Drew McIntyre had a nasty reply ready for CM Punk during their infamous promo battle referencing Vince McMahon last year.
The name of the former Chairman has essentially been banned from WWE programming after ex-employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against McMahon accusing him of sexual trafficking among other things.
This didn’t stop CM Punk from referencing his former boss during a promo battle with McIntyre on the March 25, 2024 episode of Raw. Punk startled his rival by asking him about being ‘The Chosen One,’ a nickname given to Drew by Vince during his first WWE run.
On the March 25, 2024, edition of RAW, CM Punk asked Drew McIntyre who gave him the nickname "The Chosen One."
During a recent interview with Inside The Ropes, Drew McIntyre revealed that he wanted to respond to CM Punk by saying the man [Vince McMahon] "that fired you on your… pic.twitter.com/1CdvbEWZpV
The Scottish Warrior opened up about what was going through his mind at the time during a new interview with Inside the Ropes. He revealed that he had an equally bold response that he refrained from saying out loud:
“What’s going through my mind is: ‘The same person that fired you on your wedding day.’ But I’m a professional.”
CM Punk infamously got the papers of his WWE firing after his 2014 walkout on the day of his wedding with AJ Lee. In an interview with Steve Austin, Vince McMahon later claimed that the whole thing was an accident and apologized to Punk.
Drew McIntyre claimed that the whole promo battle was off the cuff with two guys who genuinely disliked each other going at it. Still, he refrained from the retort for the benefit of the company:
“It was a choice for me to make. Do I go back and then we see where we end up? Or do I bite my tongue and say OK, this round belongs to you. I’ll be a professional. I’ll do it for the company as well as the de facto babyface, even though I’m really the real babyface of the situation. So I let him have it. For the company, not for him.”
Drew McIntyre will be competing in the Elimination Chamber match this Saturday. This comes only days after the former champion had to get his knee drained. You can check out what McIntyre said about his knee before the PPV here.
Matt Morgan has revealed that his horrible stuttering gimmick was originally meant for The Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar.
The wrestler-turned-politician recently had an interview with Jonathan Coachman on his YouTube channel. They talked about things such as Morgan’s journey to sobriety, his time in WWE and TNA, and more.
During the interview, the 48-year-old recalled the stuttering gimmick given to him back in 2005. He told the story of Vince McMahon pitching the gimmick and his initial reaction to it:
“He goes, ‘Could you imagine? You, six feet, whatever you are, six ten, six eleven, you’ve all these physical, body perfections, and you have that Achilles’ heel to you that nobody sees coming. And you start to stutter.’ And I’m like, ‘With respect sir, I graduated top of my class in college with a public speaking degree. Are you sure?'”
During the interview, Matt Morgan also discussed how Vince had been obsessed with the gimmick for some time. According to him, the boss originally wanted to give the character to Brock Lesnar:
“Vince trying to sell the stuttering character, he actually wanted to put this on Brock Lesnar as God as my witness. He wanted to find somebody that’s jacked and has all these great physical attributes. That looks like a warrior as he put it. But that when they opened their mouth there was this verbal imperfection. Coach we could have had ‘The next Big Stutterer.'”
Morgan debuted the stuttering gimmick in April 2005, defeating then-unknown Matt Cardona in his debut. He then aligned himself with Carlito as his backup in May. The gimmick did not last long and Morgan was released from his contract in July that year after Carlito was drafted to Raw.
Fox has officially denied reports that it is collaborating with Vince McMahon on a new wrestling promotion. The clarification comes amid speculation about McMahon’s next move following his resignation from WWE in January 2024.
According to The Athletic’sAndrew Marchand, a Fox spokesperson confirmed that the network has no involvement with McMahon in any wrestling-related capacity.
McMahon’s resignation came after Janel Grant filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual misconduct. The lawsuit added to previous controversies, including hush-money payments that had already drawn regulatory scrutiny. While McMahon has remained silent on his future plans, the Fox statement makes it clear that the network is not involved in any such efforts.
Vince McMahon may have plans to launch a new entertainment production company, once his legal matters with Janel Grant are behind him. Now, new revelations have suggested that McMahon could be looking at stepping back in the ring with a new wrestling promotion. UPDATE –
On the 83 Weeks podcast with Eric Bischoff, Conrad Thompson shared that he’d heard rumors of McMahon rehiring former WWE execs as well as speaking with experienced wrestling camera operators. Bischoff shared that he’s heard similar rumblings.
