Stephanie McMahon is stepping into the podcasting world with her own official WWE series, set to debut this spring. The news was first reported by Wrestlevotes, sparking excitement among wrestling fans eager to hear insights from one of the most influential figures in WWE history.
As the daughter of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and a former executive herself, Stephanie has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s success. From her on-screen authority figure persona to her behind-the-scenes contributions in business development, talent relations, and brand strategy, she has been a key figure in WWE for decades.
While details about the podcast’s format and content aren’t yet known, fans can expect in-depth discussions on WWE’s history, behind-the-scenes stories, and personal experiences from Stephanie’s career.
Given her extensive knowledge and firsthand involvement in some of WWE’s biggest moments, the series would undoubtedly provide a unique perspective into the professional wrestling industry.
This move comes as WWE continues expanding its digital content offerings, following the success of previous company-backed podcasts featuring WWE legends and current superstars. With Stephanie McMahon at the helm, her upcoming podcast could become a must-listen for wrestling fans worldwide.
Linda McMahon, former WWE CEO, appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee today for her confirmation hearing as Secretary of Education. McMahon was joined by her daughter Stephanie and son-in-law Paul ‘Triple’ Levesque at the proceedings at the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Levesque was seated directly behind the nominee while Stephanie was to the right of her husband. Linda’s son Shane was also present alongside his wife Marissa.
Pres. Trump's pick to lead the Department of Education, Linda McMahon, testifies that she’s ready to “enact” Trump’s vision.
McMahon’s hearing comes at a pivotal moment for the Department of Education, as President Trump has openly declared his intention to eliminate the agency. Trump, who McMahon worked for during his first presidency, has referred to the department as a “big con job.” Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has already reduced the department’s funding by nearly $1 billion, raising questions about McMahon’s potential role in leading an agency marked for dissolution.
McMahon brings significant business acumen from her tenure transforming WWE into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise though has little background in education. Though McMahon previously served for one year on Connecticut’s State Board of Education, her departure came with controversy. After her exit, it was revealed that she had misled the board when applying, claiming she had a Bachelors degree in Education. Her degree is actually in Frnech.
This confirmation process represents a crucial juncture for federal education policy as McMahon may be tasked with overseeing major structural changes. With McMahon dedicating her loyalty to Trump/Musk’s plot to abolish the department, her time leading the DOE may be a short one if confirmed.
Stephanie McMahon made a rare on-screen appearance during the January 31 edition of WWE SmackDown, the go-home episode of the blue brand ahead of the 2025 Royal Rumble PLE.
After Chelsea Green retained her Women’s United States Championship against Michin via disqualification, WWE aired a package hyping Charlotte Flair’s return in the Women’s Royal Rumble match. After that, Stephanie McMahon was shown sitting ringside, smiling, as WWE spotlighted her upcoming ESPN+ series, Stephanie’s Places. McMahon wasn’t alone for the show as she was with Nick Khan’s son.
McMahon didn’t cut a promo or get physical, but her presence alone generated a lot of buzz from the fans. After SummerSlam 2024, McMahon’s husband Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque said that while she did not have an established role in WWE, the promotion would love to have her back. McMahon parted ways with WWE in January 2023 around the time her father Vince McMahon forced his way back.
Stephanie’s Places
Stephanie’s Places will launch on ESPN+ this March and see McMahon team with several WWE Superstars and legends. McMahon has said that she hopes the show will prove useful for fans, not only giving them insight into a wrestler but advice on how to overcome obstacles. A trailer for the show has confirmed The Bloodline and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin as guests on the show.
McMahon’s appearance on SmackDown is the latest for Stephanie and follows on from her presence at WrestleMania 40, SummerSlam 2024, and WWE Raw’s debut on Netflix. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Stephanie McMahon, including any future appearances on WWE TV.
Stephanie McMahon says she does not miss being an on-screen character.
The former WWE Executive appeared on The Pat McAfee Show to promote her new project. She talked about things such as WWE’s process of creating stars, the media coming after her family and more.
When asked about her own WWE appearances and if she preferred being a heel or a face, McMahon confirmed that being a villain has always been her calling:
“Love being a heel. I hate being a babyface. It’s the worst, the worst. Prefer to be booed, yeah. Even when I was growing up, I always loved the heels. I didn’t like cheering for [Hulk] Hogan, it just wasn’t…He was the most over ever but I just…I wasn’t on the bandwagon.”
Ever Since Then I Haven’t Had That Craving: Stephanie McMahon
Stephanie McMahon had been a featured performer for WWE during the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras. She continued making regular appearances for the company till 2023 when she resigned from all her roles in the promotion.
