Ex-WWE Co-President Shares First Impressions Of Vince McMahon

Former WWE Co-President George Barrios discussed his initial impressions of Vince McMahon during an episode of "My World." Barrios, who grew up as a wrestling fan, recalled his earliest memory of McMahon from the pre-Mr. McMahon era when he served as an announcer and commentator who would enter the ring.

Barrios explained that before joining WWE, he had not followed McMahon's career closely and would have identified him simply as the figure he watched on television. When he accepted the position at WWE, colleagues, friends, and even his father-in-law questioned the decision due to negative perceptions of McMahon.

His father-in-law specifically inquired whether McMahon was a crook because of the steroid trial from the early 1990s. Barrios encountered extensive negativity about McMahon, which left him shocked upon their first meeting. During that initial encounter, Barrios carried the conversation as McMahon remained largely quiet, asked few questions, avoided eye contact, and frequently looked away. This led Barrios to view McMahon as a really introverted guy, contrasting sharply with the bombastic on-screen persona and the unfavorable opinions he had heard.

Over their more than ten years working together, Barrios observed that McMahon's introversion was genuine, making interactions challenging for him as an extrovert. He noted that McMahon was hard to read but never raised his voice or cursed frequently. Barrios described McMahon as misunderstood and misperceived, stating he knew three distinct versions of him. These included the television character, the introverted and serious individual, and occasionally a third vulnerable personality that emerged rarely.