As advertised, Vince McMahon appeared on this week’s episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown on the same day that it was announced Stephanie McMahon was named the interim CEO and Chairwoman of WWE, with Vince voluntarily stepping down in these roles. Vince is still in charge of WWE creative.
McMahon cut a promo about how it’s a privilege to stand in the ring in front of the fans. He said he was here to remind them of WWE’s signature of “Then. Now. Together. Forever.” He then welcomed everyone to SmackDown. That was the entire promo.
McMahon allegedly paid a former $3 million in a settlement to stay quiet regarding their sexual relations. In addition to this, the board of WWE is also investigating other nondisclosure agreements that involve misconduct claims made by other former female WWE employees about McMahon and WWE’s head of talent relations John Laurinaitis.
Before the show went live, it was reported by PWinsider.com that McMahon was seen “joking around” during the production meeting and he was not selling anything as he was said to be in a great mood despite the circumstances.
The pre-show meetings were described as “weird” and some are privately wondering how many NDA’s were uncovered.
Shortly after WWE announced that Vince McMahon was stepping down as CEO and Chairman following the investigation into an alleged affair that he had with a paralegal who left the company this year and was paid $3 million as part of a settlement, WWE announced McMahon would appear on tonight’s SmackDown as Mr. McMahon.
It was later reported that McMahon will be in character during the appearance. Fightful Select reports that many in WWE are unhappy with McMahon’s decision to appear on the show as it’s seen as a largely superficial move.
One source referred to it as a “cheap ratings ploy” while others plan to speak to Vince to express their displeasure at his appearance.
Some have speculated that McMahon will try to make the investigation into not only the affair, but also other nondisclosure agreements that involve misconduct claims made by other former female WWE employees about McMahon and WWE’s head of talent relations John Laurinaitis, as a ‘McMahon vs. The World’ narrative that McMahon did when he was going through the steroid trials of the early 1990s.
Stephanie McMahon has been announced as interim CEO and Chairwoman of WWE. One talent told the media outlet that they’re hopeful that Stephanie’s return will lead to an improvement for female talent who have suffered under the John Laurinaitis era.
Vince McMahon is “stepping back from duties” as CEO of the wrestling and entertainment company WWE, while allegations of misconduct against him are investigated. His daughter Stephanie McMahon will step in as interim CEO.
The Wall Street Journal reported news of the investigation, while WWE announced Stephanie’s new interim roles.
Maria Kanellis Slams Vince McMahon
Former WWE talent Maria Kanellis took to her Twitter account to say that while she doesn’t want to see WWE fall, she hopes that there is a shift in power.
Vacation days, child care, and a clear direction for the future. This is going to be an anxiety filled time for a lot of people that work there. Hopefully, the COMPANY CULTURE will change. And people will still have jobs they love to feed their families. ?
— MariaKanellisBennett (@MariaLKanellis) June 17, 2022
“Let’s not wish that. There are a lot of good people that work there. WWE employs hundreds of people. Let’s just hope the company is bought out by someone/company that will treat WWE like a business and not a boys club. Health insurance, retirement plans, parental leave.”
“Vacation days, child care, and a clear direction for the future. This is going to be an anxiety-filled time for a lot of people that work there. Hopefully, the COMPANY CULTURE will change. And people will still have jobs they love to feed their families.”
Vince McMahon reportedly tore up the script for tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown Live.
The report comes from Alex Sherman of CNBC.com, who notes McMahon will be speaking to the crowd in character tonight on SmackDown. The promo will apparently address his upcoming absence from the company.
Sherman added that McMahon actually tore up the script for the show that was written last night.
“Vince McMahon will speak tonight on Smackdown IN CHARACTER as Mr. McMahon to address his temporary absence. Could be a big ratings night for WWE. McMahon has torn up the script for Smackdown, which was written last night, I’m told.
“I’m also told that elevating Stephanie to CEO, after she just left to focus on family, is an optics play to signal Vince McMahon has no intention of stepping down.”
I’m also told that elevating Stephanie to CEO, after she just left to focus on family, is an optics play to signal Vince McMahon has no intention of stepping down. https://t.co/dpUPxKiuGP
McMahon is currently dealing with sexual misconduct allegations, forcing him to step down as WWE CEO. His daughter, Stephanie McMahon, who recently stepped away for a “temporary leave of absence” as WWE Chief Branding Officer, has stepped in as an interim replacement.
