Posts Tagged ‘Vince McMahon’

Vince McMahon Says ‘Third Brain’ Is Thinking Of Sex In Netflix Finale

Netflix’s Mr. McMahon docuseries aims to give viewers an in-depth look at the life, career, and legacy of Vince McMahon, over two years after his initial retirement from WWE. McMahon gave several interviews for the project, first announced back in 2020, and the 79-year-old billionaire wasn’t afraid to broach the topic of sex.

During the final episode of the six-part docuseries, McMahon speaks candidly about how his brain processes things and considers his mind to be akin to different computers.

“I have, not two different brains, but like, computers in my head and sometimes they work against me. I have one computer talking to you right now and there’s another one going on with me thinking something completely different.”

McMahon goes on to explain how he has a third ‘computer’ that thinks of completely unrelated matters, which has made it difficult for McMahon to be normal.

“And then there’s a third one sometimes… And so it’s difficult for me sometimes to pay attention to things. It’s bothered me through the years because all I wanted to be was normal. I wanted to fit in. But I deal with it.”

When asked what this third brain is thinking of at the moment, McMahon said:

“Something having a lot of fun and it’s involving sex.”

McMahon’s comments come amid a paused lawsuit against him filed by Janel Grant who alleges she was abused and trafficked by McMahon and John Laurinaitis. McMahon was interviewed for the Netflix docuseries before the allegations that resulted in him stepping down from WWE twice within the span of two years.

Vince McMahon And Netflix

McMahon has distanced himself from the Mr. McMahon docuseries, claiming in a statement that it has misrepresented him with selective editing and out-of-context footage. Ann Callis, Grant’s attorney, has criticized McMahon and his attempts to categorize the allegations made as a consensual affair.

Vince McMahon will forever be tied to pro wrestling but his legacy will forever be linked to the allegations by Grant and others. Mr. McMahon is now available to watch on Netflix.

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SEScoops.

Vince McMahon Parts With PR Firm Ahead of Netflix Docuseries Launch

This week, four years after it was first announced, Netflix’s docuseries about the life, career, and legacy of Vince McMahon will launch on the streaming giant. In the run-up to its launch, McMahon had begun working with a PR film, but now Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics reports that this partnership has come to an end.

McMahon is no longer being represented by Sitrick And Company, a firm that he’d been aligned with since April of this year. When asked about the reason for the end of the relationship, Michael Sitrick, founder of the firm, refused to go into in-house details, stating “With respect to clients, we don’t comment beyond the fact that we are no longer working together.”

Sitrick And Company

Like his now-former client, Sitrick has garnered quite a reputation in his field, with Fortune once calling him an “accomplished practitioner of the dark arts of public relations.” The L.A. Times had a similar take to Sitrick, calling him a “puppet master” who’s pulled the strings behind some of the media’s biggest stories. Sitrick And Company has presented some huge names including Pepsi, Make-A-Wish, and the late Kobe Bryant.

Mr. McMahon on Netflix

It’s not just Sitrick And Company that McMahon has distanced himself from in recent days. This week, McMahon issued a statement criticizing Netflix’s docuseries about him, arguing that it misrepresents him through editorial choices and out-of-context footage. It’s been reported that McMahon attempted a ‘Catch-and-Kill’ on the docuseries; attempting to buy the rights to it to prevent it ever being released but Netflix refused to sell. This attempt, and a subsequent offer from Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel, was made before WWE reached a deal with Netflix to bring WWE Raw to streaming in January 2025.

Over two years on from his initial departure from WWE, McMahon remains a controversial figure among fans and those in the industry. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Vince McMahon and his efforts to handle his legacy in this post-WWE chapter of his life.

How Vince McMahon Failed To ‘Catch-And-Kill’ Netflix Documentary

This week, Mr. McMahon, a six-part docuseries from Netflix, will launch on the streaming juggernaut, giving fans an up-close look at one of wrestling’s most controversial names. With steroids, sexual harassment, and Chris Benoit covered in the trailer alone, no topic will be off limits in this series, despite Vince McMahon’s best efforts.

McMahon reportedly attempted to prevent the release of the docuseries, Dave Meltzer reports, after realizing it would not be as favorable to him as he had hoped. Before WWE’s deal with Netflix was signed in January of this year, McMahon tried to buy the rights to the series to block its release. When Netflix refused, McMahon turned to Ari Emanuel, hoping the Endeavor CEO would be able to win over Netflix brass, but again came up short.

This practice of buying media to prevent its release is known as ‘Catch and Kill’ and isn’t confined to McMahon alone, with celebrities and allies using the practice to bury bad press. In 2015, American Media paid $30,000 to a Trump Tower doorman for the exclusive rights to his story that he’d overheard a conversation about Donald Trump having a child with a woman who is not his wife. Despite paying, American Media, whose CEO David Pecker is a friend of the former president, never published the story.

Despite McMahon’s best efforts, Mr. McMahon will launch on Netflix this week with wrestling fans eager to see how his controversial legacy is covered. McMahon has already begun distancing himself from the project, claiming to have been grossly mischaracterized. Janel Grant’s attorney Ann Callis has also issued a statement, calling McMahon’s conduct abhorrent and criminal.

Janel Grant attorney blasts Vince McMahon comments ahead of Netflix doc

Ann Callis, an attorney for Janel Grant, blasted Vince McMahon for categorizing his relationship with Grant as “an affair” in a statement he released on Monday reacting to a screening of the Netflix documentary Mr. McMahon.

Grant is suing McMahon, World Wrestling Entertainment and former WWE Talent Relations head John Laurinaitis for sex assault, sex trafficking and other claims in federal civil court. McMahon is also being investigated by a federal grand jury in New York in a criminal case.

