Vince McMahon Addresses Continuing The Show After Owen Hart Had Died

The pro wrestling world was shaken on May 23, 1999, when it lost a true legend, Owen Hart, in a tragic accident during his Over the Edge entrance. And now, during Netflix’s “ Mr. McMahon ” docuseries, Vince McMahon has discussed his controversial decision to continue the show, stating he did so because he is a businessman, and if it had been him, he would have wanted the show to go on.

“The decision that basically I had to make was whether or not the show goes on. The live audience didn’t really see what happened. Had they seen, there’s no question about it, you have to shut the show down. Those people came to see a show. They didn’t come to see somebody die. And me as a businessman, it’s like, ‘Okay, let’s continue on. Let’s continue the show’ … Had it been me, not just my son, had it been me who was ‘splattered on the mat’ as Bret said, I would want the show to go on. ‘Get me out of there, and let the show go on.’ I’d do it with me. To this day, I would.”

Vince McMahon was heavily criticized at the time for continuing the pay-per-view following the terrible accident, and subsequently, no replay was shown. Additionally, the event was never released on VHS or DVD, although an edited version eventually became available via the WWE Network. However, it seems doubtful that many fans have ever gone back to watch such a depressing show that features heartbroken wrestlers simply going through the motions, so McMahon didn’t have to offer refunds.