Sherman’s report adds that Stephanie’s move to step in and replace McMahon for the time being indicates that Vince has no intentions of stepping down for good anytime soon.
Dave Meltzer also recently reported that Vince is set to address the talent before tonight’s show as well.
What do you think about Vince McMahon reportedly tearing up the script for tonight’s SmackDown, and his appearance tonight despite his current situation? Sound off in the comments!
In the midst of an investigation, Vince McMahon will be making an appearance on WWE SmackDown tonight.
The June 17 episode of SmackDown will take place inside the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns will put his gold on the line against Riddle. If Riddle loses, he can never challenge Roman for the gold again.
We’ll also get to see a “Last Laugh” match between Madcap Moss and Happy Corbin. Max Dupri will also unveil the first member of his Maximum Male Models faction.
Vince McMahon Appearance
WWE has also announced that Vince McMahon will be making an appearance during a crucial time.
McMahon is being investigated by the WWE board for allegedly making a $3 million pact with an ex-employee. He reportedly had an affair with the woman and paid her to keep quiet.
As a result of the investigation, McMahon has stepped down from his role as WWE CEO and Chairman for now. Stephanie McMahon is the interim CEO and Chairwoman.
He will retain his role as far as WWE creative is concerned.
It was reported by Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Vince is expected to address the talent before SmackDown goes on the air.
Keep it locked on the SEScoops homepage for live coverage of WWE SmackDown tonight.
WWE has undergone arguably its biggest shift in power in decades today with the announcement of Stephanie McMahon as Interim CEO.
McMahon, who announced last month that she would be taking a break from WWE duties, was appointed following the announced investigation into her father Vince McMahon.
McMahon is alleged to have arranged a $3 million hush-money payment to a paralegal it is claimed he had an affair with.
The statement from WWE Corporate is as follows:
STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– WWE and its Board of Directors jointly released the following statement today:
Independent directors continue review of alleged executive misconduct
Stephanie McMahon named interim CEO and interim Chairwoman
Stamford, Conn. – WWE (NYSE: WWE) and the Board of Directors today announced that a Special Committee of the Board is conducting an investigation into alleged misconduct by its Chairman and CEO Vincent McMahon and John Laurinaitis, head of talent relations, and that, effective immediately, McMahon has voluntarily stepped back from his responsibilities as CEO and Chairman of the Board until the conclusion of the investigation. McMahon will retain his role and responsibilities related to WWE’s creative content during this period and remains committed to cooperating with the review underway.
The Special Committee has appointed Stephanie McMahon to serve as interim CEO and interim Chairwoman.
“I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the Special Committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation. I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are,” said Mr. McMahon.
“I love this company and am committed to working with the Independent Directors to strengthen our culture and our Company; it is extremely important to me that we have a safe and collaborative workplace. I have committed to doing everything in my power to help the Special Committee complete its work, including marshaling the cooperation of the entire company to assist in the completion of the investigation and to implement its findings,” said Ms. McMahon.
WWE and its Board of Directors take all allegations of misconduct very seriously. The Independent Directors of the Board engaged independent legal counsel to assist them with an independent review. In addition, the Special Committee and WWE will work with an independent third-party to conduct a comprehensive review of the company’s compliance program, HR function and overall culture.
The Company and the Board do not expect to have further comment until the investigation is concluded
It didn’t take long for a law firm to have its own investigation of WWE.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the board of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc is investigating an alleged $3 million pact made by Vince McMahon to a former employee. Vince allegedly had an affair with the ex-employee and paid her to keep quiet.
The report also noted that McMahon allegedly passed the former WWE worker onto Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis “like a toy.” The woman was said to have initially made a salary of $100,000 but it was supposedly bumped up to $200,000 after having sexual relations with McMahon.
Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP Opens Investigation
In a press release sent to Business Wire, Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP announced an investigation into WWE directors and officers for breach of fiduciary duties.
“NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP (“Scott+Scott”), a national securities and consumer rights litigation firm, is investigating whether certain directors and officers of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (“WWE”) (NYSE: WWE) breached their fiduciary duties to WWE and its shareholders. If you are a WWE shareholder, you are encouraged to contact attorney Joe Pettigrew for additional information at (844) 818-6982, or jpettigrew@scott-scott.com.
