Hot off the Attitude Era, Vince McMahon was interested in buying Playboy.
On his 83 Weeks podcast, Eric Bischoff revealed that back in 2001, WWE's CEO was interested in buying the longstanding magazine company from Hugh Hefner. The former WCW President explained how he arranged for a meeting between Linda McMahon and Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis as both he and Vince had hopes of acquiring the brand.
?I hooked up Joe Francis and WWE to do a show/pay-per-view. I set up a meeting with Joe Francis and Linda McMahon because Vince [McMahon] was interested in buying Playboy and Joe Francis was also interested in buying Playboy for different reasons, so they both had different goals. They were both interested in the same property so I got those two together and Linda had a meeting with Joe in Los Angeles because of me.?
While Vince was obviously not successful, the two companies would go on to have a seemingly harmonious relationship as several WWE talents did go on to pose for the magazine; including the likes of Sable, Torrie Wilson, Christy Hemme, Maria Kanellis, and Candice Michelle.
Last month, however, a report did emerge where, according to Chyna's former manager Anthony Anzaldo, the company wanted to put the WWE Championship on her, but Playboy got in the way.
H/T Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.