When asked if she misses being a performer and getting reactions from the crowd, the wrestling veteran claimed that she hasn’t felt that way since her match against Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 34:
“I think there was a period of time that I have felt that way. I think there’s various periods of time where I felt that way. But honestly, after I wrestled Ronda and Kurt at WrestleMania, it for some reason, didn’t become my driving force.
Like it was so amazing that match. What we were able to, the story we were able to tell, what we were able to accomplish. [With] me being the only non-athlete, it was a tall order for me. Ever since then, I haven’t had that craving. Honestly, it’s more ‘How are they going to react?’ It’s not like, ‘Oh, I’m craving them to do this or that.’
It’s more like, ‘Oh, are they going to react at all when I come out?’ Because I’ve really only been out WrestleMania, you know, opening the second night of WrestleMania, and then I’ve been in the crowd, so it’s not like I’ve really been out in front of [everybody].”
Stephanie’s Places, a brand new show featuring Stephanie McMahon, has officially been announced and will launch on ESPN+ this March. A trailer for the show was shared this week featuring McMahon alongside top WWE names including The Bloodline, Charlotte Flair, and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.
Speaking to Pat McAfee on his show, McMahon shared her plans for the show.
“It’s really to tell the stories that haven’t been told. To find out more about the people behind the characters. What I want to do is bring some type of advice to the audience.”
McMahon hopes that the Superstars and Legends who appear on the show will share how they overcame adversity, lessons that viewers can bring to their own lives. While no specific date has been given, fans can expect Stephanie’s Places to land on ESPN+ in March 2025.
The series follows in the footsteps of the football-themed documentary series Peyton’s Places, hosted and executive produced by Peyton Manning. This show also marks Stephanie’s first project for WWE since her departure in 2023. While McMahon has appeared a handful of times since then, including at SummerSlam 2024, she did not have an official role with WWE as of August last year.
March 2025 is shaping up to be a huge month for WWE, with the Elimination Chamber PLE in Toronto and the launch of WWE 2K25. Now, Stephanie McMahon will add another layer to WWE’s big month on the road to WrestleMania 41.
In January 2024, Vince McMahon stepped down from WWE following Janel Grant’s lawsuit against himself, the company, and John Laurinaitis. This controversy is just the latest for McMahon who’s legacy has come under immense scrutiny in recent years.
On The Pat McAfee Show, Stephanie McMahon was asked for how she handles attacks on her father and family as a whole. McMahon recalled the federal government’s case against her father in the early 1990s, in which Vince was alleged to have pushed steroids on talent.
“The media came after my family in a really big and really hard way to deal with when we were in high school… At the time, I was filled with a lot of anger and resentment, and I had a hard time navigating all of that.“
Today, Stephanie isn’t as concerned about what is said about her family in the public. Instead, the 48 year old recognises that many who talk about her family and father choose to do so without all the facts.
“It’s just noise. We all have opinions no matter what, and that’s great. You can think you know exactly what’s going on.”
Stephanie did not mention the Janel Grant lawsuit directly, but knows her place in this situation, stating that “I know where I stand, and that’s how I have to just be grounded.”
Vince McMahon has denied the allegations that he was sexually abusive to Grant, and WWE has avoided referencing him on TV. While Vince McMahon’s days with WWE are seemingly over for good, Stephanie won’t let the ‘noise’ from others drown out her support for her family.
On January 29, WWE announced that Triple H will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as the first member of the class of 2025. The news was first reported by PW Insider. On X, Stephanie McMahon shared that like her husband, the announcement by Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker came to a surprise as well. McMahon added that Triple H never would’ve put himself forward for the honor before congratulating her “king.”
You got me too @ShawnMichaels and @undertaker! It is my honor to witness your brotherhood. Thank you for making the Executive Decision because you know Paul never would! Congratulations to my King, @TripleH! You have more than earned your place in Immortality #WWEHOF class of… https://t.co/yifO2OnBCp
Triple H will become the latest WWE legend to become a two-time inductee after previously being inducted in 2019 for his role in D-Generation X. Triple H’s friend and mentor Ric Flair became WWE’s first two-time inductee in 2012 and has since been joined by Shawn Michaels, Booker T, Bret Hart, and more. The Game will be the first two-time inductee to be inducted for his role as a singles Superstar second.
It remains to be seen who joins Triple H as part of this year’s Hall of Fame class but this year’s festivities are already off to a strong star. Triple H’s Evolution ally Batista was announced in 2020, but withdrew due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Fans have been waiting for Bray Wyatt’s induction following his passing in 2023, though that has yet to happen.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Triple H and the WWE Hall of Fame as the show will be part of a huge WrestleMania week.