“Scott+Scott is investigating whether members of WWE’s board of directors or senior management failed to manage WWE in an acceptable manner, in breach of their fiduciary duties to WWE, and whether WWE and its shareholders have suffered damages as a result.
“On June 15, 2022, the Wall Street Journal reported that the WWE board was investigating an alleged $3 million settlement that CEO Vince McMahon agreed to pay in January 2022 to a former WWE employee with whom he allegedly had an affair.
“What You Can Do
“If you are a WWE shareholder, you may have legal claims against WWE’s directors and officers. If you wish to discuss this investigation, or have questions about this notice or your legal rights, please contact attorney Joe Pettigrew toll-free at (844) 818-6982 or jpettigrew@scott-scott.com.”
Time will tell what exactly is going to be the fallout of this. There are some who feel Vince McMahon is bulletproof, while others believe this is a real threat to his power in WWE.
There is a strong universal belief, however, that John Laurinaitis’ job could be in jeopardy.
AEW wasted little time referencing the latest drama surrounding WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.
McMahon could be in hot water after The Wall Street Journal reported that the WWE boss made a secret $3 million pact with a former employee. Vince was said to have had an affair with the ex-WWE worker and paid the person to keep quiet.
The report also notes that Vince allegedly passed the former employee off to WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis “like a toy.”
The WWE Board is investigating the allegations.
Max Caster Drops Rap Referencing Vince McMahon Drama
Max Caster was in action during a recent taping for AEW Rampage, which is set to air on June 17. Caster usually does a rap during his entrance and as expected, he wasn’t about to let this investigation slide.
At one point in the rap, Caster said, “Honestly I have something to say/But somebody made me sign an NDA.”
This isn’t the first time Max Caster has tried ruffling the feathers of the WWE Chairman. He recently flipped the bird at McMahon’s Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Many have been wondering what the potential fallout could be for Vince McMahon and WWE as a whole. Many experts believe that this is a legitimate threat to Vince’s power in WWE.
Some also feel that John Laurinaitis could be the scapegoat here and eventually get released. For now, it’s “business as usual” as PWInsider reported that McMahon is expected to be behind the scenes for this week’s episode of SmackDown.
It’s been a wild turn of events for Vince McMahon and WWE.
The Wall Street Journal recently dropped a bombshell report of an investigation. McMahon allegedly made a secret $3 million hush pact who a former employee. Vince supposedly had an affair with the ex-employee.
WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis may also be in hot water. The report notes that Vince allegedly passed the ex-employee to Laurinaitis “like a toy.”
The investigation is being conducted by the board of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.
Vince McMahon’s Potential Replacement
(via WWE)
The belief is that this could be the greatest threat to Vince McMahon’s power in WWE since the 1994 steroid trial. While Vince was facing prison time for that trial, this current situation is still serious and pressure could mount on the WWE Chairman.
During a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that there are two key people to look out for should Vince McMahon actually be forced to step down.
Bruce Prichard has been described as the “number two guy” in WWE right now in terms of booking the shows. Meltzer notes that many within the company don’t believe Bruce would be able to fill Vince’s shoes due to health problems and other things.
Triple H is still in play as well. He also has had some major health issues and many wonder if he should even take on such a role if offered. Of course, his vision for NXT being dismantled has many skeptical that he’d be the first choice to take over the booking.
PWInsider is reporting that WWE is taking the “business as usual” approach for the June 17 episode of SmackDown. The WWE crew has been informed that Vince McMahon will be at the show.
Vince McMahon is once again in the news, and not for the reasons the Chairman of WWE is hoping for.
This week, it’s been reported that McMahon is under investigation by WWE’s board over an alleged $3 million payment to a paralegal.
The payout was allegedly made as ‘hush money’ over an affair between the two following the paralegal’s hiring in 2019.
McMahon is said to be cooperating fully with the investigation and is working as if nothing has changed.
McMahon at SmackDown
Given the accusations against McMahon, many have questioned whether he would be at this Friday’s SmackDown on FOX.
According to a source who spoke to PW Insider, McMahon will be at this Friday’s show and claimed that things will be business as usual.
Staff have also been informed that McMahon will be at the show and that nothing has changed about his role in production.
As for John Laurinaitis, whose name also came up during the allegations, his role is said to be “unchanged” as of this time.
The allegations
McMahon is alleged to have had a sexual relationship with the paralegal who was hired in 2019.
