6 photos of Vince McMahon he might prefer you didn't see

Whether he's the Chairman of the Board, former WWE Champion or one-time Royal Rumble winner, there's no doubting Vince McMahon is the architect of the modern-day world of professional wrestling.

Now 74, 'Mr McMahon' has seen and done it all in the process of establishing WWE from a localised brand of athletic competition, to a globally-recognised, multi-billion dollar brand with a fanbase that's the envy of many an entertainment process.

But, while the man at the top of the table in WWE has loomed large in the boardroom for decades, he's also never been shy about stepping in front of the cameras and thunderous crowds all around the world.

For years he was, first, the voice of many a wrestling fan's childhood, thanks to his work as the lead announcer for the company, welcoming viewers and guiding them through the action with his own animated, charismatic style.

He was also, of course, known as one of the greatest villains of all time, his rivalry with Stone Cold Steve Austin as 'Mr McMahon', the very picture and definition of authority, earning him hatred from all four corners of the globe.

Through it all, and just as you'd expect, the WWE cameras have been right there, capturing it all. For your enjoyment, then, we have six of the best Vince McMahon photos that he'd most likely rather you didn't see...

#6. The host with the most

Vince McMahon and Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

If there's one thing we know of about Mr McMahon, it's the fact that he has never been afraid to take risks or make bold statements. Likewise, if there's one thing we know about the 1980s, its that fashion was, as it has ever been, subjective. Personally, Vince's 'Onesie' here is a hit, and I love it, but colleagues had been known to rib the boss about his choice of wardrobe.

This outfit was typical of the kind of outlandish outfit that Vince would often wear on air. Whether you like the style or not, you can't argue with the fact that he wears it well!

#5. When in Rome?

Vince at Wrestlemania 9 McMahon and Earthquake

Fans of 1990s WWE will often enthuse about Wrestlemania 9 - not necessarily because of the in-ring action or the card on offer that afternoon, but because of the pomp and pageantry that accompanied the event at Cesar's Palace.

For the show, WWE turned the famous and historical arena into, well... Cesar's Palace! Thrusting fans and stars alike back thousands of years, they set the scene of a Roman Colosseum, complete with Pillars and togas and goodness knows what else.

The boss, though? He was scarcely seen at the event - save for this rare photo of him, showing that he was seemingly one of very few people to not fully get into the spirit of the event. Even JR donned a toga for commentary!

#4. Quake the Cook

Back to the 1980s we go; more hosting duties for Bobby Heenan and Vince McMahon, and another opportunity for the boss to breakout one of his trademark bodysuits. A little less harsh on the eyes than the previous entry in our collection, this one asks fewer questions about the outfit itself, and more about the fact that he clearly looks perturbed by what appears to be the monstrous Earthquake cooking up the goods!

Burgers, anyone?

#3. Skin-tone suit

McMahon, back in the 1980s and 1990s, was often called upon to be the rose between thorns, or to adjudicate between bitter rivals hell-bent on destroying one another. This fantastic shot shows one such instance, with Hulk Hogan and Roddy Pipper going head-to-head in what was then the World Wrestling Federation.

Never a small man, McMahon stands up well against them in terms of stature, but it takes a second glance to make you realise he isn't also stood topless! His skin-tone suit blends him into the background of this image, allowing the stars of the show to stand out.

#2. The Wrestling Album

Professional wrestling launched itself into the mainstream in the 1980s, thanks in no small part, due to the influence of the Rock N' Wrestling Connection - music and sports entertainment coming together with fantastic results.

One such offshoot of that period was The Wrestling Album, released in 1985 and featuring all the sounds the stars from that era. To promote it, the WWF then staged the Slammy Awards, an evening which featured a simply incredible singing-and-dancing performance by our very own Vince McMahon, who strutted his stuff to the tune of 'Stand Back', the video which featured WWF stars on backing instruments, while McMahon took center stage for an effort that DX would later ridicule mercilessly.

#1. Wait... what?

What can you say about this one? Clearly this was a fun day at the office for WWE - you don't often see instances of the boss fooling around with his employees but, unless he had really strange choices for the location of his afternoon nap, this would appear to be exactly that.

What looks to be a photo from somewhere between 1993-1994, McMahon takes a short break by testing out the size of this casket, which was presumably being used as part of an angle involving Paul Bearer, also pictured, and The Undertaker.

Vince McMahon often says he's a long, long, long way off being done yet - so it stands to reason he's pictured in a casket with a defiant and bullish smile on his face!