Considering his actions just this year alone, Vince McMahon doesn’t come across as the
most ethical of people. He released or furloughed a reported 40% of WWE staff just to maintain
profit projections; he filed for bankruptcy for the XFL, despite reportedly investing
nowhere near the $300 million he promised to partners; and, at one point, he tried to
push ahead with a normal live broadcast schedule for Raw, SmackDown and NXT just to appease
WWE’s TV contracts, despite that being totally against current health and safety guidelines.
It’s so much stuff in just the last few months, it’s easy to forget McMahon alleged
involvement in a murder cover-up in the early 80s.
In 1983, 23 year old Nancy Argentino died from a serious head injury after being rushed
to hospital from the motel room of her boyfriend Jimmy Snuka. The autopsy also showed more
than “two dozen cuts and bruises” across her body. Snuka, at the time, was one of the
biggest stars in the WWF. He was never charged at the time, which he
later speculated at to why in his ghostwritten 2012 autobiography:
“I went with Vince McMahon Jr. to either a court or law office, I don’t remember
which because I was still in shock. All I remember is he had a briefcase with him. I
don’t know what happened. I think Vince Jr. picked me up from the hotel and took me
there. He didn’t say anything to me. I don’t know if he gave Nancy’s family money or
anything.” McMahon’s lawyers have always denied any
involvement in Argentino’s death, but a new report from David Bixenspan for Mel Magazine
uncovers a new detail to the events leading up to her tragic demise.
Following the excellent Dark Side of the Ring series on Vice TV, which had one episode exploring
the Snuka case, Bixenspan has focused in on a domestic violence incident between Jimmy
and Nancy less than four months before her death - where a drunk Snuka not only attacked
Argentino, but also fought off the multiple police who tried to arrest him.
The police report shows that Nancy was willing to press charges on the night of the incident,
but had changed her mind the next morning, after “Vince McMahon tried to talk her out
of making the complaint against Snuka.” Bixenspan reached out to one of the officers
involved in the case, Sergeant Peter Bronstad, who said while he doesn’t remember McMahon’s
involvement, he notes he did deal with: “someone claiming to be Snuka’s manager
[who] showed up to post bail, going on and on about how he needed to be able to wrestle
the next night. Bronstad, describing a shorter, older man wearing a hat, remembers being pissed
off and quoting the “manager” a figure of $25,000 for Snuka’s bail, which would
actually turn out to be just $5,000. The “manager” would quickly reply that the much larger figure
— one which amounts to almost $66,000 with inflation — wasn’t an issue.”
Bixenspan concludes the piece, summarising: “McMahon may have helped facilitate the
cycle of abuse that kept Nancy Argentino in Jimmy Snuka’s company, and potentially gave
“Superfly” the opportunity to kill her.” After campaigning from the Argentino family,
Snuka was charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in 2015, over
30 years since Nancy’s death. He was deemed not mentally competent to stand trial though,
and died from stomach cancer in 2017. Roman Reigns pulled out of his WrestleMania
Blueniversal Championship match just 10 days before the show. WWE hasn’t once properly
addressed the reason for his absence on TV since, and has skitted between banning all
mention of his name on commentary, to then allowing FS1 air a Reigns one hour special
this past Tuesday. The Wrestling Observer claims Vince’s mind changes daily on how
to handle the situation. Roman only overcame his second bout with leukemia
just last year, which is thought to be the main driver behind him pulling out of all
future shows, as those with the condition are reportedly far more susceptible to serious
complications from Steve Corino. But in a new interview with TMZ, Roman has
revealed the real reason is to protect his family:
“A lot of people think that it was based off of my health, and the history of my fight
against leukemia. But just talking to my doctors and stuff, I actually am fine and my immune
system is good… I try to keep it private in this crazy world but - my children. I just
had two newborn twins, twin boys. Eight weeks old. So I had to make a decision from them.
“I feel like I have an obligation, not only to my family and to myself, but to my community
and also to set the example. Cause at the end of the day we can do a lot of different
things and say a lot of different things but it’s through our actions that really speak
volumes and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
It’s a very different tact from WWE, who rather than lead by example, are just ignoring
that the world is currently ending. But sometimes that decision isn’t up to them.