It’s claimed that the woman was paid $100,000 as part of her WWE contract, which was increased to $200,000 after their relationship began.
After leaving the company earlier this year, it is reported that WWE organized a $3 million payout for her silence, with the first $1 million paid up front.
The remaining $2 million was set to be paid in installments over five years.
The WWE Board of Directors probes Chairman Vince McMahon about an alleged secret 3 million dollar settlement with a former employee.
The Wall Street Journal Joe Palazzolo and Ted Mann report that McMahon allegedly gave money to the former employee with whom he had an affair last year. However, the company has said that the relationship was consensual and will cooperate with the investigation. According to the report, the information was leaked to board members from someone close to the employee, who will look into the matter. The identity of the former employee was not revealed and it’s revealed that the she signed a non-disclosure agreement.
“…The board of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. is investigating a secret $3 million settlement that longtime chief executive Vince McMahon agreed to pay to a departing employee with whom he allegedly had an affair, according to documents and people familiar with the board inquiry.
The January 2022 separation agreement bars the now-former employee, who was hired as a paralegal in 2019, from discussing her relationship with Mr. McMahon or disparaging him,” said the report(h/t Joe Palazzolo and Ted Mann).
(via WWE)
More on Vince’s Settlement with Former Employee
According to the WSJ, the former employee was said to have “fallen on hard times” before coming into the company. She had a law degree but couldn’t take the bar exam because she focused on caring for a sick parent. Upon getting hired by WWE, her salary was $100,000. However, the report reveals that it increased to $200,000 after she began a sexual relationship with McMahon.
The friend of the former employee also alleged that General Manager of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis also got involved with her and said McMahon “Gave her like a toy.” WSJ shared that the WWE Board of Directors received a copy of the 3 million dollar agreement from McMahon’s lawyers on Jun. 12. According to WSJ, the former employee had an “…Upfront payment of $1 million.” She would receive the other 2 million dollars over five years based on the deal.
“The Wall Street Journal has published a report about WWE with allegations that we and our Board of Directors take seriously. We are cooperating fully with the independent investigation initiated by our Board of Directors(h/t Brandon Thurston).
We will provide more updates on the story as more information is released.
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon has had talks with one superstar on potentially becoming the face of the company.
It’s no secret that Roman Reigns is the top star in WWE. With that said, the “Tribal Chief” isn’t getting any younger. Reigns recently turned 37 years old and he inked a new deal with the company for fewer dates.
Next is Cody Rhodes, who has brought some new life into the Monday Night Raw brand but he’s currently sidelined due to an injury. Upon his return, he’ll also be 37 years old.
WWE has to get younger at some point and one current champion may spearhead that movement.
Is Theory The Next Face of WWE?
(via WWE)
At the age of 24 and with momentum behind him, Theory looks poised to be a top star in the near future. He’s the current WWE United States Champion.
On TV, Vince McMahon has called him the new “Chosen One” but it isn’t just for show. Reports have suggested that Vince sees Theory as the next John Cena.
During an appearance on Ryan Satin’s Out of Character podcast, Theory revealed he’s had conversations with Vince about being the next face of WWE.
“Yeah, because I wanted him to know that this was never a second choice for me. This was always the only thing. Nothing against college or stuff like that, you can do that at any time. For me, I never had a plan B. It was this or nothing.
“I was so heavy believing in myself at a very young age that, when these guys are at parties in high school, I’m in the gym and I’m training. I finish a job in a warehouse, working 8 pm to 8 am, I’m tired as hell, but I have to get up and workout because if I don’t, I’m gonna fall off. I’m gonna keep pushing until the next day.
“It’s that mentality and those little things. Everything that happens in life, happens for a reason. The build-up of all these huge moments that have been happening. Could this be the big build-up to get me ready for someone like John Cena?
“I’m gonna be honest, there are a lot of huge attractions, but I don’t think it gets any bigger than John Cena. Whether you’re a fan or not, you can’t deny his work ethic and what he’s done for WWE.
“To me, being in that position where I could possibly be the face, just thinking of how much work there is, it’s insane. My hats off to that. It takes a hell of a human, a man, an anomaly, somebody who can pull that off. It’s insane.
“I feel like my brain will go crazy if I try to think of all this stuff to get there. If I just enjoy every moment and give it my best, it should be a good ride.