Thompson explained that he’s heard that FOX may be “holding a spot” for McMahon and his hypotehtical wrestling promotion. He pointed out, however, that FOX and wrestling have a complicated relationship, with FOX execs reportedly unhappy with how SmackDown fared on the network from 2019 to 2024. Thompson cast doubt over the idea of McMahon re-enterinng the wrestling world, he wasn’t prepared to ignore “these whispers in the background.”
When pondering if McMahon would like to return to the world of wrestling promotion, Bischoff believes McMahon’s answer would be an emphatic “F*** yeah!” While Bischoff believes that McMahon’s ideology to “conquer” whatever he wishes has never waned, he shared that this doesn’t necessarily mean the 79-year-old billionaire will try and launch a new promotion.
All plans for McMahon in the entertainment world could hinge on the Janel Grant lawsuit, which continues to loom over McMahon, WWE, and former Head of Talent John Laurinaitis. With McMahon’s past in business, one can’t count out a promotion by the former WWE chief, no matter how unlikely it may seem.
Lawyers representing Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis have formally opposed Janel Grant’s amended lawsuit, which accuses McMahon of sexual abuse and trafficking. On Friday, February 21, legal teams for the defendants filed motions in the U.S. District Court in Connecticut challenging the amended complaint by Grant’s attorneys filed last month.
McMahon’s counsel, Jessica Rosenberg, contended that the revised lawsuit was filed in “bad faith.” She added that Grant should adhere to the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) she signed prior to initiating the original lawsuit.WWE’s legal representatives argued that the amended complaint did not counter their argument that this matter should be resolved through private arbitration. WWE, McMahon, and Laurianaitis have all argued for arbitration.
Grant’s amended filing introduced new evidence and allegations, asserting that certain WWE personnel were aware of McMahon’s alleged misconduct and participated in its cover-up. While her original lawsuit against WWE, Laurinaitis, and McMahon, was 68 pages in length, the amended version is now at 101 pages.
Janel Grant’s battle with the three parties has gained widespread attention, especially after Brock Lesnar was named in the updated complaint. The amended filing alleges alleges that McMahon attempted to involve Lesnar in the alleged misconduct against Grant.
McMahon stepped down from WWE in January 2024 though has denied all claims of wrongdoing, instead insisting that he and Grant had a consensual relationship. Stay tuned for updates on this case and the wider effects it could have on WWE and the wrestling world.
Veteran WWE announcer Michael Cole recently shared his thoughts on WWE’s leadership transition during an appearance on Impaulsive, revealing to Logan Paul that under Vince McMahon, he never had the freedom to fully express himself.
Cole explained that during McMahon’s tenure, every aspect of WWE’s presentation adhered strictly to his vision.
“I was never really able to break out,” he admitted. “Vince was very hands-on, and everything had to fit his vision. It was his sandbox.”
Now, with Triple H and WWE President Nick Khan at the helm, Cole says the culture has shifted dramatically.
“We’re allowed to have bigger personalities now,” he noted. “You’re seeing the real Michael Cole—the guy who crowd surfs, who gets on tables, who jokes around. That would’ve never happened under Vince.”
Feeling Valued Like Never Before
Beyond creative freedom, Cole emphasized that WWE’s new leadership has made him feel truly appreciated.
“For the first time in my career, I really felt like I was important to this place,” he shared.
“The paycheck was part of it, but the way the new regime treats us… it’s night and day.”
This shift in philosophy extends across WWE, with talent now enjoying greater creative control.
“Before, Vince controlled everything,” Cole said. “Now, wrestlers are delivering promos in their own voices, and it’s making the product better.”
Cole also revealed that the company’s evolution played a key role in his decision to continue his career.
“I was considering stepping away, but my wife told me, ‘This is your legacy.’ And she was right.”
With nearly three decades in WWE, Cole is embracing this new chapter, proving that even a longtime voice of the company can still evolve alongside it.
Watch Michael Cole’s full interview on Impaulsive with Logan Paul:
Veteran WWE announcer Michael Cole revealed on Impaulsive that having PRIME’s logo on the WWE ring mat would have been unimaginable under Vince McMahon’s leadership.
“Vince thought the mat was sacred,” Cole explained. “But it’s 2025 now, and the world has changed.”
