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Vince McMahon apparently made a pitch to sell WWE TV time decades ago, claimed Bill Apter.
Before the Stamford-based promotion became the mega-corporation it is today, McMahon was in stiff competition with several other promoters in the late 1900s. Owing to his rather cut-throat business decisions, he was able to take his company to new heights. However, Vince had apparently called Jim Crockett once to discuss selling WWE's TV time.
Speaking on Sportskeeda Wrestling's UnSKripted, Bill Apter recalled his conversation with Crockett when Jim Crockett Promotions was in its heyday. Crockett told Apter that Vince had called him to make the pitch.
"He (Jim Crockett) calls me one night, and he says, 'I got some scuttleb*tt for you.' I say, 'what's the scuttleb*tt?' He says, 'I just got a call from Vince McMahon, and he wants to know if I am interested in buying his show on Ted Turner's network.' He said he hadn't told anybody else. He says, 'You know McMahon. What do you think he is thinking?' I say, 'I don't talk to the guy anymore,' but we all know what happened." [9:38 onwards]
According to Bill Apter, WWE was on Turner Network after taking over the Georgia promotion that was on WTBS. Ratings dropped as the fans who loved what they had previously, hated the new WWE takeover. McMahon, in need of money, offered Jim Crockett, his #1 contender in competition for that time spot, possibly $100,000 at the time. As soon as the call was over, Crockett called Apter to find out Vince’s possible motives.
Ultimately, McMahon did sell the time slot and the money helped his empire grow and eventually become the huge corporation it is today. Crockett and other promotions could not financially sustain their own businesses, leaving WWE as the victor in the promotional war. Crockett and eventually WCW (after ousting him) continued to fight until WTBS cancelled wrestling completely.
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