“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but I definitely keep my head on straight and keep moving forward.”
Both Theory and John Cena have hinted at facing off at SummerSlam on July 30. It’s been reported by Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer that this is indeed WWE’s plan in an effort to elevate Theory.
It looks like Stephanie McMahon’s “leave of absence” status has turned into a more permanent move.
Fans were surprised to hear the news that Stephanie was stepping away from her duties as WWE’s Chief Brand Officer last month. At the time, the move was thought to be temporary.
Over the past few weeks, however, higherups within the company have reportedly been burying Stephanie, claiming she wasn’t very good at her job.
Point of No Return?
(via WWE)
A story from Business Insider claims that Vince McMahon was behind Stephanie’s “leave of absence.” Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer has refuted that claim, saying that this was Stephanie’s decision and she had wanted out for a while.
On top of that, Meltzer is reporting that the chances of Stephanie McMahon returning to WWE have “greatly diminished.” As they say, however, time heals all wounds. Meltzer believes there is a chance fences can be mended at some point down the road.
The belief is that something drastic happened since Stephanie made her departure for higherups to turn on her. Meltzer has noted that key stories of sources bashing Stephanie have actually been done with Vince’s approval.
When Stephanie approached Vince about taking a step back a few months ago, the WWE Chairman was said to have been caught off guard.
As far as why the company has decided to bury Stephanie goes, there is no clear answer at this time. Stephanie allegedly nixed MLW’s deal with FOX-Tubi and some have speculated that this could be one of the reasons behind people slamming her.
Fans could soon be learning how to make a small-time wrestling promotion into a global Sports Entertainment juggernaut by none other than Vince McMahon himself.
The WWE Chairman and CEO has certainly proven to be a success, currently boasting an estimated net worth of $2.4 billion, and now McMahon is looking to open up about his life.
The New York Post reports that reps for McMahon are secretly shopping around for a publisher for his memoirs, which will tell about his early life and rise to the top of wrestling.
This isn’t the only McMahon book in the works, however, as Simon & Schuster’s Atria Books will release their own bio ‘Ringmaster’ by Abraham Riesman in early 2023
McMahon’s Memoirs
One source told Page 6 that the book has been compared to shoe guru Phil Knight’s best-seller ‘Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike.’
The source added, “There have been other bios on him and WWE in the past, but this is very much his memoir told in his voice about his rise and life.”
The book is being represented by literary agency Vigliano Associates, who have previously worked with stars including Willie Nelson, Mark Messier, and WWE Hall of Famer Mike Tyson.
From Trailer Park to Titan Towers
Outside the ring, McMahon has had a fascinating life, starting with an incredibly difficult childhood.
Raised as Vinnie Lupton, McMahon’s formative years were spent in trailer parks and has admitted to being beaten by one of his stepfathers Leo Lupton.
Meeting his biological father Vincent J. McMahon at age 12, Vince Jr. and after founding Titan Sports in 1980, would purchase his father’s Capitol Wrestling Corporation in 1982.
In addition to being the WWE owner, McMahon has served in multiple on-screen roles including a commentator, wrestler, and authority figure.
WWE Hall Of Famer Kane praises Vince McMahon for perfecting the pay-per-view (PPV) model.
Kane was recently a guest on the Honest Offense podcast and praised his longtime boss for his impact on the business. “The Big Red Machine” noted, while McMahon didn’t invent the PPV model, he certainly perfected it.
“You look at pay-per-view, if you go to www.payperview.com, you get redirected to WWE. Vince did not invent pay-per-view, but you can make an argument that he was the guy that perfected it.
“He was ahead of the curve there. We had a huge presence on the internet in 1995, before anyone really knew what the internet was. We were doing chat rooms and all sorts of stuff.
“Then, you look at the app that came out, which was kind of not great, but he recognized before a lot of people did that folks were migrating away from their TV and to their computer and now they are migrating from their computer to a handheld device.
“When the app came out, we were like, ‘we’re behind the curve.’ The reason for that was, they were thinking about WWE Network, which originally was going to be a cable network, and then he decided ‘we’re going put it online, move all the pay-per-views to a monthly subscription,’ we all thought he was crazy for that because pay-per-view made up half the companies revenue.
“He was completely changing the business model. I remember, the stock sunk, ‘Vince McMahon is an idiot,’ people were talking about suing. Now, the company is making more money than ever.
