Vince McMahon made me a much better businessman, and I'm super

The words of Diamond Dallas Page, spoken with humility and respect, carry the weight of a man who has wrestled both in the ring and in life: “Vince McMahon made me a much better businessman, and I’m super thankful to him.” Here is not merely a wrestler paying homage to a promoter, but a disciple honoring the master who sharpened his vision and honed his craft. It is a recognition that greatness is not achieved by strength of body alone, but also by wisdom of mind, and that even warriors must learn the art of business if their victories are to endure beyond the arena.

To say that Vince McMahon made him a “better businessman” is to acknowledge the transformative power of mentorship. For McMahon, the architect of World Wrestling Entertainment, was more than an executive—he was a visionary who turned spectacle into empire, who fused sport, theater, and commerce into a single phenomenon. In being shaped by McMahon’s example, Page did not merely learn how to manage contracts or promotions; he learned how to see opportunity, how to transform passion into enterprise, and how to wield influence with strategy rather than brute force.

This humility—being thankful to another for sharpening one’s skills—finds echoes throughout history. Consider Alexander the Great, who though a conqueror of nations, never ceased to honor Aristotle, his teacher, for giving him the intellectual tools to rule. Or think of Andrew Carnegie, the steel magnate, who often spoke of being guided by mentors whose wisdom helped him build one of the great industries of his age. Just as Page bows in gratitude to McMahon, so too have many of history’s giants acknowledged that their greatness was cultivated by those who came before them.

The power of this quote lies also in its honesty: Page does not claim self-made glory. He admits that without McMahon’s influence, his vision of himself as a businessman would have been smaller, less refined. This admission is not weakness, but strength, for it is the mark of wisdom to confess that others shape us. Pride isolates, but gratitude connects. By being thankful, Page honors the chain of mentorship and influence that allows wisdom to pass from one generation to the next.

There is also something heroic in Page’s journey. He entered the wrestling world later than most, beginning his in-ring career when many thought his time had already passed. Yet he persevered, won championships, and later built his legacy through ventures like DDP Yoga—an enterprise that changed lives beyond the wrestling stage. His ability to transform himself from athlete to entrepreneur, from performer to healer, was in part born from lessons in business. Thus, McMahon’s influence did not only elevate Page—it allowed Page to elevate countless others.

The lesson here is eternal: seek out those who can sharpen you, and be thankful for the hard lessons they impart. Do not despise correction or guidance, for often it is through the fire of challenge that our truest strength is revealed. And when you have learned, do as Page has done—speak your gratitude, and in turn, become a mentor to others. For wisdom that is hoarded dies with the individual, but wisdom that is shared multiplies across generations.

Therefore, let us act with reverence for those who have shaped us. Think of the teachers, mentors, leaders, or even adversaries who forced you to grow, and give thanks for them. Carry their lessons forward, not only for your own success, but for the benefit of those who will come after you. For the wisdom of Diamond Dallas Page is clear: the greatness of a man is not only in what he achieves, but in how he honors those who helped him rise, remaining thankful for the wisdom that transforms ambition into legacy.