Vince McMahon’s treatment of WWE legend’s father was unfair, Dutch Mantell says (Exclusive)
Vince McMahon was recently the subject of a six-part Netflix docuseries about his life inside and outside the wrestling business. Legendary booker Dutch Mantell used to work for the 79-year-old and believes the former WWE Chairman did not “play fair” when it came to business.
Mantell, formerly known as Zeb Colter in WWE, was mostly based in Memphis when McMahon began buying other wrestling territories in the 1980s. Netflix’s Mr. McMahon featured stories about Vince McMahon purchasing rival promotions, including Stampede Wrestling, which was previously owned by Bret Hart’s father Stu.
McMahon agreed to pay $750,000 for the company but allegedly failed to give Stu Hart the money. On Sportskeeda Wrestling’s Smack Talk, Mantell told host Sid Pullar III that the 79-year-old should have treated the wrestling legend better:
“He was brutal. He was literally brutal when it came to business. He would tell you anything. Now, Vince, when he said, ‘I don’t play fair,’ he bought a territory, he bought the Harts’ territory. That was Calgary and Edmonton, Canada, and he made a down payment, and after they closed up he wouldn’t pay them anything. Now, to me, if he’d have done me that way and I’d have closed my business down, I think he’d have been without a kneecap next time he came to Canada.” [8:47 – 9:26]
Watch the video above to hear Mantell address whether there is a difference between Vince McMahon and the bad-guy Mr. McMahon character.
Dutch Mantell elaborates on Vince McMahon’s ruthless approach
In 2020, Bret Hart discussed Vince McMahon’s Stampede Wrestling purchase on his Confessions of The Hitman web series. The two-time WWE Hall of Famer speculated that his own career might have been affected if Stu Hart had demanded the money from McMahon.
Four decades on, Dutch Mantell thinks McMahon should not have been so selfish as a businessman:
“But it’s their fault for not getting it on paper, and they should have known that Vince was like that, but no telling how much money he’d cost them, but when he said, ‘I don’t play fair,’ he didn’t play fair at all.” [9:29 – 9:49]
Mantell also disclosed details about what he witnessed backstage in WWE when McMahon’s name was mentioned around female wrestlers.
What’s your opinion of Vince McMahon? Hit the discuss button and let us know.
Dutch Mantell and his wife Cathy have battled life-threatening health issues in recent months. You can show your support by leaving a donation via GoFundMe.
Please credit Sportskeeda Wrestling’s Smack Talk and embed the video if you use quotes from this article.
Source: Sportskeeda
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