Tonight’s blockbuster WWE Raw Netflix premiere just got an extra dose of star power courtesy of the former ECW authority figure, Stephanie McMahon.
Over the weekend, Triple H got people buzzing about Stephanie’s WWE return when he told Jimmy Traina on the SI Media podcast, “You’ll see her around. Maybe at Netflix.”
On Monday morning, McMahon responded to a video of Triple H and Nick Khan touring the Intuit Dome and confirmed she’ll be on hand for the historic occasion.
In recent years, Stephanie McMahon has stepped back from her prominent role in WWE to prioritize her family. With one daughter now in college and others nearing that milestone, Stephanie has shifted her focus to personal commitments. Despite her reduced public presence, she continues to stay actively involved behind the scenes, remaining well-informed about WWE operations and the company’s creative direction.
Stephanie’s Passion for WWE
Triple H highlighted Stephanie’s enduring passion for WWE. While balancing family responsibilities and her philanthropic work—especially in pediatric cancer advocacy—she has maintained a close connection to the company. “She will always have a passion for this,” he noted, emphasizing how much her insights and opinions are still valued within WWE.
WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque and members of the McMahon family celebrated the arrival of 2025 with Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago. On X, Andrew Guliana, son of former New York City mayor Rudy Guliani, shared a photo with the Game.
Levesque didn’t attend the festivities alone, as Stephanie McMahon and Linda McMahon also attended. The elder McMahon has been touted by President-Elect Trump to lead the Department of Education despite no history in teaching. In 2010, McMahon stepped down from Connecticut’s Board of Education, and it was reported days later that she had falsely claimed her bachelors degree was in education (it is in French.)
The President-Elect and his wife Melania were also seen celebrating at Mar-A-Lago, though it’s unclear if Vince McMahon joined his daughter and son-in-law in Florida. The 79-year-old former Chairman of WWE is a known friend of Trump and is currently facing Janel Grant’s lawsuit alleging sexual trafficking.
While Triple H and the McMahons were spotted at Mar-A-Lago, WWE opts not to reference Trump on TV, despite his status as a WWE Hall of Famer. Given the ongoing toxic nature of politics, the Sports Entertainment juggernaut opts to avoid the topic altogether, despite Trump’s recent victory and McMahon’s apparent appointment in his cabinet.
As the global juggernaut of professional wrestling, WWE is no stranger to lawsuits ranging from the serious to the downright bizarre. Now, the promotion has been hit with a suit alleging, among other things, that WWE stole ideas without proper compensation.
Leland Owens filed a lawsuit on September 3 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, alleging that WWE failed to pay him for ideas he submitted for their programming. A portion of the filing reads:
“I gave the WWE ideas and never got paid. I also told Daniel Bryan (at the time what I was going to do with my earnings with said ideas and the World Wrestling Entertainment tried to get in front of it because Vince thinks of this as competition. We have a verbal agreement in which was supposed to talk about at the time I receive my payment for my ideas.”
Among the ideas Owens allegedly provided include a unique cage match stipulation as well as the Premium Live Event name ‘Stomping Grounds.’ WWE’s first, and to date, only Stomping Grounds PLE took place in June 2019 in Tacoma, Washington. Owens allegedly pitched ideas over Instagram to WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque.
Hush Money Payment
In addition to the alleged idea theft, Owens claims in the lawsuit that Daniel Bryan (now AEW star Bryan Danielson) and Mercedes Moné (formerly known as Sasha Banks in WWE) sent him a $100,000 check described as “hush money.” This payment was intended to keep Owens quiet after an inappropriate comment about Owens’ daughter was allegedly made by Stephanie McMahon, the filing adds. McMahon stepped down from her WWE role in early 2023 but has made sporadic appearances for the company, including at WWE SummerSlam last month.
WWE has not publicly responded to the suit at this time. This week has also seen WWE hit by a lawsuit regarding alleged improper use of Cody Rhodes’ ‘American Nightmare’ nickname. Stay tuned to SEScoops for updates on these lawsuits and other developments in WWE’s legal affairs.
Former WWE Superstar Ronda Rousey recently sat down with Chris Van Vliet of the Insight podcast to discuss her career in wrestling. Rousey captured the WWE RAW & SmackDown Women’s Championships during her run, as well as the WWE Women’s Tag Titles. She won the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble match as well and headlined WrestleMania in 2019.
“I just wanted to have a great match. Sometimes I felt like instead of like enabling us to have a great match, we were fighting against him in order to have a great match.”
When asked if there was any love lost between the two, Rousey made herself clear.
“No, Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, Bruce Prichard they can all suck a d**k.”