“Vince McMahon physically and emotionally abused, sexually assaulted and human trafficked Janel Grant for more than two years. Calling his horrific and criminal behavior “an affair” is delusional and nothing more than a sad attempt to save his shredded reputation. Although Ms. Grant has not seen the “Mr. McMahon” docuseries, we hope it shines a bright light on his abhorrent and criminal actions by accurately portraying the realities of his abusive and exploitative behavior.Ms. Grant will no longer be silenced by McMahon. Her story, though deeply troubling and exceptionally painful, is one that can help other abuse survivors find their voices. We seek to hold McMahon, John Laurinaitis and WWE accountable and to give Ms. Grant her day in court.”

Ann Callis, attorney for Janel Grant

Netflix’s Mr. McMahon documentary debuts on Wednesday. Netflix will begin streaming WWE Raw in 2025.

Vince McMahon Criticizes Netflix Documentary for Misrepresentation

Vince McMahon has publicly voiced his disappointment with a Netflix documentary that chronicles his life and career. In a statement, McMahon expressed regret over the documentary’s portrayal of him, specifically criticizing how it conflates his wrestling persona, “Mr. McMahon,” with his true self.

According to McMahon, the producers missed an opportunity to provide an objective, well-rounded account of his life and the business empire he built. He claims the final product distorts reality, using selective editing, outdated soundbites, and out-of-context footage to mislead viewers. McMahon argues that these editorial choices were designed to create a deceptive narrative.

He further highlights how the documentary references a past lawsuit and an affair in a misleading way, reinforcing the misconception that his “Mr. McMahon” character is an accurate reflection of who he is.

McMahon hopes viewers will approach the film with an open mind, urging them to remember that there are two sides to every story.

Vince’s McMahon’s Statement on Netflix Series

McMahon writes, “I don’t regret participating in this Netflix documentary. The producers had an opportunity to tell an objective story about my life and the incredible business I built, which were equally filled with excitement, drama, fun, and a fair amount of controversy and life lessons. Unfortunately, based on an early partial cut I’ve seen, this doc falls short and takes the predictable path of conflating the “Mr. McMahon” character with my true self, Vince. The title and promos alone make that evident.

A lot has been misrepresented or left out entirely in an effort to leave viewers intentionally confused. The producers use typical editing tricks with out of context footage and dated soundbites etc. to distort the viewers’ perception and support a deceptive narrative.

In an attempt to further their misleading account, the producers use a lawsuit based on an affair I ended as evidence that I am, in fact, “Mr. McMahon.”

I hope the viewer will keep an open mind and remember that there are two sides to every story.”

‘Janel Grant is a Human Being, Not a WWE Storyline,’ Reps Say at Press Conference

Janel Grant attorney Ann Callis and Kendra Barkof Lamy, managing director of SMDK representation, held a press conference on Thursday, a day after Grant’s team announced the group would be joining her team during her lawsuit against WWE.

Callis and Grant answered questions about the upcoming Netflix documentary, Mr. McMahon, which is scheduled to debut on the streamer on Sept. 25.

Grant’s team, in a statement to SEScoops, said Netflix approached Grant for an interview but said she wouldn’t be taking part.

“Janel Grant is a human being, a victim and a survivor,” Callis said. “She’s not a WWE storyline.”

Grant’s civil case is currently paused in federal court at the request of federal investigators. McMahon is also under investigation by a federal grand jury for rape, sex assault and other crimes, according a reporter earlier this year from the Wall Street Journal.

Callis addressed the upcoming McMahon documentary several times, saying she hoped the producers would shine a light on McMahon’s behavior over the years. She noted McMahon had settled with four women for around $12 million over the past few years.

The Daily Beast shared a report in 2018 from an incident involving McMahon at a Boca Raton tanning salon in 2006, where he was accused of groping and sexually assaulting a young female employee at the business before she ran to a Papa John’s pizza store in the same shopping center and asked workers to call police. Police said there was probable cause to charge McMahon, but the case was dropped by prosecutors based on their not being “proof beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Callis and Lamy said they wanted Grant’s case expedited, but didn’t get into details how. When asked if they wanted the federal investigation to move quicker, Callis said they wanted the civil case to be on track and they wanted federal investigators to “be right” and take their time.

Callis said no one with Grant’s team, or Grant, have seen the McMahon documentary.

‘Baptism By Fire’: The Rock Reveals How Vince McMahon Taught Him To Respect The Business

The Rock has revealed how he went from making $150K a year to making $15 million a year in WWE.

The Great One recently had an interview with Patrick Bet-David of Valuetainment. He talked about things such as why he is not running for president, the Donald Trump assassination attempts and more.

During the interview, the former World Champion was asked about his relationship with Vince McMahon. Talking on the subject, he told a story about how the former WWE chairman helped him learn to respect the business. He mentioned that he was making $150K per year in his first contract with the company. When his career took off, the boss called him to renegotiate his deal:

“He wanted to renegotiate my contract about two to three years in. A couple of wrestlers at that time had their own agents, but I chose not to have an agent. He said, ‘Are you going to have an agent? Are you looking for an agent?’ I said ‘I’m not. I’d like to negotiate with you directly. And how we met was with a handshake—and I believe how we’re going to do this is with a handshake.’

Handshakes are very important to me, as I know everybody in this room. So, I always say my handshake is better than anything I ever sign—it’s right here.

So he said, ‘Great, I love that. I respect it. What are you thinking?’ I said, ‘Who’s the highest-paid if you don’t mind me asking. Between us, who’s the highest-paid on the roster?’ He said, ‘Stone Cold Steve Austin.’ I said, ‘Okay. If you don’t mind me asking, what’s his guarantee?’ He said, ‘A million dollars.’ I went, ‘Okay, I want two.’ Oh, I know the balls of that kid [laughs].”