Logan Paul, whose PRIME brand is now a WWE sponsor, responded enthusiastically. “For me, it’s fantastic. It’s the future,” he said.
Cole noted that WWE’s business strategy, particularly under Triple H and Nick Khan, has shifted significantly from McMahon’s traditional approach.
“We always used to say, ‘Oh, the mat has to be clean,’ but now? You’ve got multiple logos on there.”
The discussion highlighted WWE’s evolving approach to revenue generation and brand partnerships. Paul, who has leveraged his influencer status to merge social media and professional wrestling, pointed out how this shift benefits both sides.
“It’s gotta be the right brands,” Paul added. “But let’s be real, you’re gonna get your head smashed in over a Wingstop logo? That’s amazing.”
Cole agreed that WWE’s mindset has evolved dramatically, creating new opportunities for crossover branding.
“This would’ve been unheard of five, ten years ago,” he said. “But it makes sense—this is a multi-billion-dollar entertainment business now.”
With PRIME’s growing presence in WWE, it’s clear the company’s leadership is embracing modern marketing strategies in ways McMahon never did.
Watch Michael Cole’s full interview on Impaulsive with Logan Paul:
The Undertaker’s WrestleMania legacy was a staple of WWE for decades, but nearly took a a disastrous turn early on thanks to Vince McMahon.
On his Six Feet Under podcast, Mark Calaway recalled McMahon being furious with him over his WrestleMania 8 match with Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts over a change to the finish.
“‘What the hell was that?! Nobody can see it!’, he recalled Vince yelling.
He eviscerated me. Oh my gosh, he lit me up.”
The planned finish was for The Undertaker to hit a Tombstone on Roberts in the ring, eaning the Deadman his second WrestleMania win. However, in the heat of the moment, he decided to deliver it on the floor instead.
While Calaway, still a relative newcomer to WWE, took the verbal onslaught, the veteran Roberts knew it was wise to avoid the irate McMahon.
“I didn’t shower. I just grabbed my stuff and got the hell out.”
Undertaker admitted that the moment taught him a hard lesson about following direct instructions in WWE. From that night on, he made sure to double-check finishes with McMahon before heading to the ring.
The Phenom’s WrestleMania streak would continue on until 2014, when Brock Lesnar conquered the Undertaker in New Orleans. Though McMahon was an obvious key part in the Deadman’s future success at the event, this story is a reminder of how one small misstep could have changed everything.
Vince McMahon is a known workaholic and there are a lot of stories about how the retired wrestling promoter almost never went to sleep. Former WWE employee Teddy Long got to experience the boss’ relentless routine firsthand on multiple occasions while working in the company.
The former WWE Chairman was recently spotted at the Superbowl event alongside his son Shane McMahon and The Undertaker. A lot of people noted that McMahon looked to be in good shape physically despite his age.
Teddy Long talked about this Vince sighting in a new WrestleBinge video. Recalling his time as the SmackDown General Manager, the former WWE official discussed how Mr. McMahon went to gym at crazy times:
“Well, one thing about Vince, and I know this for a fact, he stays in the gym. Okay? I’ll tell you a story about Vince maybe you guys don’t even know. Sometimes at night after he would leave the TV, which means around midnight, 1 o’clock, he would fly his plane into the next town. And when they got into that town, it may have been 2 o’clock or 2:30 in the morning.
Vince got right out of that plane, got with his trainer [who] was already in the town and made arrangements to get the gym open. So when Vince landed, he got off that plane at 2:30 in the morning, got with his trainer, picked him up and they went straight to the gym. That’s where he went. The next morning, he would get up, he would go back to the hotel, he didn’t sleep. Next morning, he would get up, be the first one at TV.”
When asked if he ever saw Vince McMahon taking a nap backstage, Teddy Long replied negatively. He then discussed how the former WWE executive not only never seemed to rest himself but he hated seeing others sleep as well:
“I remember one time at WrestleMania, I know I left him at the Hall of Fame. He was the last one there. This was 2 o’clock in the morning, we got out of there like real late one time.
The next morning about 9 o’clock we had to be back and the first person I see is Vince. So I waited to see if he was in a good mood and everything. So he spoke to me that let me know he’s in a good mood and I asked him, I said, “Have you been to sleep?” And he said to me that sleep was his enemy. Michael Cole told me one time.