Rousey also said it was McMahon being an “a**hole” that resulted in a singles match with Becky Lynch at WrestleMania not happening. Despite this, Lynch has a much more positive take on McMahon’s daughter Stephanie and Triple H.
“They are fantastic, love them.”
On If She’s Done With Wrestling
After leaving WWE, Rousey has gone on to compete a handful of times but has yet to step in the ring in 2024. When asked, Rousey said she was done wrestling full-time.
“I might come back and have some fun here and there. But I can’t be leaving home and being on the road like that.”
On Calling Wrestling Fake
In 2019, on the road to WrestleMania 35, Rousey shared a scathing video online in which she called wrestling fake. The video in question raised questions with fans as to whether WWE should be working with Rousey (the RAW Women’s Champion at the time) given her apparent disrespect for the business.
Rousey and her crew busted out laughing as soon as the video stopped recording, and loved blurring the lines of real and kayfabe. On the show, Rousey explained why she said what she said as it went beyond being like any other heel in WWE at the time.
“So many people are trying to be the cool guy heel. They’re like I want to be the heel, but I want everyone to actually like me for it. I’m like, No, man. I want people to feel like I am an existential threat to what they love.”
On The WrestleMania 35 Finish
As the controversy around her comment raged, Rousey headlined WrestleMania 35 against Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in the first women’s main event of the Supershow. The match is unfortunately remembered for a botched finish that saw Lynch pin Rousey despite the latter’s shoulders being up.
“I didn’t think my shoulders were flat on the ground, so I was trying to scoot to get my shoulders flat because it’s so f*cking loud I can’t hear anything.”
Rousey added that this controversial finish was not planned, but hoped at the time that the mistake could be worked into an angle and a long-awaited singles match with Lynch. That never took place and with Lynch no longer a part of WWE, a rematch on a grand stage seems less likely than ever before.
Triple H has confirmed Stephanie McMahon’s status with WWE.
The former WWE Chief Brand Officer was present at the ringside for the company’s latest PPV. She was seen hugging CM Punk after his match in a fan made video.
The WWE Creative Head was asked about Stephanie’s status with the company during the SummerSlam 2024 post-show. He confirmed that the daughter of the former WWE chairman currently does not have an official role with the company:
“She does not have an official role right now, but I can tell you this, she loves this, absolutely loves it. Sometimes harder to love it, sometimes easy to love it. It’s easy to love it again for her. She’s enjoying watching it. She’s enjoying coming to the shows, seeing everybody in the back, she loves it.
She’s Enjoying It: Triple H
Triple H explained that Stephanie McMahon is just enjoying being a fan at the moment and she is busy taking care of their kids:
“If I’m the little kid booking or writing or however you want to say it, but she’s sitting next to me, a little kid, enjoying it and loving it. It’s been her whole life, since she was little. No official role right now. Right now, her official role is enjoying our kids getting too old too fast, but we’ll see what the future holds. I would expect to see her around, because she loves it and she’s enjoying being around it again.”
Triple H also commented on WWE’s partnership with companies like TNA and NOAH saying that they’re open for business. He mentioned how territories do not exist anymore and the partnerships helps young talents get the reps they require to get good.
Most of the McMahons are gone from WWE, but Stephanie McMahon still remains, and SummerSlam did become a family affair.
Chief Content Officer Triple H kicked off the festivities of SummerSlam by introducing Jelly Roll to Cleveland Browns Stadium and after Bron Breakker became the Intercontinental Champion after defeating Sami Zayn, Stephanie McMahon was shown sitting at ringside aiming to amp up the fans in attendance.
Stephanie hasn’t been seen on WWE programming since the Hall of Fame during WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. She happened to be one of the several names Paul Heyman thanked in his induction speech and Stephanie happened to hearken back to her days as the “owner” of ECW during the Invasion with a backwards leather snap brim.
Stephanie showing up at SummerSlam has some serendipituos timing to it as it’s only a few days removed when a photograph of her brother Shane McMahon surfaced sharing a meeting with AEW President Tony Khan.
While Vince McMahon may be completely gone from the landscape of WWE, his kin could still have a strong influence on the business, particularly if Shane does happen to come together with Tony on a deal to work with AEW in some capacity.
WWE is feeling a swing of momentum when it comes to creativity in coordination with Vince McMahon’s exit. CM Punk recently stated how Vince’s leave from the company “illuminated” his way for a return to WWE.
Before we get going, there was a very ominous glitch during the RAW after WrestleMania. The live crowd also heard a strange clip from a song that they didn’t know, as the lights were cut out for a bit. Something is certainly brewing, and you can get all the info we have so far in our report.