I Think It Should Be Two: The Rock

After hearing the figure The Rock wanted, McMahon made an unexpected move. He asked the former World Champion to work with one of the company executives to learn the operating costs of the business:

“So he said, ‘Two million?’ I said, ‘Yes,’ ‘Guaranteed?’ I said ‘Yes’ And he said, ‘I’m just curious—where do you get that from? What are you figuring out in your mind?’ I said, ‘Well, I love Steve; I respect him. But if he’s getting a million dollars, where I see myself going is past a million dollars. I think it should be two.’

He went, ‘Okay, I understand that logic.’ He said, ‘Here’s what I want you to do: I’m going to put you in contact with one of our executives. I need you to take a couple of months, if it takes that long—because I was on the road, I need you to understand the business—I need you to understand this side of the business—from top to bottom, all the economics.

I want you to understand that—I want you to understand our cost, overhead. I want you to look at what’s allocated to the [boys]… I want you to take the time and put in the work that you say you’re committed to in the ring. Yes, I expect that from you. But now, I want you to learn the business. Once you learn this business, then you come back to me, and then we’ll talk about the renegotiation.”

Baptism By Fire

The biggest surprise for the People’s Champion came after this, however, when he went back to Vince McMahon. According to The Rock, the former WWE owner offered him a contract worth a lot more than what he was asking:

“[I learned] what the overhead costs are, what the costs are for every venue we go into, what the cost of the venue is, what the state tax is, what the allocation for all the wrestlers is going to be—that percentage of what the gate is that particular night.

I didn’t take three months—I mean, maybe it was just two weeks. It was baptism by fire, and I learned to absorb as much as I could about the business. I went back to Vince, thanked him, gave him a big hug, and said, ‘I understand now. I’d like to match it at a million dollars—what Steve is getting. Thank you for taking me through it.’

We had a great conversation. He said, ‘How much do you think you’re going to make this year?’ I said, ‘Well, if my guarantee is a million, I’ve been averaging about 50% over my guarantee, so maybe 1.5 million.’ He went ‘ok, now that you’ve taken yourself through that, now you understand the business. You’re gonna make $15 million a year.”

Why Mick Foley Is Holding Off Judgment On “Instrumental” Vince McMahon

Since Vince McMahon’s resignation from WWE in January 2024, many names have condemned the billionaire who is accused of sexual harassment of Janel Grant. While McMahon is persona non-grata on WWE TV, some current Superstars have spoken about their former boss. Cody Rhodes has called the situation a “dark cloud” while Seth Rollins has said that if the claims are true, he hopes everyone involved gets what they deserve.

One name that worked closely with McMahon for years is Mick Foley who has not been among those condemning the 79-year-old billionaire. At a Q&A panel at Comic-Con Northern Ireland, Foley shared his take on the McMahon situation.

“I feel really bad that someone I care about got into something that seems pretty unsavory. I’m gonna hold off judgment until I see the [Mr. McMahon Netflix docuseries.]”

Foley went on, saying that regardless of “whatever he did or did not do,” the McMahon scandal won’t “mess with our memories” of the former WWE CEO.

“He was instrumental in creating some of those memories, so I’m choosing to appreciate him until I learn more about what may have gone down.”

This isn’t the first time Foley has taken something of a softer approach to McMahon compared to his contemporaries. During a February 2024, edition of his Foley is Pod show, the former World Champion again expressed his hope that fans remember the good from McMahon despite the disturbing allegations.

“I hope it doesn’t take away from people’s amazing memories of all the things that Mr. McMahon created or helped create including my character and the programs that I was in.”

That same month, John Cena shared his love for McMahon despite the “super unfortunate” allegations against him, but added he’s an “advocate of accountability.” McMahon has consistently claimed that McMahon’s relationship with Janel Grant was consensual, and his legal team has gone as far as to say McMahon was her ‘best friend’ in WWE.

Dr. Carlon Colker Withdraws Petition Against Janel Grant Amid WWE Legal Battle

Dr. Carlon Colker has withdrawn his litigation against Janel Grant, in which he sought evidence from the former WWE employee who is suing the promotion, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis. Last month, Colker filed a potential that appeared to be a precursor to a possible defamation lawsuit against Grant. In July, Grant filed a petition in Connecticut state court in which she sought to obtain her medical records in support of her lawsuit.

Grant alleges she was directed by McMahon to visit Colker’s clinic, Peak Wellness, in Greenwich where she received treatment without being told what medicines or supplements she was being given. She added that the medical records that have been provided by Colker have been inconsistent and incomplete so far. Colker claimed that Grant had launched a smear campaign against him and that he had suffered damages due to the media spotlight on him and his clinic.

Now, Colker has withdrawn his petition for information from Grant, POST Wrestling reports, including any potential communication she or her representatives may have had with the media. In a statement to POST Wrestling, Ann Callis, Grant’s attorney, had the following to say:

“Unsurprisingly, Dr. Colker has withdrawn his baseless motion. In the same vein as Mr. McMahon’s recently struck down motion, this was filed simply as yet another frivolous attempt to intimidate Ms. Grant.

“Ms. Grant remains steadfast in her right to seeking documents and information relating to her own medical records, meta-data, Dr. Colker’s prescribed treatments, and any communications between Dr. Colker and other parties concerning Ms. Grant or Ms. Grant’s medical treatment.”