“Vince is not a huge technophile, I don’t even know if he can login to his own email, but he doesn’t have to. All he has to do is see where the trends are going and he gets ahead of them, everyone thinks he’s crazy, sure enough, he’s making all the money.
“That’s his true brilliance. He can figure out where entertainment, technology, and delivery is going and he ends up getting there first. It’s like he has a weird ESP about it.“
Kane has worked alongside McMahon since 1995 when he signed with WWE. He was ushered into the company in one of the biggest storylines of all time, portraying the Kane character in 1997, who was introduced as The Undertaker’s brother.
The rest, as they say, was history. Kane is a two-time World Champion in WWE, a two-time Intercontinental Champion, and an 11-time Tag Team Champion with partners such as The Undertaker, Daniel Bryan, X-Pac, and more.
Now, Kane, real name Glenn Jacobs, is in the political ring, currently serving as the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.
WWE CEO Vince McMahon was left furious at Bray Wyatt for not doing a spider walk during a match, Matt Hardy has claimed.
Wyatt was with WWE until 2021 when he was released in July, shocking fans who had enjoyed the last two years of his tenure as part of the Firefly Funhouse.
Before Wyatt’s transformation in 2019, he teamed with Matt Hardy, with the pair capturing the RAW Tag Team Championships at the 2018 Greatest Royal Rumble event.
”He [Vince McMahon] said ’Bray, why didn’t you do that spider walk. What’s wrong with you. You’re not in shape, can you not do it anymore?’ He really laid into him and then he said, ‘you’re not even playing the gimmick’. It was just like reaming.”
This is just the latest example of the strange relationship McMahon had with the former two-time Universal Champion.
During an earlier episode of his podcast, Matt said that Bray often seemed like a son to the WWE Chairman.
“When he would do things that he liked, he would love him and he would really give him everything that he could possibly give him. He would bend over backward to try and accommodate him. But then when he did something he didn’t like, he hated, like he was going to lock him away for good.”
Wyatt hasn’t wrestled since his release from WWE and has been focussing on a movie project with Jason Baker.
Weeks after Stephanie McMahon announced that she was taking a leave of absence from WWE to focus on her family, a Business Insider report was published this past weekend that alluded to Vince McMahon driving his daughter out of his company.
The report stated Stephanie “is being replaced in her corporate role as part of a shakeup executed by her father, Vince McMahon, the organization’s 76-year-old CEO.”
If McMahon does return to WWE it may not be in the same role as when she left as the company is already interviewing candidates for a director of brand and marketing position that will take over many of her old responsibilities.
There were some quotes from WWE insiders that did paint a negative picture regarding Stephanie. Meltzer noted on the F4Wonline.com message board that it appears to be a burial by the company
The BI report focused on the lack of growth of sponsorship which was around $20 million in Q1. During the investors call for that quarter, McMahon said there’s no reason WWE couldn’t be bringing in hundreds of millions a year in the next three-to-five years.
“We weren’t seeing that growth,” said the company insider of McMahon’s tenure. “When someone is moved out of a company, it’s usually the result of something not working. We took stronger control of that a few months ago.”
McMahon’s exit is the latest of the departures the company has had over the last few years since WWE fired co-Presidents George Barrios and Michelle Wilson in early-2020 and Nick Khan took over as President.
Vince McMahon once had a WWE Hall of Famer take Drew McIntyre under his wing.
McIntyre is a two-time WWE Champion but his road to the top was far from easy. During his first WWE run, he was called “The Chosen One” by Vince McMahon.
That distinction didn’t last as he was pushed down the card and eventually released.
After reinventing himself in IMPACT Wrestling and on the indie scene, McIntyre got a second chance with WWE and he’s now one of the company’s biggest stars.
The Undertaker Mentored Drew McIntyre
Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Drew McIntrye revealed that The Undertaker once mentored him and Vince McMahon was the one who made it happen.
“As Undertaker once told me, ‘Don’t play the wrestler. Be the wrestler.’ At the time, ’Taker was my mentor, a role assigned by Vince [McMahon], and I had no idea what he was talking about.
“I was a wrestler, obviously, right? Now, almost 15 years later, I have a much different appreciation for his lessons. I know who I am every time I step out there, and I know what I’m aiming for, and that’s Roman.”