I was on Vince’s plane and Michael Cole sat right next to me and he told me ‘Do not go to sleep on this plane unless Vince goes to sleep.’ One time they went overseas and they went with Big Show. Big Show went to sleep after they took this water bed off the plane. They put it wherever they landed, they put it somewhere. Big Show got on the water bed and went to sleep. Well, Vince came by, seen him, stuck a hole in it, let all the water out.”
Samantha Irvin would have not remained as a ring announcer in WWE if Vince McMahon was still running things, according to the announcer/musician. Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Irvin speculated as to how her WWE career could have been different had McMahon not been absent for much of her tenure.
“Vince would have taken her off of ring announcing. He would have been like, ‘Put her somewhere else and have her do something else.’ In my head, I always thought that’s what would happen.”
Irvin’s belief is that McMahon would have forseen a role for her bigger than ring announcing. Instead, WWE’s current administration only saw her as an announcer, which played a large role in her decision to leave in October 2024. Irvin herself has said that she hoped that announcing would lead into a role as a manager or General Manager, but that didn’t pan out.
While her time with WWE is over, Irvin shared on the show that “I’m not done with wrestling at all” but is focusing on projects outside the squared circle for the time being. This week, Irvin will release ‘Make Me,’ her first piece of music to be released since 2020.
Though many have suspected that Irvin will find her way to AEW alongside her fiancee Ricochet, that has yet to happen. Nevertheless, Irvin remains optimistic for a future in wrestling beyond ring announcing, and believes that would’ve happpened already under WWE’s previous adminstration.
The Undertaker has defended his recent meeting with Vince McMahon.
The former WWE owner recently made a rare public appearance, being spotted at the Super Bowl event. He wasn’t the only wrestling name at the show. Both The Dead Man and Shane McMahon were seen hanging out with the boss during the night. A lot of people were critical of this outing in light of Vince’s ongoing legal battle with ex-employee Janel Grant.
Shane McMahon along with his wife and kids hanging out with Undertaker and Vince McMahon at the Super Bowl. Really says a lot about them. pic.twitter.com/AXgrE5F7sS
During a recent appearance on Busted Open Radio, the Hall of Famer tried to defend his meeting with the former WWE chairman. The Undertaker admitted that he was a guest of Vince McMahon at the event. Speaking about the horrific accusations against his former boss, the retired wrestling star claimed that he does not know anything about it:
“Look, I’m gonna get hate for that. Listen, I don’t know. I don’t know. People think, ‘Oh, you guys are so close you know [everything.]’ I don’t know what has been done, what hasn’t been done. We don’t talk about those things, right? But he is a friend of mine.”
The Undertaker discussed how Vince gave him an opportunity to make something of his life and the two became very good friends over the years. He also advised people critical of his continued friendship with McMahon to ‘get off their high horse’:
“So, I don’t know everything that’s happened, what’s going on, and I’m not the judge on this case. I’m not the judge. There’s only one judge. That’s the man upstairs. He’s gonna give us all whatever we deserve at the end, and that’s what it [is]. I think people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
And I think if you really look at your life and people who get off their high horse and their righteousness on social media and everything else…I don’t have to agree with everything that people do. It doesn’t change the fact that I love somebody, and I’m friends with somebody. It doesn’t mean I’m gonna do the same things. But that’s the way it is.”
The former World Champion noted that the last time he met Vince was in Saudi Arabia right after the latter’s back surgery. Per Taker, the longtime wrestling executive looked ‘much better’ this time around and was more like the ‘old Vince’ he has known through the years. Addressing the people critical of him over the meeting, the Attitude Era star said that he doesn’t ‘give a shit’ about their opinion and said ‘I don’t conform, if you’re my friend, you’re my friend.’
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have concluded their criminal investigation into former WWE CEO Vince McMahon, his attorney has claimed. Speaking to The New York Post, Robert W. Allen shared that a ruling from a three-panel judge determined whether McMahon broke the law by hiding allegations of sexual misconduct from two former two female employees.
The judge’s verdict does not mention McMahon by name but refers to a CEO who allegedly mislead company auditors to conceal allegations of sexual misconduct. Sources close to the situation told The Post that this was about McMahon, who paid $10.5 million to keep the two former employees quiet.
