The controversy surrounding Vince McMahon continues to swirl.
On June 15, the Wall Street Journal reported that the WWE Board of Directors was investigating a $3 million hush pact he reached with a former employee that he allegedly had an affair with. McMahon subsequently stepped back from his duties as the WWE Chairman and CEO, with his daughter, Stephanie, being named as his replacement in the interim. Despite the controversy, Vince still appeared live on WWE SmackDown the day of this announcement, and he also showed up on the following episode of WWE RAW.
In an update, the Wall Street Journal reported on July 8 that in order to “suppress allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity”, McMahon agreed to pay over $12 million to four women who were connected to WWE. The report notes that McMahon reached a number of agreements, with one wrestler alleging that “Mr. McMahon coerced her into giving him oral sex and then demoted her and, ultimately, declined to renew her contract in 2005 after she resisted further sexual encounters.”
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reports that, according to multiple members of WWE staff, McMahon’s response to the allegations ranged from “no selling the whole thing,” to “being defiant.” These sources also stated that, after McMahon’s appearance on the June 17 episode of WWE SmackDown, he came backstage and shouted “F— em!”, which seemed to be a response to the allegations. Ross Sapp wrote that McMahon is scheduled to be at the July 8 episode of WWE SmackDown, it’s unclear whether he’ll appear on-screen.
Ross Sapp also noted that WWE talent who have privately spoken with Fightful were displeased and frustrated with the way McMahon has handled the situation since the allegations first came out.
Meanwhile, the report cited WWE sources who believe that former Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis is “done” with the company, as he was also named in the allegations, but that he would be taken care of, presumably from a financial standpoint.
WrestleZone will provide more details as they become available.
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