The WWE Storyline Origins Of "Durag Vince McMahon", Explained
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The character of Mr. McMahon has gone through many phases and changes over the years, but perhaps the most memorable yet short-lived era of the character came in the form of 'Durag Vince.' Swaggering around the place with a trademark durag tied firmly around his head, this period of the Mr. McMahon character was the biggest change he had undergone since turning into the mega-heel when feuding with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
But, why exactly did the corporate heel that had been arguably the company's top antagonist for nearly a decade suddenly crank the goofiness up? It all stemmed from one of the biggest losses in Mr. McMahon's on-screen run, turning a humiliating defeat into a strangely iconic character change.
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Mr. McMahon Loses The 'Battle Of The Billionaires' At WrestleMania
Mr. McMahon's sudden infatuation with headwear came out of necessity, having been on the losing side of the 'Battle of the Billionaires' at WrestleMania 23. This was the payoff to the WWE patriarch's feud with Donald Trump, culminating in a match where both men chose a representative to compete for them, with each other's hair on the line. Trump's pick, the then ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley, came out victorious over McMahon's choice, Umaga.
In front of the roughly 80,000 fans that made it into Detroit's Ford Field, Mr. McMahon was shaved bald by Trump, Lashley, and special guest referee Steve Austin. With Trump's spotlight match over and done with, McMahon sought vengeance in the fallout of WrestleMania, turning his wrath towards Bobby Lashley and the ECW brand.
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Durag Vince Wins The ECW World Championship
Looking to get back at Bobby Lashley for the damage he had done to his head of hair, McMahon continued to wage war with Umaga as his Samoan hitman. In the weeks following WrestleMania 23, McMahon made his intentions known, appearing first in a selection of fedoras to cover his newly bald head. The revenge was set for Backlash, with Lashley being forced to defend his ECW World Championship in a 3-on-1 handicap match, facing off against Mr. McMahon, Shane McMahon, and Umaga.
The Backlash match saw the first appearance of 'Durag Vince' in his fullest form. Where McMahon's in-ring gear has predominantly been his vest and pants combo, instead, McMahon appeared at Backlash with a black sweatsuit, paired on top with the black durag. With Umaga doing most of the heavy lifting, McMahon made the pin, becoming the ECW World Champion.
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For the next few weeks, McMahon would appear across WWE programming, parading around the ECW title with a new air of confidence, as well as adopting various terms and mannerisms of African-American Vernacular English (AAVE). The durag, as a method of protecting the wearer's hair (not particularly needed in McMahon's recent hair loss), is a staple of black culture, both in practical use and fashion. As 'Durag Vince', McMahon began referring to people as 'G' and 'homes', incorporating various elements of black culture into his gimmick for a truly weird result.
The feud with Lashley continued for several weeks more. A rematch of the handicap match at Judgement Day saw Lashley pin Shane, but McMahon ruled that he retained the title as it was his son that been pinned, not him. Then, at One Night Stand, Lashley defeated McMahon in a Street Fight. 'Durag Vince' had been defeated, and days later, the infamous limousine explosion angle aired, with the scrapped story ending up changing plans for the Mr. McMahon character. The wacky nature of 'Durag Vince' has cemented him in wrestling memory, such that it still makes waves in the fandom 15 years later. Of all the permutations of the on-screen Mr. McMahon character, the antics of 'Durag Vince' are sure to be remembered for many years to come.