Allen shared on Tuesday, February 12, that the prosecutors have ended their probe without seeking indictments against McMahon by a grand jury.
“This is simply the result of an appeal of a procedural matter that was argued five months ago. We have been in consistent communication with the government since that time and understand, with no ambiguity, that the investigation has definitively concluded and will not result in charges.”
The end of this probe into McMahon’s activities comes after the 79-year-old billionaire paid $1.7 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission in January 2025 as part of a settlement over financial mistatements. At the time, McMahon dismissed the matter as “minor accounting errors” and shared that “I’m thrilled that I can now put all this behind me.”
McMahon has been accused of sexual abuse and trafficking by Janel Grant as well as sexual misconduct by other women who have previously worked for WWE. McMahon stepped down from WWE in January 2024 over Grant’s lawsuit but has denied the notion that their relationship was not consensual.
Several high-profile figures from the world of professional wrestling were present at Super Bowl LIX, held at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
WWE Hall of Famer and U.S. President Donald Trump attended the game, making history as the first sitting president to do so. Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, and The Undertaker were also spotted at the event, adding to the strong wrestling presence at the Super Bowl.
WWE legends The Bella Twins watched the big game live, and mingled with All Elite Wrestling star Britt Baker.
AEW CEO Tony Khan was in attendance as well, arriving on the Kismet, a 400-foot, $360 million yacht owned by his father, Shad Khan. AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone and former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland were on hand, with Swerve joking that they were just there to see Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance.
Outside the stadium, WWE’s influence extended to the commercial breaks. Appliance maker Bosch aired its first-ever Super Bowl ad, featuring an actor portraying Macho Man Randy Savage alongside Antonio Banderas.
Beyond the wrestling world, Super Bowl LIX attracted a host of other celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Bradley Cooper, Paul Rudd, and Lionel Messi. The game saw the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles.
CM Punk says the big difference between Vince McMahon and Triple H running WWE creative is that the latter listens to other people.
The Straight Edge Star was the latest guest on Pat McAfee Show ahead of tonight’s Royal Rumble PPV. He talked about things such as performing in front of big crowds, his 2024 injury, and more.
When asked about Triple H taking over the creative and how The Game’s process differs from his father-in-law, Punk explained that the Attitude Era star is more receptive to other people’s ideas:
“I think he’s receptive to other people’s ideas, whereas maybe Vince wasn’t. He was like, ‘I’m the boss. We’re doing this, and this is how we’re doing it.’ And that’s great. If you run a company, you need somebody who is the yes and no man and [has] the final say.”
CM Punk claimed that Triple H has surrounded himself with people who have Bonafide resumes and it allows him to filter the best ideas:
“But I think Triple H thinks he’s surrounded, and oftentimes is, by a lot of really, really genius wrestling minds. If he has an idea or see something one way, he’ll look at Michael Hayes and be like, ‘What do you think?’ He’ll turn and look at Paul Heyman.
These are people who have Bonafide resumes. They have literally done everything you possibly could do in the sport. I think their voices should be heard. Not all the time everybody’s going to have this dynamite idea. But I think the best idea always wins in today’s WWE.”
Apart from this Punk also talked about John Cena announcing his retirement tour for 2025. You can check out his comments on the matter here.
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.
According to her counsel and a motion filed on Monday in federal district court in Connecticut, one of the non-disclosure agreements Vince McMahon was fined for last week was signed by Janel Grant. This information was part of a motion for status conference that was filed on Monday by Grant’s attorneys.
According to a press release last week from the Securities Exchange Commission, McMahon was fined $400,000 and paid over a million in restitution to World Wrestling Entertainment for not properly disclosing two NDAs he had signed. One was an NDA in 2022, which counsel for Grant said was the NDA she signed at the time. The other NDA McMahon was fined for was with a former WWE contractor/wrestler.
Grant second status conference filing asked the court for a schedule due to the following developments:
The new judge in the case
No order entered on the docket officially ending the 6-month stay that was requested by federal prosecutors last year
Motions by defendants requesting arbitration per the NDA agreement.
The SEC ruling on McMahon’s NDA with Grant.
Attorneys for Grant planned to amend her complaint by Jan. 15, according to the first motion filed two weeks ago, but asked the court for a schedule in order to consider the SEC fines and charges against McMahon and other developments.