– Damien Priest’s Cash-In: I asked around about Priest’s cash-in at WrestleMania 40. This was not a last-minute booking, because the company has been planning this for six months.
I can confirm that Priest’s cash-in was not a last minute booking. WWE planned Damian Priest’s MITB cash-in at Mania for six months.
– WWE Draft Confirmed: During the RAW after WrestleMania, it was confirmed that the next WWE Draft is going down this month. The WWE Draft will be taking place on April 26th for SmackDown and April 29th for RAW.
TNT Championship: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Penta El Zero Miedo
AEW World Championship Eliminator Match: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Dustin Rhodes
Mariah May vs. Anna Jay
Chris Jericho, HOOK, & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Anthony Ogogo, Shane Taylor, & Lee Moriarty)
Matthew & Nicholas Jackson will reveal backstage footage from AEW All In at Wembley Stadium
Toni Storm to toast Thunder Rosa
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:
AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
Vince McMahon is out of WWE, but the same is not true with Stephanie McMahon. WWE has no plans to disassociate with Stephanie at this point, and they have made that very clear.
Fightful Select reports that Stephanie McMahon’s promo was kept secret and was listed as a Triple H promo in the rundown.
She reappeared on WWE television for the first time after leaving the company last year when Vince forced his way back in. She visited backstage at Survivor Series 2023, but hasn’t had an official role in the company. However, she was welcomed backstage at WrestleMania with open arms, and is well liked by many.
It was also reported that sources in WWE were asked if there was hesitation to utilize Stephanie McMahon after being named as “Corporate Officer Number 3” in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against WWE. Those the outlet spoke to said that they haven’t personally heard of how Stephanie addressed the allegations that she knew of Vince McMahon engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct.
One source reportedly said that the situation had to be a complicated one for Stephanie, and they personally believed her appearance was her firmly picking a side publicly. TKO sources said that they’re supporting Stephanie McMahon in this situation.
It was not confirmed that Stephanie McMahon is back in any full-time capacity. A half dozen people backstage universally claimed they’d welcome her back when they were asked about it.
WWE fans haven’t seen Stephanie McMahon on television in a while, but her hiatus from television ended during WrestleMania 40 weekend.
Stephanie McMahon opened up the show with a big pop from the Lincoln Financial Field on April 7. The Billion Dollar Princess picked up the microphone, and she didn’t miss a beat.
She welcomed WWE fans to WrestleMania Sunday before announcing that we are officially in the Paul Levesque era. That received a very warm reception from the fans as well.
Stephanie was on hand at the WWE Hall of Fame this year. She rocked an ECW beret the whole time, and Paul Heyman also gave her loads of respect for her contributions to the business in the process. Heyman also expressed a deep hope that his daughter will emulate a role model like Steph.
On January 10, 2023, Stephanie McMahon resigned as WWE co-chief executive officer and chairwoman after her father, Vince, was unanimously re-elected as the company’s executive chairman.
Stephanie McMahon had returned from a leave of absence in July to take over as co-CEO after Vince McMahon retired amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
McMahon’s departure from the company saw Nick Khan become full CEO of WWE, while Vince McMahon remained in the company for a little while longer, until he ultimately resigned after Janel Grant’s lawsuit went public.
Becky Lynch’s new memoir is proving to be a hit with WWE Superstars and legends alike with glowing reviews pouring in for the new book.
Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girlis due to release later this month, and will tell the tale of how young Rebecca Quin became the internationally recognized WWE Superstar she is today. The book is 384 pages long.
The Reviews Are In
Lynch’s memoir will hit shelves on March 26 but some WWE stars have been able to get their hands on an advanced copy of the book. In reviews from Simon & Schuster Publishing WWE Hall of Famer ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin was impressed with how well The Man writes about her life.
“Becky’s writing style is infectious and contagious. Just like her personality. From hard times and hard decisions, to changing the landscape of sports entertainment, the self-described ‘underdog’ has always been destined to do great things. I’m sure there is more to come.”
John Cena, somebody Lynch shared the ring with for a segment in 2018, believes the memoir shows the merits of a three-word mantra of his.
“Her authenticity allows us to feel her struggles and mature alongside her as the story unfolds… It might just be the new Underdog’s Guide to the Galaxy. A trailblazer, a groundbreaker and a great example of my 3 favorite words, Never Give Up.”
Lynch’s husband Seth Rollins said that the book shares plenty in common with its author.
“Effortlessly authentic, poignant without ever trying too hard, and a little rough around the edges—that’s my lovely wife, and it’s also her lovely book… Between being a full-time WWE Superstar, a full-time mother, and a GOAT life partner, my one and only somehow casually found the bandwidth to pen a perfect memoir…because of course she did.”