Grant is suing WWE, Laurinaitis, and McMahon, alleging that she was sexually abused and trafficked during her time with the promotion. McMahon has denied that their relationship was not consensual and his representatives have gone as far as to call McMahon Grant’s “best friend” during her time with WWE. This scandal, among others, will be referenced in Netflix’s Mr. McMahon docuseries that will be released later this month.

Vince McMahon Claims, “No One Really Knows Me” In Netflix Docuseries Trailer

WWE fans have caught their first glimpse of Netflix’s Mr. McMahon docuseries that will focus on the historic rise and dramatic fall of Vincent K. McMahon. The six one-hour episodes will delve into the life of the 79-year-old billionaire when it hits the streaming juggernaut on September 25. McMahon himself was interviewed for the docuseries, as the trailer shows right from the start as he declares,

“People have wondered who I really am. There’s this portrayal of me as a bad guy, but no one really knows me.”

– Vince McMahon in ‘Mr. McMahon’ (Netflix)

Some of the biggest names in wrestling history are involved, with appearances from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Hulk Hogan,”Stone Cold” Steve Austin, John Cena, Bret Hart, Bruce Prichard, Eric Bischoff, and McMahon’s son-in-law and Paul “Triple H” Levesque.

As we see in the trailer, this docu-series won’t shy away from controversy and touches on the 1994 steroid trial, the double-murder suicide of Chris Benoit in 2007, and alleged sexual misconduct. While it was the latter that ultimately ended McMahon’s reign on top of wrestling’s empire, Janel Grant has not participated in the series.

Produced by Bill Simmons and Tiger King executive producer Chris Smith, Mr. McMahon has been in development since 2020. The project was reportedly reworked to reflect the allegations against McMahon, including his departure from WWE.

WWE’s Move to Netflix

This highly anticipated docuseries about McMahon and WWE is just a taste of what’s to come for the streaming giant. This coming January, Monday Night RAW will move to Netflix, marking an end to over 30 years on broadcast television. John Cena has been confirmed for RAW’s premiere on Netflix as the WWE icon will kick off his retirement tour.

Fans in the U.S. will have access to Monday Night Raw each week, while those outside of the States will receive Raw, SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events. Netflix will not cover monthly PLEs in areas where deals are already in place with other distributors, such as India. 

Cody Rhodes Addresses Vince McMahon Docuseries & Janel Grant Case

Cody Rhodes took on a big leadership role following WWE Bash In Berlin after addressing a very loaded question regarding Vince McMahon.

Rhodes kicked off the post-show by addressing the media, noting that Triple H was unable to be there due to his daughter heading to college for the first time. Rhodes took several questions before he was asked if he was going watch the forthcoming “Mr. McMahon” docuseries on Netflix and why he thinks the locker room has been silent regarding the Janel Grant case. Rhodes answered both his questions and started off light-hearted by saying he was currently “deep in a Game of Thrones rewatch.”

“I think there’s a bit misinformation in terms of WWE has no involvement in this documentary as far as I know. I imagine I’d get around to seeing it.”

As far as it goes with the locker room “being silent” Rhodes offered a different perspective for the talent.

“I don’t think that’s a matter of ‘belief’ vs. ‘non-belief’ I think it’s strictly speaking we want to be doing what we’re doing out there and the focus and attention it takes: 13,149 people to have a great story and have a great match and do that every single night has left most of us where we’re finding the information out just as you are and that includes the resolution of this information in terms of what happened, how it happened and how justice comes about whatever it may be, but I wouldn’t look at it as an active attempt from the locker to be silent in the attempt we just are doing what we do, day-to-day, WWE business.”

Rhodes was also asked if he believed in Janel Grant and he stated that he didn’t have enough information to know either way. The Mr. McMahon docuseries is set to release on September 25.

Please h/t SEScoops for the transcription.

Vince McMahon Documentary Director Reveals Goal Behind The Series

The Netflix docuseries on former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon will release next month and the director has revealed the goal he had in mind while making the series.

The series, titled Mr. McMahon, with the tagline “Mastermind. Madman.” is set to release on September 25. It consists of six one-hour episodes.

Series director and executive producer Chris Smith recently shared the goal behind the series. He said that the goal behind the series was to bring out the real side of Vince McMahon amid the allegations he has faced. Smith said:

“The goal behind ‘Mr. McMahon’ was to pull back the curtain and reveal the true Vince McMahon, obscured beneath the persona he presented to the world. Over the four years of production, the story evolved in truly shocking ways, culminating in some extremely harrowing allegations. The final product is a revealing documentary that we believe offers a rich and nuanced portrait of the man and the complex legacy he left behind.”

Mr. McMahon docuseries will capture the rise and fall of Vince McMahon. The six-part series will depict how Vince transformed WWE from a small, regional business into a global juggernaut as well as the shocking sexual misconduct allegations that led to his eventual resignation.

Vince McMahon had initially stepped down from WWE a couple of years back but he returned six months later. However, he departed the company again following the Janel Grant lawsuit which was filed in January earlier this year.

Netflix’s Mr. McMahon documentary series will be released a few months ahead of WWE Raw’s move to Netflix in 2025.

Vince McMahon Netflix Documentary Series Premieres September 25

The Vince McMahon documentary series is happening and Netflix has a date in place for people to watch.

On Thursday, Netflix announced ‘Mr. McMahon’ will be begin streaming September 25, 2024. The tagline is, “Mastermind. Madman.” The first details released by Netflix indicate the Janel Grant case will be fair game:

“Mr. McMahon, a documentary series chronicling the rise and fall of the WWE’s controversial founder, is coming to Netflix on September 25. From Chris Smith, Executive Producer of Tiger King, and Bill Simmons.