“It is clear that the Court’s guidance is needed to reach consensus on a schedule to move this litigation forward,” the motion said. “Plaintiff respectfully requests the Court schedule a status conference at its earliest convenience, and enter an order clarifying that no further submissions are due until the Court instructs otherwise.”
In a statement to SEScoops, Grant attorney Ann Callis said the SEC charges against McMahon prove the NDA violated the law.
“In light of the SEC’s charges proving that the NDA Vince McMahon coerced Ms. Grant into signing violates the law, Ms. Grant has renewed her request for an updated scheduling conference to ensure these new developments are reflected in her complaint and establish a clear schedule to move her case forward,” Callis said. “Ms. Grant deserves the opportunity to have her day in court and hold her abusers accountable.”
The public information officer for the Southern District of New York Attorneys office wouldn’t give comment on Monday on the status of the federal criminal investigation into McMahon. A representative for Grant on Monday said her counsel was told in December by federal investigators that the criminal probe into McMahon is still ongoing.
X, formerly Twitter, has provided some key context to a recent statement by Vince McMahon, in which the former WWE CEO addressed his settlement of over $1.7 million. This week, the SEC determined that McMahon bypassed WWE’s internal accounting controls and caused material misstatements when failing to disclose payments tied to sexual assault allegations.
On X, McMahon issued a rare public statement, opening with the assertion, “The case is closed.” However, many users on the platform were quick to point out that while McMahon’s dealings with the SEC have concluded, his legal troubles are far from over. X’s Community Notes service has since added clarification to McMahon’s statement.
“Vince McMahon settled with the SEC without admiting/denying its findings, this was exclusively about the hush money charges. Janel Grant’s civil suit will go forward and use these findings as evidence according to her attorney.“
Grant alleges that she was sexually abused and trafficked during her time with the promotion. She further claims that she was “offered as a service” to Brock Lesnar to incentivize him to re-sign with WWE—a claim that has led to Lesnar being removed from all WWE plans. McMahon has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that their relationship was consensual. Despite these denials, he stepped down from WWE in January 2024.
In addition, McMahon is named in a separate lawsuit filed by five former WWF ‘ring boys,’ who allege that he and others were aware of sexual abuse by Mel Phillips but failed to take adequate steps to prevent it. These cases remain ongoing. While the SEC’s investigation into McMahon has concluded, his legal challenges are far from over, contrary to the impression some may have taken from his recent statement.
Ann Callis, the legal representative of Janel Grant, has weighed in on Vince McMahon’s recent $1.7 million fine, stemming from the ex-WWE CEO’s financial misstatements. In a statement to NBC, Callis said:
“During his time leading WWE, Vince McMahon acted as if rules did not apply to him, and now we have confirmation that he repeatedly broke the law to cover up his horrifying behavior, including human trafficking. The SEC’s charges prove that the NDA Vince McMahon coerced Ms. Grant into signing violates the law, and therefore her case must be heard in court. While prosecutors for the Southern District of New York continue their criminal investigation, we look forward to bringing forward new evidence in our civil case about the sexual exploitation Ms. Grant endured at WWE by Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis.”
McMahon has reached a settlement with the SEC that’ll see him pay a $400,000 civil penalty and a $1.33 million reimbursement to WWE. In their report, the SEC states that McMahon bypassed WWE’s internal accounting controls and caused material misstatements in the company’s financial reports for 2018 and 2021. McMahon has agreed to the settlement, though did not admit to or deny the SEC’s findings.
This payment comes amid Janel Grant’s lawsuit against McMahon, in which she alleges she was sexually abused and trafficked during her time with the promotion, McMahon stepped down from WWE in January 2024, though claims their relationship was entirely consensual. This is a developing story and we aim to provide updates as they become available.
Turki Alalshikh, the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, has shared his love for Vince McMahon. On X, Alalshikh shared a photo of the former WWE Chairman/CEO with a series of heart emojis.
Alalshikh’s post spawned a variety of comments both supporting and opposing McMahon. Some even called for Alalshikh to bring McMahon in for a reported new boxing league in the country. The league will be overseen by TKO, the parent company of WWE and UFC.
Alalshikh’s support for McMahon demonstrates that there are still some on the 79-year-old’s side, despite the controversies that have been spotlighted in recent years. McMahon began working closely with the General Entertainment Authority in 2018 when WWE began hosting high-profile Premium Live Events in Saudi Arabia. The lucrative decade-long deal has seen WWE host 12 events in the Middle Eastern nation so far.