Mick Foley, who knows a thing or two about writing a gripping memoir, was very impressed with the tome.
“Becky Lynch: The Man is one of the finest wrestling books—or memoirs of any kind—I have had the pleasure to read… I am so glad she has chosen to share that voice and her remarkable life story with all of us.”
Stephanie McMahon is confident about how the book will fare once readers get their own copies.
“Becky Lynch: The Man is the story of a remarkable woman who had the guts to put it all on the line… Becky Lynch defies every stereotype. The crowd loves her because she is vulnerable and real, and I have no doubt you will too!”
The Man at the White House
One person who may be reading the book soon is U.S. President Joe Biden. The Man was recently a guest at the White House as part of the recent St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Lynch even left a copy of her book in the White House, as she made clear with a tweet.
It’s fitting that Lynch was at the White House this past week as she’s been feeling a lot more American as of late. After this week’s Raw, Lynch had some big news to share with the WWE Universe.
Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Tuesday, March 12. A lot of things changed in the past 24 hours, so let’s take a look.
Also, you can check out the WrestleMania 40 card (so far) below:
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley – Singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch – Singles match for the Women’s World Championship
Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn – Singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. Five teams TBD- Six-Pack Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre – Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes – Singles match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
WWE:
– In a blockbuster report, the four names of WWE executives in Janel Grant’s lawsuit was revealed. It is alleged that Nick Khan, Stephenia McMahon, Brad Blum, and Brian Nurse knew about the relationship between Grant and Vince.
– During Kevin Nash’s Kliq This podcast, he revealed that Sting wanted him to get physical in his retirement match at AEW Revolution, “For some reason, people think that Paul [Triple H] told me I couldn’t go and my thing was I’m a WWE guy. When this thing first came out, it came to fruition, I got contacted by Steve, Sting. He was telling me what he wanted to do and then in that same breath, he said, ‘What can you do physicality-wise? So if anybody wants to know why Kevin Nash was at home, that’s why. He asked me what I can do physicality-wise.”
–
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:
AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan are among those named in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against WWE, in which she claims she was abused and trafficked during her tenure.
The suit claims that Khan, WWE’s CEO, was instrumental in a scheme that saw Grant hired in an undefined role, Front Office Sports reports. Khan is listed in the paperwork as ‘Corporate Officer 1’ alongside WWE COO Brad Blum (Officer 2.) McMahon presented Blum and Khan to Grant as his ‘key fixers’ according to the suit.
A statement from WWE reads:
“WWE takes Ms. Grant’s allegations very seriously and has no tolerance for any physical abuse or unwanted physical contact. Neither Nick Khan nor Brad Blum, prior to the lawsuit being filed on January 25, 2024, were aware of any allegation by Ms. Grant that she was the victim of abuse or unwanted physical contact; nor does the complaint allege that either had knowledge of such.”
The suit claims that in March 2021, Grant told McMahon that Khan responded to her introducing herself in a corridor by telling her he knew exactly who she was. McMahon told her, according to the suit, that Khan had “inquired whether Grant could be trusted.” A WWE spokesperson denies this conversation ever happened.
It should be stressed that neither Blum or Khan have been accused of acting sexually inappropriate with Janel Grant.
Brad Blum’s Alleged Role
Grant claims that when she first met with McMahon, she had minimal work history, but that the 78-year-old ensured her a meeting with Blum, the EVP of operations at the time. The interview with Blum saw “hardly any questions” asked, but she was hired to a $75,000-a-year role in WWE’s legal department. When McMahon told Grant that Blum had warned him “that there were a lot of rumors circulating” about the relationship, she was moved to another department.
Stephanie McMahon in the Lawsuit
The suit also makes reference to Stephanie McMahon (Corporate Officer 3) who stepped down from WWE in January 2023 following her father’s return. Stephanie is mentioned once in ambiguous context in the suit. She is described as knowing “of other instances of [Vince] McMahon engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct” and motioned for Grant to sit near her during a meeting. The meeting in question was said to be among WWE’s executive committee which Grant claims was odd for her to be present for, saying it was far above her pay grade.
Stephanie McMahon was fully aware of the alleged assault of Ashley Massaro in Kuwait, according to the best friend of the deceased WWE diva.
Before taking her own life in 2019, Massaro had alleged that she was the victim of sexual assault during a WWE tour of a U.S. military base in Kuwait. Massaro claimed that a man posing as a doctor assaulted her and while WWE apologized, they persuaded her to not report it to the appropriate authorities. Following her death, WWE claimed they had never been informed of the allegations.