Including interviews with McMahon prior to his resignation, his family, and some of the most iconic names in wrestling history. As well as the journalists who uncovered McMahon’s allegations.”

Vince McMahon, WWE and Netflix

Netflix’s ‘Mr. McMahon’ documentary series drops only a few months before WWE Raw ‘cuts the cord’ and makes Netflix its new home starting in January 2025. The fact that this documentary is airing is quite telling as to how WWE likely wants to position themselves when it comes to the allegations.

Additionally, Bill Simmons who is an executive producer on the documentary, has always had a positive relationship with the company. The scandal has been a big talking point for pro wrestling fans and wrestlers alike, and was recently referenced by AEW’s MJF on social media.

Vince McMahon initially stepped down from WWE in 2022 only to return six months later, before ultimately leaving the company following the Janel Grant lawsuit which was filed in January 2024.

Jesse Ventura Pitched a WWE Political Party to Vince McMahon

Vince McMahon may have approved some unique angles during his time, but the idea of a WWE political party proved too much for the billionaire. On a recent edition of the Insight podcast, WWE Hall of Famer/Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura shared the angle he pitched to McMahon.

 “I went out to him and I said ‘Vince, we can do an angle right now. You can come out with the WWE and say we’re going to have our own nominee for president, the WWE party, the World Wrestling Party.'”

Ventura’s idea included getting ballot access in all 50 states, while on-screen, McMahon would tease that he’d be the party’s official candidate in the race to the White House. Just as McMahon would announce his candidacy, he’d be interrupted by ‘The Body.’

“I’m a governor. I’m the natural WWE candidate for president, then you do a schmoz where Vince and I get two wrestlers to represent us. Whoever wins gets the nomination.”

The match would see Ventura’s representative get the win, confirming Jesse as the official Presidential candidate representing the WWE Party. When asked why the angle didn’t play out, Ventura shared that McMahon didn’t bother to tell him ‘no.’

“He didn’t even bother to call me to turn me down. I thought that was the most disrespectful thing…  If he did just called me and said, Jesse, it’s too crazy. It’s too hokey. I don’t think we can do it. I would have said fine. I gave it a try. But he didn’t even call me back.”

While the WWE Party never left the drawing board, McMahon would be represented in a high-profile match with something on the line at WrestleMania 23. The ‘Battle of the Billionaires’ saw Donald Trump’s representative Bobby Lashley defeat McMahon’s Umaga, resulting in McMahon having his head shaved bald.

Wrestling & Politics

The WWE Party won’t be on the ballot this November, but plenty of wrestlers have attempted to enter the world of politics. Glenn ‘Kane’ Jacobs currently serves as the Mayor of Knox County, TN, and recently shared some strong words for the Democratic Party’s Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

The late Antonio Inoki was elected twice to Japan’s House of Councillors while The Great Sasuke was elected to Iwate’s Prefectural Assembly in 2003. In 2017, Linda McMahon, who lost two senate campaigns, was appointed Administrator, Small Business Administration, under President Trump.

Perhaps the most internationally recognized wrestler to enter office is known more for his political career than his time in the ring. Before his rise to political history, Abraham Lincoln wrestled in his teens and reportedly trained in catch-as-catch-can wrestling.

The future President held championship gold by the age of 21. According to eyewitness accounts at the time, a frustrated Lincoln once lifted an opponent who was fighting dirty by the neck, raised him in the air, and slammed him into the ground, a move not too different from today’s Chokeslam.

Harold von Schmidt for Esquire in 1949 — Photo from “New Salem, a History of Lincoln’s Alma Mater”, Joseph M. Di Cola

Ventura himself served as Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003. The WWE Hall of Famer has teased running for President in the past but has never gone much further than that. He has endorsed the Harris/Walz ticket for this November’s election.

Bobby Lashley Clarifies Comments On Triple H & Vince McMahon Leadership

Bobby Lashley has explained his recent comments about WWE’s leadership, which some took as a swipe at the current regime of Triple H. Earlier this month, Lashley said that Vince McMahon “understood me” and that the former WWE Chairman “looked at me like a star.” Lashley went on to say that he hasn’t had “too much of a connection with Hunter.”

Some fans took Lashley’s comments as a swipe at the Game, as he hadn’t appeared on WWE programming for months before this interview. Speaking more recently to The Bo and Them Show, Lashley made clear that he is not someone who speaks ill of others.

“I never bad mouth anyone, I never bad mouth the business. I left WWE in 2008. You can’t see any article where I said anything bad about the people there.”

Lashley added that “everyone was going after” him for speaking highly of his relationship with McMahon. The former WWE Champion simply stated the facts that he had more conversations with McMahon when he was in charge compared to Triple H.

“I had a different relationship with Vince. When Triple H came on, we never really had a chance to sit down. He didn’t get a chance to get to know me.”

Lashley’s profile was recently moved to the Alumni section of WWE.com following reports that his time with the promotion has come to an end. It has been stated that Lashley has attracted interest from AEW and that a Hurt Business (now dubbed the Hurt Syndicate) reunion with MVP and Shelton Benjamin remains possible.

Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Bobby Lashley and where his wrestling career takes the former WWE and TNA World Champion next.

Ronda Rousey Takes Aim at Vince McMahon, Love Triple H & Stephanie

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.

On Working With Vince McMahon

Since exiting WWE in 2023, Rousey has spoken openly about her issues with Vince McMahon. On the podcast, Rousey said that she never had anxiety about what the former WWE Chairman had to say about her matches.

“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.

Bret Hart Doesn’t Regret Punching Vince McMahon – “He Can Rot in Hell”

WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart has no regrets over punching Vince McMahon following Survivor Series 1997 and the Montreal Screwjob. Speaking with the Attitude Era podcast, the Hitman made his views on McMahon abundantly clear.