McIntyre figures to be front and center of WWE TV once the company gets closer to its Clash at the Castle event in September. The show will be held inside Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
Vince McMahon saw something in Pete Dunne that led to the “Butch” character.
Dunne made his debut for WWE back in 2016. He had been treated like a big deal on the NXT UK brand. He held the United Kingdom Championship for 685 days.
That title reign had been the record before it was broken by WALTER, now known as Gunther. He held it for 870 days.
After spending so many years in NXT, many wondered if Pete Dunne would have a place on the main roster. We got the answer on March 11 when he made his main roster debut as “Butch.”
How Vince McMahon Feels About Butch
During an interview with Metro, Pete Dunne revealed that Vince McMahon has taken a liking to the Butch character.
“He seems really into this, as you can imagine. He seems really into the idea of Butch. It is entertaining.”
During an episode of Wrestling Observer Live a couple of months ago, Bryan Alvarez said that Vince found a way to utilize Pete Dunne on the SmackDown brand and likes the Butch character enough to give him ample TV time.
Bryan was saying this in response to those who complained about Pete Dunne using the “Butch” name after being moved out of NXT.
Dunne said he went into this new phase of his character with an open mind. He also said he had anticipated a name change once he got called up to the main roster.
One AEW star has given Vince McMahon’s Hollywood Walk of Fame the finger.
It’s no secret that some AEW and WWE stars have engaged in some banter on social media in a show of gamesmanship. Some of the back-and-forth exchanges are in jest while others are a bit more heated.
We’ll put this one in the fun category.
Max Caster of The Acclaimed is in Los Angles for tonight’s (June 1) AEW Dynamite show. He took to Vince McMahon’s Hollywood Walk of Fame and had a little “sign language” as Stone Cold Steve Austin used to say.
Matt Hardy had an honest conversation with Vince McMahon before leaving WWE. According to him, the boss appreciated his honesty.
The AEW star talked about the end of his last WWE run on the latest episode of his podcast. He claimed that while Mr. McMahon still saw value in him, the boss had started seeing him more as a producer than an in-ring talent.
Hardy on the other hand thought that he still had gas left in the tank. So he decided to just tell this directly to the chairman of the boards:
“I just told him, ‘I know how you see me,’ you’re trying to move me to a producer role, and I’m not ready to do that quite yet. I’m ready to still finish up in the ring, I know I have a few more years left and I’m going to go until it’s time for me to step out.”
Revealing Mr. McMahon’s reaction to the conversation, Matt Hardy said that the boss respected this truth because so many people try to lie to him:
“He absolutely respected that and he said ‘Well, thank you for being honest,’ because so many people just bullsh*t him all the time … They knew where I was going to end up.”
Matt Hardy also revealed that Triple H had pitched the idea of him leading a faction in NXT while also working as a coach for younger talents to try and keep him in the company. Hardy left WWE in March 2020.
Andrew Zarian, Dave Meltzer, Bryan Alvarez and Garrett Gonzalez talked about Stephanie McMahon taking a leave of absence during a special edition of “We’re Live Pal.” They discussed the various stories and rumors circulating about her decision to step away, at least for now. Zarian said that he had spoken with someone high up about Stephanie and that there was more to the story.
Stephanie’s Abilities As An Executive Called Into Question
“[It was a] very bizarre conversation, I’ll tell you that. I didn’t expect that phone call. It was a phone call that kind of veered into a discussion about Steph. So I asked and I was like, ‘Hey, anything I could add to this? What’s going on?’ And, you know, some of the comments, I was shocked.
One being that people internally and this is coming from someone in the know in WWE. This wasn’t like a guy in catering,” Zarian said.
Zarian added, “The comment was that internally, there was doubt put on Steph [and] her abilities as an executive. And a lot of this started after she absorbed some of Michelle Wilson’s responsibilities after she left. One [responsibility] being ad sales and sponsorship. And the comment that I found interesting was that they mentioned that the investors were questioning why they weren’t performing as well. And internally, there was some questioning as to why that wasn’t performing.
I think a month ago, [WWE’s Head of Global Sales & Partnerships] Claudine Lilien…she went over to handle that and she was released a month ago and Nick [Khan] has taken over all these responsibilities. When the Shane issue happened at Royal Rumble, WWE was pretty quick to kind of say, yeah he got sent home for all the reasons that you heard, right? I was not expecting the words to be used for Steph because at the end of the day, the McMahons are the McMahons and they are the most protected people in that company.”