Addicted to Painkillers
Given Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, there has been a renewed spotlight on the ex-WWE Chairman’s handling of women during his time in command. Speaking to News Nation, Cara Pipia, a friend of Massaro, claimed that the rigors of wrestling and WWE’s willingness to share muscle relaxants led to a battle with addiction.
“When Ashley first started working for the WWE, she told me that in the locker room, they handed out Soma like it was candy. Soma, it’s a muscle relaxant. So it is what they’d give the wrestlers when they were injured because there was no not wrestling. You had a broken arm, you take a soma and you wrestle.
“And at that point [when the assault happened] she had become addicted to Somas. So she was already in this state, and whatever they administered to her rendered her helpless. Her body was useless to her but her mind was there and she saw what was happening.”
Left in Kuwait
During the interview, Pipia recalled Massaro telling her that WWE had left her in Kuwait after the alleged assault. Pipia said that while WWE did eventually get Ashley home, it was not the company’s priority.
“They got her a flight, days after everyone was already home. She was left alone. Because they had to go back to work. Vince wanted them back in the USA because they had work to do.”
Stephanie McMahon Knew of Assault
“She spoke with Vince McMahon many times. Vince had his daughter [Stephanie] take his place because she was a female, a woman, and to make Ashley comfortable. And they just played with her. They played with her because everything that Stephanie said made her feel comfortable. Safe. As soon as they walked into this board room meeting, Ashley was on her own completely. And she was threatened, and there was no… there was no compassion. There was no sympathy. There was nothing.”
Cara also mentioned that Ashley had some support within WWE but those who were sympathetic to her had no notable power to stop WWE from pressuring her to keep quiet.
“Right before she walked into that boardroom, she talked to the locker room doctor who was aware of everything and she was actually very sympathetic to her but he had no pull. He gave her the advice that he could, but that was it.”
“It’s about time somebody had a conscience. Because there was never a single moment of time that I didn’t believe a word that Ash had told me.”
A Message to Vince McMahon
When asked what she’d say to Vince McMahon, Pipia made her point perfectly clear.
“‘Shame on you. How do you look at yourself?’ Obviously, he’s got problems. Obviously, he’s a sexual deviant. He needs help, he’s not well. The problem is that people with that kind of sickness and that mindset are power, why do they thrive for so long?
“Why doesn’t anybody stand up? Why are there so many people in that company aware of what’s going on to all these women? Women who keep committing suicide year after year after year. And nobody stands up and says anything. Nobody tries to protect these young women? Why? Because it’s not just Vince, it’s the whole frickin’ company!”
In her final question, Pipia was asked if she believes the alleged assault on Massaro contributed to Ashley’s suicide and said “99%. Absolutely.”
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
Seth Rollins has had an interesting take to the McMahon family and recent changes in WWE, comparing the situation to the hit series ‘Succession.’
The comedy-drama series, now in its fourth season, tells the story of the Logan family and the power struggles when their father steps down from controlling an influential media company.
Succession
Like the Logans, the McMahons are no stranger to personal drama, as seen with the return of Vince McMahon earlier this year.
When asked about Vince’s return to power by Pro Wrestling Illustrated, Rollins found the comparison to Succession to be apt.
“Have you ever seen the show ‘Succession’? If you need an explanation, there you go. You have three seasons of it, I think on HBO, so that’s again, all above my head. I’m a pro wrestler, I show up, I put in the work in the ring, try to do my best to entertain the people who buy the tickets and watch us on TV, and that’s all I can focus on. If I start worrying about the other stuff, I’m gonna lose my cool so, I gotta keep my cool, my friend.”
Seth Rollins.
Vince Vs. McMahon
WrestleMania 16 in 2000 was sold on the promise of ‘a McMahon in every corner’ for the main event, but Vince’s issues with his own kin aren’t just for show.
Following Stephanie’s resignation last month, it was reported that she and her father struggled to work together, with Nick Khan acting as a peacemaker between them.
Daddy’s Little Girl isn’t the only McMahon to draw Vince’s ire, as Shane McMahon was fired last year due to his actions backstage at the Royal Rumble.
Shane’s behavior was so egregious that Vince claimed at the time that his son would never receive another pop from the crowd at a WWE event.
With his biological children out of WWE, Vince’s sole relation still working for the promotion is his son-in-law Triple H, and reports of conflict between the two have cropped up over the years.
Kevin Owens has offered his reaction to Stephanie McMahon departing WWE, and the possibility of a sale.
Owens recently took part in an interview with Express News to promote the upcoming Royal Rumble in San Antonio, Texas. During the interview, Owens was asked about the recent departure of former WWE co-CEO Stephanie McMahon.