McMahon has plans to launch his own entertainment production company once his legal issues have been settled, though it’s not believed that a new wrestling promotion is in the billionaire’s future. With Alalshikh’s backing though, fans can’t count out McMahon working with the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority once again, despite the controversies that continue to follow the former WWE leader.
Ex-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon will pay over $1.7 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to settle charges related to undisclosed payment agreements tied to sexual assault allegations.
In their report, the SEC Notes that McMahon bypassed WWE’s internal accounting controls and caused material misstatements in the company’s financial reports for 2018 and 2021. Though McMahon did not admit to or deny the SEC’s findings, he has agreed to a $400,000 civil penalty and a $1.33 million reimbursement to WWE.
Thomas P. Smith Jr., Associate Regional Director in the SEC’s New York Regional Office had the following to say:
“Company executives cannot enter into material agreements on behalf of the company they serve and withhold that information from the company’s control functions and auditor.”
McMahon failed to disclose a $3 million payment to a fortmer WWE employee, the SEC alleges, as well as a $7.5 million payment to a female independent contractor in exchange for their agreement not to file claims against him. These payments came to light in 2022 when The Wall Street Journal reported that McMahon had paid a total of $12 million over 16 years to suppress allegations of sexual misconduct.
This payment comes amid Janel Grant’s lawsuit against McMahon, in which she alleges she was sexually abused and trafficked during her time with the promotion. Though McMahon has denied all wrongdoing and claimed their relationship was consensual, he stepped down from WWE in January 2024.
McMahon is also named in a lawsuit by five former WWF ‘ring boys’ who claim that he and others knew of alleged sexual abuse by Mel Phillips, but did not make a sufficient attempt to stop it. These cases are ongoing.
Attorneys for Janel Grant are amending her lawsuit against World Wrestling Entertainment, Vince McMahon and former WWE executive John Laurinaitis.
Ann Callis, an attorney for Grant, sent an email to plantiffs’ counsel on Dec. 16 stating they would be amending the lawsuit by Jan. 15. The email was included in an exhibit filed with a motion for status conference made on Thursday, Jan. 2.
Grant filed her initial complaint against McMahon, WWE and Laurinaitis in January 2024. The case was placed in a stay in May for six months at the request of federal prosecutors. According to the Wall Street Journal, McMahon has been under investigation of a federal grand jury in Manhattan for sex assault, rape and sex trafficking.
In an interview with SEScoops in November, Callis said other women had come forward since Grant filed her lawsuit. She said attorneys were vetting several women and could amend Grant’s suit to include other alleged victims.
McMahon and his wife Linda, who is expected to be Donald Trump’s nominee for the Department of Education post with the Cabinet, were sued in October by five alleged survivors of the 1980s WWF Ring Boy Scandal in Maryland. The civil suit is currently on hold while the Maryland Supreme Court considers whether a state law voiding statute of limitations regarding negligence in sex assault cases is constitutional.
Attorneys for McMahon re-filed his motion on Dec. 23 to appeal the Grant case to arbitration, per the non-disclosure agreement Grant and McMahon signed.
For decades, Vince McMahon ruled over WWE with an iron fist, with rules and methods, some of which on the surface, seemed like madness to fans. This week, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield was on the Something to Wrestle podcast and shared new insight to McMahon’s approach to commentary.
“Vince didn’t like a lot of things like ‘very,’. Like you’re ‘very’ happy… Vince didn’t like that because he thought it sounded redneck-ish, stupid.”
Another word the ‘very’ wealthy McMahon discouraged was “that,” which he felt signaled a lack of proper diction. JBL gave the example in which commentators were required to specify whether a left or right arm was being targeted, rather than ambiguously referring to “that” arm.
JBL initially joined WWE’s commentary team in 2006 but returned to active in-ring competition in late 2007. Following Jerry Lawler’s heart attack in 2012, JBL stepped back behind the commentary desk, where he remained a fixture on Raw and SmackDown until 2017.
These insights further illustrate McMahon’s micromanagement style, which shaped WWE commentary for decades. In 2008, Mick Foley had a brief stint as a commentator but described McMahon’s control as overbearing. Earlier this year, Michael Cole shared that McMahon’s demands during live tapings were not only intense but occasionally crossed professional boundaries, noting, “He said things to me that were inappropriate.”