“I knocked him [McMahon] out with one punch and it was the greatest punch I ever threw. [It was an] absolutely beautiful uppercut. I lifted him about a foot off the ground, [and] broke my hand. It was the sweetest punch I ever threw. I wouldn’t change anything about it. Vince McMahon can rot in hell.”

After being ‘screwed’ by McMahon in his native Canada, an infuriated Hart made his way to the back. It has been reported for years that McMahon hid in his office after the match, and only emerged after The Undertaker made him appear and apologize. Bret and McMahon reportedly discussed what had happened and Bret warned McMahon to leave immediately or risk being punched.

McMahon allegedly told Bret “I’m gonna give you one” and Hart clocked the billionaire. McMahon was floored by the punch and was later seen with a black eye and a sprained ankle, the latter being cause by his fall to the floor, Hart has claimed.

What Came Next?

Bret would make a one-night return to WWE in 2006 for the Hall of Fame ceremony before returning in January 2010 to WWE programming. In 2019, Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for a second time for his role in the Hart Foundation.

Vince McMahon may not be in Hell as Hart wants, but he’s certainly not in the wrestling industry anymore. The former WWE Chairman stepped away from the promotion for the second time in 2024 due to Janel Grant’s lawsuit against him, John Laurinaitis, and WWE. McMahon is also dealing with a federal investigation into him from the Dept. of Justice. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on McMahon and the billionaire’s fall from the wrestling mountaintop.

Vince McMahon Health: Attorney Reacts to Rumors and Speculation


Vince McMahon, long known for his dedication to bodybuilding and fitness well into his senior years, has recently been the subject of speculation regarding his health. YouTuber Lee Cole has claimed that McMahon’s health is rapidly declining, citing sources close to him, including his ex-wife, Linda McMahon. However, these rumors have been firmly denied by McMahon’s attorney.

Claims of Declining Health

On August 15, 2024, YouTuber Lee Cole posted a video alleging that Vince McMahon’s health was rapidly declining. According to Cole, this information came from a mutual acquaintance of both him and Linda McMahon, causing widespread concern among wrestling fans and media outlets.

Cole, a well-known critic of McMahon, claimed that he even received legal threats after discussing McMahon’s health publicly, further fueling the speculation.

Official Response from Vince McMahon’s Attorney

In response to these claims, Vince McMahon’s attorney, Jessica Rosenberg, issued a statement to Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics and John Pollock of POST Wrestling, firmly denying the rumors.

“Vince’s health is fine,” Rosenberg stated, adding that they were unsure of the source of these baseless rumors but wanted to make it clear that they were entirely false. This official statement was intended to quell the growing speculation about McMahon’s condition.

Recent Health Concerns and Public Appearances

While it’s true that McMahon underwent spinal surgery in July 2023, which temporarily required him to use a cane, there have been no signs of any ongoing health issues.

McMahon’s most recent public appearance was in January 2024 at the New York Stock Exchange, where he was seen alongside TKO executives. During this appearance, he looked healthy and displayed no signs of physical decline.

Legal Battles, Future Outlook

Currently, McMahon is entangled in a legal battle over sexual assault allegations made by former WWE employee Janel Grant.

Despite stepping down from his roles in WWE and selling his remaining TKO stock in April 2024, McMahon continues to make headlines, whether due to his legal troubles or ongoing public interest in his personal life.

Why Bobby Lashley Prefers Vince McMahon’s Booking Over Triple H

Many Superstars have benefitted from the creative direction of Triple H, though Bobby Lashley would prefer the booking of Vince McMahon. Speaking with the Laboratory Podcast, the All Mighty was asked who he “rocks with” between McMahon and his son-in-law.

“Vince understood me. Vince was big on the show. He looked at people that were stars. He saw that in… He looked at me like a star. I like Vince.

“I haven’t really had too much of a connection with Hunter. Hunter has his guys. I’ve tried to, but we haven’t really worked enough together to get to know each other.”

It’s hard to ignore how Lashley’s role has diminished since McMahon’s departure from WWE in January of this year. Since then, the former WWE Champion has been used sparingly with little in the way of significant feuds. Lashley’s most recent match on WWE TV came on an April edition of SmackDown where he lost a triple threat match.

Lashley’s contract with WWE will reportedly expire this weekend and it’s said many in the company believe he will go, potentially to join AEW. Lashley’s name has allegedly come up backstage in AEW, but as he is still under a WWE contract, no offer has been made to the Superstar.

The All Mighty is also said to have interest from Japan and the future looks bright for him should he leave WWE. Lashley, alongside MVP, was reportedly removed from the internal roster earlier this year, which was seen at the time as a sign that he’d be exiting the promotion.

Bobby Lashley Vs. Vince McMahon

It’s not just behind the scenes where McMahon worked with Lashley. In 2007, the pair feuded after Lashley (representing Donald Trump) defeated McMahon’s representative Umaga at WrestleMania, resulting in McMahon’s head being shaved bald.

Seeking revenge, McMahon would capture the ECW Championship from Lashley at the following month’s Backlash, albeit in a three-on-one handicap match. Lashley regained the gold at One Night Stand 2007, ending McMahon’s unlikely reign at 35 days.

Eric Bischoff: ‘Had There Been No nWo, I Don’t Think WWE Would Exist Today’

Eric Bischoff has made a bold claim about the impact of the nWo on wrestling history.

The former WCW President was recently interviewed by Robert Breedlove on his What Is Money podcast. Bischoff went through his whole journey in pro wrestling during the show.