“KO” said that McMahon has been nothing but amazing to him since he’s been in WWE, and he, along with others, are happy that she gets to take this time for herself.
“(Stephanie) has been nothing but amazing to me my entire time here,” Kevin Owens said. “And I was so happy to see her more at the shows and get to be around her and get to work for her. Everybody’s also kind of happy that she gets to take this time for herself.”
There have also been a lot of rumors about a potential WWE sale. While the rumors are running rampant, Owens claims himself, along with the rest of the talent, are just focused on what they do inside the ring.
“The internet will say what the internet will say, and then the reality will be what really matters. We just care about what we do in the ring. That’s what we try to do our best at.”
Two-time WWE Grand Slam Champion The Miz has lauded praise on Stephanie McMahon following the latter’s departure from the promotion.
Stephanie parted ways with WWE earlier this month, after being appointed co-CEO in July of last year.
McMahon’s resignation was confirmed the same day that her father Vince McMahon was appointed WWE’s new Executive Chairman.
The Miz
Given her decades with WWE, the wrestling world has been shocked by McMahon’s resignation this month.
When TMZ caught up with The Miz, the A-Lister spoke about McMahon’s work in WWE and as a person.
“For me, she’s always been one of the people you can talk to. She’s done a lot for the company, and she’s a really good person as well.”
The Miz
The A-Lister also spoke about the role of WWE Superstars, which despite the chaos at the very top of the company, remains unchanged.
“Whoever is at the head at the time, we’re just trying to do our job as WWE Superstars to make people happy and give them something to remember.”
The Miz
Releases Coming?
Vince McMahon’s return to WWE has led some talent fearful that mass cuts will resume, especially with the promotion looking for a buyer.
At the time of the releases from 2020 to 2022, many speculated that WWE were trying to look even more profitable to buyers at a time they were already boasting record profits.
Karrion Kross has refuted the idea that talent are worrying about their futures, saying those he has spoken to are not concerned.
WWE has lost another employee this month as the Vice President of Communication departs the company
The company is off to a rough start to the year. It began with the unexpected return of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon after retiring last year. His comeback led to uncertainty for the company’s future, as WWE might be sold. As a result of McMahon’s return led to the departure of WWE Board of Director members JoEllen Lyons Dillon, Jeffrey R. Speed, Alan M. Wexler, Man Jit Singh, and Ignace Lahoud.
One of the significant departures from the company was former Co-CEO and daughter to the WWE Chairman, Stephanie McMahon. She resigned from her role with the company after taking over with current CEO Nick Khan after Vince’s retirement. While WWE fans may have hoped that would be the end of employees leaving the company, it’s now reported not to be the case.
Fightful Select reports that WWE’s VP of Communications, Adam Hopkins, has left the company. Hopkins has worked for WWE for over 25 years, from Fan Service Coordinator to his last role as VP of Communication. It’s unclear if his departure is a resignation or if he was fired.
On Jan. 13, it was reported that Triple H met with talent before Smackdown to reassure them that he is still the Chief Content Officer and that McMahon’s return would not affect WWE creative or talent relations. He also acknowledged that McMahon’s stance could change.
It’s unclear what the future holds for WWE. However, the departure of employees is not a good sign to help concerned fans.
Stephanie McMahon’s shocking departure from WWE this month is a sign of bad things for the promotion, according to Ariel Helwani.
McMahon was appointed Interim CEO in June 2022 after her father stepped down due to an investigation into misconduct which saw millions paid out in NDAs.
After Vince McMahon’s retirement the following month, Stephanie was appointed co-CEO (with Nick Khan) and Chairwoman of the board.
Last week, Stephanie announced her resignation from WWE, with her father being appointed Executive Chairman and Khan now the sole CEO.
Bad Sign
An award-winning journalist, Ariel Helwani is following WWE’s ongoing changes closely and has worked with WWE for interviews in the past.
During a recent appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast, Helwani discussed Stephanie McMahon’s resignation and called it a “bad sign.”
“She’s so likable and respected. She is the quintessential businesswoman. … If she decides to do something… imagine a media company run by [Stephanie]. I feel like she’d be successful in whatever she does.”
Ariel Helwani.
McMahon is expected to take it easy (at least for a couple of weeks) after undergoing foot surgery last week following her resignation.
Vince’s Retirement
For years, it had been assumed that Vince McMahon would never retire, but that happened (albeit temporarily) last year.
On the podcast, Helwani recalled the difference in WWE before and after the 77-year-old stepped down.
It was like these clouds had opened up. Everyone’s spirits are high.”
Ariel Helwani.
Helwani added that it was a “remarkable thing” that nobody working under Stephanie during her tenure in charge had anything bad to say about her.
