TELEVISION TAPING ARENA - EVENING

The other Executives stare at him with disbelief. But Vince

ALL THE WRESTLERS

DOWNTOWN JULIE BROWN

Robocop holds up a prop RAY GUN which shoots light beams.

Vince tackles her, wrestling style, and they roll around on

In the rear of the Box, an EXECUTIVE enters with ERIC

LARRY BRAHMAN (CONT'D)

SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM

EXT. THE COURTROOM - AFTERNOON

A MAN appears at ringside, clearly intended to be a caricature

Vince flips on a nearby TELEVISION SET. Sure enough, "Nitro"

ON STEVE AUSTIN AND THE ANNOUNCER

INT. THE RAW ARENA - ANOTHER MATCH

INT. THE RAW ARENA - ANOTHER MATCH

INT. A TAPING OF "LARRY KING LIVE" - NIGHT

LARRY KING (CONT'D)

Followed by: "He has since spent much of his time as a

SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM, in a wheelchair and wizened, holds a

Supered: Throughout the 2000's, Donald Trump made numerous

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MAT WARS by Terry Keefe & Michael Wechsler

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