While detailing WCW’s rise to prominence under him, Eric mentioned that he knew the company could not compete with WWE in their own game. So Bischoff chose to focus on things they could do differently. This included going live and leaning towards a more reality-based programming which resulted in the introduction of nWo.

The former SmackDown Executive Director discussed how this gave WCW the upper hand for a long time. This continued until Vince McMahon decided to adapt to the circumstances and deliver his infamous promo, ushering in the Attitude Era:

“In ’97 Vince McMahon came out and said ‘Okay we’re no longer going to insult our intelligence. We’re going to bring more reality-based storylines to our audience’ and basically copy the formula that I used to beat him for 83 weeks in a row.

They did a phenomenal job. They actually did it bigger and better than I did. They had more latitude. They were able to do things that I couldn’t do because of the network programming executives I had to answer to. They turned that business around.”

Bigger And Better

Eric Bischoff then made a bold claim about the influence of nWo in pro wrestling. He reasoned that had nWo and the WCW programming not forced McMahon’s hand, WWE would have ceased to exist:

“Had there been no…and this is the part that’ll be controversial, but it’s true. Had there been no nWo I don’t think WWE would exist today.

Because when Vince McMahon changed his model. When he replicated what we were doing but did it bigger and better his business exploded. Within two years he took his company public based on the success of that transformation and recently sold a year ago for 9 billion dollars.”

Of course, we can never really know what would have been the result had Vince McMahon decided to double down on their version of pro wrestling instead of adapting to the change. The only thing that is certain is that his promo was the official start of an era that changed the business forever and its effect will continue to be felt in wrestling for a long time to come.

Jonathan Coachman Comments On Positive And Negatives Of Working With Vince McMahon

Jonathan Coachman has revealed the goods and bads of working with Vince McMahon.

The former WWE personality recently spoke to Bill Apter for Sportskeeda WrestleBinge. He talked about things such as his beef with Mercedes Mone and more.

When asked for his thoughts on Vince McMahon, the Coach who worked closely with the former WWE chairman during his time in the company explained why he doesn’t like to comment on him:

I don’t really have any thoughts about him in 2024 to be honest with you. I don’t like to comment on him, because at one point I was around him a lot, and I took a lot from what he taught us.”

He Didn’t Care About My Family

Jonathan Coachman joined WWE as a backstage interviewer in 1999. He gradually climbed the ladder and was working as a commentator on SmackDown when he left the company in 2008.

Coachman also revealed the positive and negative side of working with McMahon. When asked to elaborate on his comment, he gave an example of things he regrets:

“The positive stuff is learning how when the red light comes on, timing, emphasis, storytelling, all the stuff that kind of makes high-level pro wrestling what it is. Also the grind. We were forced into the grind, and in my first 10-year run, I only missed one Monday night. I look back on it now, and there’s a lot of regrets I have as far as things I missed because we couldn’t stand up for ourselves.

I was at Christmas Eve, and I was back home in Kansas. You get a call to come back and shoot something in Connecticut. Because he wanted to go to Florida to be with his family, and really didn’t care about my family. So I did it because I never told him…. I only told him no once, and I got beat up for that. So, it is what it is.”

The event Coachman is referring to happened when he skipped a voluntary tour of Afghanistan in 2001 because of his newborn baby. As a result, the former WWE personality was punished after a SmackDown show when both Undertaker and Batista beat him down.

MJF References Vince McMahon Scandal In Response to Fan’s Comment

AEW American Champion MJF didn’t hold back when a fan opted to bring up Vince McMahon in a discussion about appropriate words in wrestling. To promote his upcoming match with Kyle Fletcher, MJF suggested that Fletcher cut his hair as he looks like “MGK [Machine Gun Kelly] and Ellen Degeneres’s dumpster baby.” That line crossed a line for one fan who said that Vince McMahon would never have allowed one of his Superstars to say something like that. MJF fired back, saying what he believes would be a more likely comment from McMahon given the allegations against the former WWE CEO. In a response of his own, FTR’s Dax Harwood shared his support for MJF’s comment.

McMahon has been accused of being sexually abusive and trafficking Janel Grant during a relationship that McMahon’s legal team has said was wholly consensual.

While the case has been postponed due to a federal investigation into McMahon, details around the matter continue to make headlines. Last month, it was reported that Grant had filed a complaint against Peak Wellness and is asking the company to provide receipts and other information for use in discovery in Grant’s case against McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE. In the original civil suit filed by Grant in January, a Peak Wellness employee was accused of participating in an assault against her.

The Future for MJF

As for MJF, he has a busy few weeks ahead of him, including the match with Kyle Fletcher looming. August 2024 will also see MJF compete at Rev Pro’s Summer Sizzler event in the UK, a third-world country in the eyes of the AEW American Champion. MJF will face Michael Oku at the show, who MJF has said he hates because Oku has the respect of Will Ospreay. MJF will face Ospreay with the AEW American title on the line later this month at All In: London 2024.

Bill Goldberg Talks Vince McMahon, Bret Hart, Infamous Undertaker Match

Former WWE and WCW champion Bill Goldberg recently sat down with wrestling journalist Chris Van Vliet on Insight for a wide-ranging interview. The 57-year old legend discussed his relationship with former WWE boss Vince McMahon, his infamous match with The Undertaker and of course, Bret Hart.

Here are some of the key takeaways of what Goldberg said about:

Vince McMahon’s Broken Promise

Goldberg maintains that Vince McMahon broke a promise for him to receive a proper retirement match:

“If that match was still on the table, it would have been done, I would have thought. But hey, man, I was thinking about it this morning in the shower, right? And I thought, Man, I had one of the best wrestling careers ever and don’t think for one second that I don’t understand that and I don’t appreciate it. And so to sit here and cry over a person not keeping his word in a business, that’s as cutthroat as humanly possible and he gets cast out.”