This year’s SummerSlam is meant to be taking place in Boston on the 22nd August - which
includes the usual weekend-long festivities of Friday Night SmackDown, an NXT TakeOver
and Monday Night Raw all at the city’s TD Garden.
But now Boston’s Mayor Marty Walsh has revealed: “All large-scale gatherings like parades
and festivals, that are permitted by the City, are suspended through Labor Day. In the interest
of public health, no permit will be issued for an event before 9/7 that could draw a
large crowd.” Walsh does follow up saying “For smaller
events, we will be looking at them on a case-by-case basis as we move through the summer months”
- so perhaps there is a limited capacity version of SummerSlam that could still go ahead. But
he does warn “if your event brings crowds together in close contact… you should start
looking at alternatives now.” Neither WWE or the TD Garden venue have issued
a statement on SummerSlam. What do you think will happen with SummerSlam?
Let me know in the comments down below because I’ll be replying to people FROM OUTTA QUARANTINE.
Where I’ve also been watching last night’s episode of SmackDown - which I’ve got a
review of… in about 4 minutes. The show opened on the bigtime grudge match
between Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose - I’m so happy to not be saying that ironically.
The match was more vocal than physical though, with the two using shouts instead of actual
moves, like they’re working over each other’s voice boxes. Sonya rolled up Mandy for the
surprise win, which Michael Cole put over as Deville stealing a victory - despite it
being totally within the rules. Hopefully this isn’t the blowoff, as their
feud deserves a much bigger payoff. Lucha House Party teamed with the New Day
to take on the team of Forgotten Sons, Miz & John Morrison in a really fun 8-man tag,
with the good guys at one point playing a game of Super SPLASH Bros. There were loads
of dives, nasty ranas by the Lucha House Party, Forgotten Sons wiping out the New Day on the
outside, and Miz picking up the win with the Skull Crushing Finale - after being his team’s
weak link the past month. This was a really, really fun bout, and the chaotic finish excitingly
built the tag title match for Sunday. Kayla Braxton interviewed King Corbin backstage,
and Renee Young welcomed back Jeff Hardy for his big return - despite already kind of returning
before WrestleMania? Sheamus came out to interrupt, and the two brawled with Jeff Hardy standing
tall. Blueniversal Champion Braun Strowman had a
face-to-face showdown with Bray Wyatt, where Wyatt again tried to bring Strowman back into
the family by offering him the black sheep mask. Both men were really good here, with
Braun turning down Bray by saying he’ll beat him this Sunday. BYE! I really enjoy
doing that. It felt like there was a lot more subtext and substance to this story, and that
they’ve only just scratched the surface of their feud so far - implying Braun retains
to bring out the Fiend for it continuing after Money in the Bank.
Sasha Banks and Bayley took on Tamina and Lacey Eva-OH MY WHAT THE HELL IS THAT KILL
IT WITH FIRE-in a standard tag match, which saw Tamina kick out of a Bayley to Belly and
elbow drop and pin the women’s champion. This was okay, but I find it very difficult
to take Tamina as a serious title contender - years and years of failed pushes, and that
she’s neither that charismatic or good in the ring, is a tough hill to climb.
And the main event saw King Corbin’s new Midcard of Evil take on Daniel Bryan, Drew
Gulak and Otis. Sorry Tucker Janetty. This was a standard tag match, which finished with
Corbin pinning Gulak with the Deep Six. That’s not even his finisher!
The closing angle was pretty decent, with Corbin, Bryan and Otis brawling to climb a
ladder and symbolically unhook the Money in the Bank briefcase. Otis is so dense, though,
the ladder rungs kept breaking as he tried to step up - meaning Corbin got to stand tall.
Because maybe, not even the Money in the Bank briefcase can escape the pull of Baron Corbin’s
midcard Vortex! That was this week’s Smackdown in about
4 minutes. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and click the i above my head
to give your rating. Smackdown posted its worse Fox rating ever
last week, and this likely won’t perform any better. It was a solid build for Money
in the Bank, but it was also totally missable. This week’s Smackdown is a SmackDowner.
What isn’t missable in any way, however, is the brand new episode of El Fakidor Laurie
Blake’s Wrestling Explained series
on partsFUNknown. Here’s a clip: