Vince McMahon made headlines on Wednesday, but it appears as if WWE will operate “business as usual” while the investigation into claims against him play out.
According to F4WOnline’s Dave Meltzer, WWE is expected to operate as it normally would for its Friday night SmackDown television tapings in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that McMahon and John Laurinaitis, who was also named in the Wall Street Journal’s report, are expected to be at the taping on Friday.
Meltzer also noted that it’s “very early in the game” and there are those in WWE that believe Vince McMahon will remain on as CEO despite the allegations made against him.
“Major CEOs far more powerful than Vince McMahon have been brought down for less than this. I know people in the company who do believe Vince will survive this, not so sure about John Laurinaitis,” Meltzer said. “But do believe Vince will survive this with the idea that as long as there’s no company funds used to pay this off.”
Vince McMahon was the subject of a new article from the Wall Street Journal that detailed an investigation by the WWE board into his alleged role in covering up an affair with a former employee. The Journal reported the board of directors received a copy of the $3 million “hush pact” agreement from one of Mr. McMahon’s lawyers on June 12, outlining how the NDA provided an upfront payment of $1 million to the former employee, with the remaining $2 million to be paid out over a period of five years.
According to the report, Laurinaitis was also accused of misconduct, and the board’s investigation found both were named in older nondisclosure agreements involving claims of misconduct by former female WWE employees.
A WWE spokesman told the Journal that the company is cooperating fully with the board and that they take the allegations seriously and will dealing with them appropriately.
Read More: WWE Board Investigating $3 Million ‘Hush Pact’ By Vince McMahon With Ex-Employee For Alleged Affair