Miscommunications About Keeping The Story Under Wraps
Meltzer jumped in and added that he spoke to someone who heard that there were efforts to keep the story behind Stephanie’s absence out of the press. Meltzer said that this is a case of miscommunication because Zarian’s source wanted the story to get out.
Meltzer stated, “As far as Steph goes, like, if and when she comes back, and it won’t be soon, there’s a real good chance it won’t be in the same position… But it was interesting, because I talked to somebody about something similar and asked about Stephanie in that in that realm, and you know, certain things were explained that…there’s people who Stephanie dealt with that, but because Vince always had to answer, you know, she didn’t have the power. Nobody does. Vince has all the power. She’s someone who talks to Vince but at the end of the day, Vince is going to make those decisions.
But the thing was, there’s some people who are saying stuff and a person told me – he’s like, ‘if anyone hears that, they’re gonna be gone. No one can say anything bad publicly about Steph.’ And it’s like like a left hand and a right hand thing. Yeah. You (Zarian) were told, in a way, because they wanted it out.”
Zarian said that the source used “buzzy” words with him and those were terms that they wanted him to use when leaking the story. Zarian pointed out how Nick Khan has now become a senior executive in WWE because of how many office people have been let go.
Speculation On Why The Story Was Leaked
Zarian began to speculate on the reason that his source would’ve wanted to get the story out with the buzzwords they used.
Zarian said, “So you could see that this is a big change. But now the big story is okay, so why would that comment be made? There’s a reason for it. You know, you can speculate all you want. Is it to disconnect the McMahons from the company a little bit so if there is a sale positioning, it’s easier on the audience, maybe? … Or it can easily be, you know, get the stories out there to make it easier to change that old guard in our company. I was really surprised, and I hear some wacky things from there from people like crazy, crazy things. I was really shocked to hear that this conversation would happen.”
H/T to Paul Davis of WrestlingNews.Co for the transcription
JBL has gone to bat for his longtime former boss Vince McMahon against critics of his production style in WWE.
Many over the years have voiced the opinion that WWE is over-produced, especially due to the oversight by McMahon. One of the most common talking points is how McMahon feeds lines and information to the commentary team during the show.
The likes of WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross, and others have discussed this and how it can sometimes make the job difficult. It’s often said that McMahon can be rude at times to commentators during this period.
However, speaking on GAWTV recently, JBL said he actually enjoyed having McMahon in his ear during shows.
“Vince [McMahon] gets a lot of heat over what he produces, and I loved it. By the way, Vince was never rude to me. Not one time, did not yell at me one time.
“Jerry Lawler says the same thing. Booker T says the same thing. Now he yelled at Michael Cole and he yelled at some other guys, but I think it was the old guys who had been in the ring for him.
“He just treated us differently. Even when I made mistakes, he was very kind about it,” JBL said.
“But I loved him being in my ear because he was very succinct. He’s a great producer. He would tell you just a short little phrase. He wouldn’t tell you a whole paragraph.
“Usually I’d be one word behind it. I’d just repeat exactly what he said, because he knew what was coming up and he also knew what he was feeding somewhere else.
“So, sometimes he’d feed me something, but he’d [Michael] Cole something different and it made sense after Cole said it. He (Vince) had access to everything.
“I enjoyed Vince being a producer. A lot of guys, I think it’s fashionable to say they hated it, but I thought he was terrific at it.”
JBL served as a commentator for just over five years, serving as a vital part of the broadcast team assisting on both Monday Night RAW and SmackDown Live.
The WWE Hall Of Famer has since stepped away from full-time commentary, but does occasionally return for pre-event shows and other special appearances.
Bagwell took notice of Vince’s appearance when he raised Theory’s hand after he defeated Finn Balor to capture the WWE United States Championship.
“God dang, brother. I hate to even say this but it was shocking how bad Vince looked. It shocked me, bro. I am a — there’s nothing on any video out there in the world that’s got me dogging out Vince McMahon.
“Never would, never will.
“He is a genius that has run the WWF into the WWE. How can you possibly say anything bad about a billionaire that built the WWF? You can’t but he looked rough, man and I hated it.
“I don’t want him to get old cause that means I’m getting older.”
Please H/T SEScoops if you use any quotes from this article.