Nowadays, McMahon’s time screaming in headsets is a distant memory and Triple H has adopted a fresh approach with those behind the desk. Nevertheless, McMahon’s dominating attitude remains fresh in the minds of those who felt his wrath on the headset for decades.
Former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon is once again seeking to compel arbitration in the case filed against him by Janel Grant. In a December 23, filing submitted by his attorney, Jessica T. Rosenburg, McMahon formally requested arbitration, citing the Federal Arbitration Act.
The filing states:
“Defendant Vincent K. McMahon, by and through his undersigned attorneys, respectfully moves this Court for an order compelling arbitration of this matter pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 3, 4, for the reasons set forth more fully in the accompanying memorandum of law and Declaration of Vincent K. McMahon. Defendant McMahon further moves the Court for such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.”
McMahon’s motion was supported by a memorandum of law that emphasizes the terms of a January 2022 agreement between McMahon and Grant, which required any disputes to be resolved through arbitration. The documents allege that McMahon and Grant were engaged in a consensual relationship for three years and that McMahon agreed to pay Grant $3 million to ensure confidentiality. According to McMahon, Grant violated the agreement by filing a public lawsuit, leading him to pay only $1 million of the promised amount.
WWE, represented by Daniel J. Toal, filed a similar motion the same day. WWE’s filing also requested that the court schedule oral arguments on the matter, in addition to any other relief deemed appropriate.
McMahon maintains that the agreement remains enforceable and insists that an arbitrator should resolve the dispute. As of now, Grant’s legal team has not filed a response.
During Netflix’s Mr. McMahon, the documentary series looked at claims made against WWE and Vince McMahon before her passing in May 2019. On the Something to Wrestle podcast, JBL weighed in on Massaro’s claims. While he certainly hopes what Massaro alleged did not happen, the WWE Hall of Famer has no reason to doubt the late wrestler.
“They’re horrific allegations, and I hope they weren’t true. I have no idea if they were true or not. I don’t doubt Ashley at all, by the way. I had no idea.”
Massaro had alleged that she was sexually assaulted during a WWE tour of a U.S. military base in Kuwait by an individual posing as a doctor. She further claimed that WWE, while apologizing for the incident, discouraged her from reporting it to authorities, fearing it could damage their relationship with the military.
At the time of her allegations, WWE denied any knowledge of the assault or pressuring Massaro to remain silent. However, in February 2024, an attorney representing John Laurinaitis stated that “most upper-level management at some time became aware of the allegations.”
That same month, Vice News reported additional allegations from Massaro, including claims that Vince McMahon “preyed on female WWE wrestlers.” She also alleged that McMahon attempted to derail her career after she rejected his advances.
Kurt Angle recently joked that an eternity of hellfire and brimstone awaits his former boss Vince McMahon given the billionaire’s behavior. Reflecting on his time working with the former WWE CEO, Angle shared a damning assessment during a conversation with Inside the Ropes.
“He does some crazy sh*t, and for a guy who’s the owner and CEO of a company, it’s like, ‘What the f**k, man? You’re the boss. You can’t be doing this stuff.’”
Angle also suggested that McMahon’s actions won’t go unpunished in the afterlife, adding, “He’s going to hell when he dies.” During the interview though, Angle also praised McMahon’s work ethic that turned WWE into the premiere name in professional wrestling. The Olympic Gold Medalist also commended McMahon’s mind for the business that allowed him to fend off rivals, including WCW.
McMahon’s legacy has faced intense scrutiny in recent years, particularly following the hush money scandal of 2022 and the lawsuit filed by Janel Grant earlier this year. The allegations against McMahon extend beyond Grant’s case. He is also named in a separate lawsuit alleging he was aware of the sexual abuse of underage ‘ring boys’ by former WWE employee Mel Phillips but failed to intervene. This lawsuit, brought by five anonymous former ring boys, also names Linda McMahon, WWE, and TKO Group Holdings.
Despite the ongoing legal battles, McMahon has plans to launch a new film and TV production company. However, it appears unlikely that the 79-year-old billionaire will return to the world of professional wrestling promotion anytime soon. Stay tuned to SEScoops for updates on Vince McMahon’s legal and professional developments, as Kurt Angle suggests that the pearly gates may not be in his future.