His Dud Match With The Undertaker

Goldberg discussed his disappointing match with The Undertaker at WWE Super Showdown 2019, which he blames on giving himself a concussion before he even made it into the ring.

“I knocked myself out before walking to the frickin ring. You know, when I came back, intensity is something very hard to replicate and I had forgotten my sequence to the ring. I had forgotten my preparation.”

His Relationship With Bret Hart

Goldberg and Bret Hart’s bitter feud is well-documented. Hart blames Goldberg for cutting his career short due to injures he sustained during their match at WCW Starrcade 1999. For all that’s been said about it, Goldberg admits mistakes were made.

“It was a screw-up in the match and it’s live on national television. There’s two people that have to dance and you can only do so much and I mean, things went awry. It is what it is.”

Goldberg says it’s time to move on and leave the bitterness behind them, especially since he claims Hart accepted a favor from him after he got injured.

“I really don’t care anymore about Bret, I couldn’t care less. You know Louis, right? All I can tell you is this. Louis and I know and [Brian] Knobbs knows, through Legends of Wrestling that shortly thereafter all that sh*t that happened. I talked Louis into giving Bret Hart a job at Legends of Wrestling. He must forget about stuff like that.”

Triple H On Brock Lesnar’s WWE Future: “If and When He Decides…”

Brock Lesnar’s last match for WWE was a loss to Cody Rhodes at last year’s SummerSlam on August 5, 2023. Unsurprisingly, Lesnar’s name was thrown around a potential surprise entrant this year’s Royal Rumble event. However, when WWE former employee Janel Grant’s lawsuit against the company and former Chairman Vince McMahon became public on January 25, Lesnar was heavily implied to have been involved with her. In a new interview, WWE executive Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque provided a new update on a potential Lesnar return.

Will Brock Lesnar Return to WWE?

Triple H tells Daily Mail that Brock Lesnar is enjoying life up in Canada with his family and the ball is in his court.

“…Brock does his own things, so he’s up in Canada, I’m sure, watching his kids play hockey and enjoying life. If and when he decides to do something we’d be open to the conversation, but we’ll see.”


– Paul Levesque on Brock Lesnar’s future with WWE

While he was not named in the lawsuit, Grant shared that McMahon made her send personalized sexual content to “a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and WWE talent” in March 2020. She claims that McMahon wanted her to get involved with Lesnar to negotiate for Lesnar to reach a new deal with WWE.

Grant also alleged that the former WWE Chairman wanted Lesnar to have a sexual encounter with her as a way to reach an agreement, but it didn’t end up happening. The implication of Lesnar’s involvement in the lawsuit quickly led to many believing that he was the WWE talent she was referencing, and he has been off TV since.

The lawsuit is currently on hold as the Department of Justice launched a federal investigation on McMahon on May 30.

During the WrestleMania 40 post-media conference on April 6, Levesque shared that Lesnar was still in the company but was at home. Since then, the former WWE Champion has been mentioned on TV but hasn’t shown signs of a comeback.


Triple H and Brock Lesnar’s History


Brock Lesnar and Triple H are both legendary WWE Superstars, but Lesnar has a dominant 3-1 record over Triple H in their head-to-head matches, which have mostly been high-stakes and extreme stipulation encounters.?

  • June 2022: Brock Lesnar successfully defended the WWE Heavyweight Title against Triple H in a non-televised match at the WWE RAW House Show in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
  • August 2012: Brock Lesnar defeated Triple H in a No Disqualification match at WWE SummerSlam.
  • April 2013: Triple H defeated Brock Lesnar in a No Holds Barred match where his career was on the line at WrestleMania XXIX.
  • May 2013: Brock Lesnar beat Triple H in a Steel Cage match at Extreme Rules 2013.

Full Match: Watch the Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar No Holds Barred Match from WrestleMania XXIX from April 2013:

CM Punk Reveals Vince McMahon’s Departure “Illuminated The Way” For His Return

CM Punk has revealed that former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon’s departure from the company paved the way for his return.

‘The Second City Savior’ spoke to Denise Salcedo at San Diego Comic Con and said that Vince McMahon being out of the picture was one of the factors for his comeback to the company after a decade.

“No, because it was never a thing that I was yearning to do. There were a lot of things that had to happen for the pathway to kind of clear. The stars had to align. There had to be a full moon. A lot of dominoes fell in order for us to get here. There was a never a, ‘Man, I’d really like to go back.’

He added:

“Vince (McMahon) being out of the picture probably illuminated the way. That might have been one of the biggest things. That’s both ways, for everybody who is going to sensationalize a headline. It wasn’t me, it wasn’t him, there’s just a lot of history there. All of a sudden, one of us is removed from the equation, and I think it changed a lot of things.”

Vince McMahon had stepped down from his roles in June 2022 after it came to light that he was involved in a hush-money scandal with former WWE employees. He returned the following year as executive chairman of the TKO Group Holdings. However, he left WWE yet again earlier this year due to Janel Grant’s lawsuit which alleged abuse and trafficking.

Meanwhile, CM Punk returned to WWE last year at WWE Survivor Series and shocked the pro wrestling fraternity. During the interview, Punk also stated that he knew his surprise return would be a big deal. The former WWE Champion competed in his first WWE match in almost ten years at the 2024 Royal Rumble. Unfortunately, he suffered torn tricep during the match and has been on the shelf ever since.

The former WWE Champion is set to make his comeback at next month’s SummerSlam where he will face his arch-rival Drew McIntyre. It was also recently announced that Seth Rollins will serve as the Special Guest Referee.