Vince McMahon

Wrestling magnate and top exec John Laurinaitis named in bombshell probe.

Laurinaitis has no chance of remaining with the WWE after this discovery. Vince’s wife, Linda McMahon, is still a minority owner in WWE but hasn’t held an executive role with the company since 2009. The investigation into the large payment started in April and led to the discovery of other nondisclosure agreements signed by former female WWE employees related to wrongdoing by McMahon, as well as WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis. The WSJ didn’t provide how many NDAs were found as part of the investigation.

McMahon had other nondisclosure agreements regarding alleged misconduct with female employees that the board was investigating, the newspaper reported, citing ...

McMahon’s attorney, Jerry McDevitt, told the paper in a letter that the former employee, a paralegal, hadn’t made any claims of harassment against his client. The board so far has concluded McMahon paid the settlements with his own money, the newspaper reported, citing one of the people familiar with the situation. World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.’s board is looking into a secret $3-million payment that Chief Executive Officer Vince McMahon made to a female former employee with whom he allegedly had an affair, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the board’s action.

Company says relationship was consensual and is cooperating with the inquiry.

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World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.'s board is looking into a secret $3 million payment that Chief Executive Officer Vince McMahon made to a female former ...

McMahon is the majority shareholder of the publicly traded company's Class B shares, which grant him overwhelming voting power. Additionally, the board has ...

The WWE is a wrestling entertainment powerhouse which reported record revenues of $1.1 billion last year. However, the board probe has unearthed other, older nondisclosure agreements involving claims by former female WWE employees against McMahon and one of his top executives, John Laurinaitis, the head of talent relations at WWE, the WSJ reported. Additionally, the board has various members of his family.

The WWE told the Wall Street Journal it is cooperating with the board and that the relationship with the ex-paralegal was consensual.

McMahon and the WWE faced federal charges in the 1990s of distributing and conspiring to distribute steroids to WWE wrestlers. The WWE board received a copy of the $3 million agreement from one of McMahon’s lawyers on June 12, the WSJ said. “My friend was so scared so she quit after Vince McMahon and lawyer Jerry paid her millions of dollars to shut up,” the emailer wrote.

The board of World Wrestling Entertainment is investigating a secret $3 million hush payment that company CEO Vince McMahon agreed to make to a former ...

The Journal reported that the board has retained the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett to conduct the investigation and that payments of other nondisclosure agreements, outside of the one involving the former employee, have totaled in the millions of dollars. An ESPN request for comment from WWE was not returned Wednesday night. The email sent to the board regarding the former WWE employee, who was hired as a paralegal in 2019, alleged that McMahon gave the woman to Laurinaitis "like a toy."

The board of World Wrestling Entertainment is investigating a secret $3 million hush payment that company CEO Vince McMahon agreed to make to a former ...

The Journal reported that the board has retained the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett to conduct the investigation and that payments of other nondisclosure agreements, outside of the one involving the former employee, have totaled in the millions of dollars. An ESPN request for comment from WWE was not returned Wednesday night. The email sent to the board regarding the former WWE employee, who was hired as a paralegal in 2019, alleged that McMahon gave the woman to Laurinaitis "like a toy."

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon is being investigated by WWE's Board of Directors stemming from an alleged “hush pact” in the form of a $3 million settlement ...

It’s possible she saw this storm on the horizon, and as the Chief Branding Officer and face of the company, she wanted no part of publicly navigating such a private family matter. Though this is not the first major scandal to threaten Vince McMahon’s unquestioned rule over WWE’s empire, it comes during a time where cancel culture is alive and insatiable. The bombshell report from the Wall Street Journal (h/t Wrestling Inc) alleges the 76-year-old McMahon was involved in an affair with a 41-year-old paralegal. Allegations of sexual misconduct have taken down one mogul after another during an era of female empowerment coinciding with the fall of countless male-dominated dynasties. In fact, Stephanie McMahon’s departure comes with curious timing in hindsight. Shane McMahon, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon have all seen their power wane this past year—for one reason or another.

Vince McMahon, the CEO of WWE, is being investigated by the company's board for agreeing to pay a secret $3 million settlement to a former employee he ...

The Journal notes that WWE's board is made of up WWE executives and even members of McMahon's own family. The WWE board was sent an email on March 30 that alleged McMahon, who is 76, hired the employee "at a salary of $100,000 but increased it to $200,000 after beginning a sexual relationship with her." Other misconduct claims were reportedly found against John Laurinaitis, the company's head of talent relations.