Vince McMahon

Mr. McMahon agreed to pay a secret settlement to an employee with whom he was said to have had an affair, The Wall Street Journal reported this week.

Since taking over his father’s wrestling company in 1982, Mr. McMahon has presided over its ascent into a cultural giant, with more than $1 billion in revenue in 2021. “I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.” Far from an anonymous executive, Mr. McMahon is among the most recognizable faces of professional wrestling, adopting a swagger-filled public persona who is often at the center of the on-screen action. Stephanie McMahon, his daughter, will take over as interim chief executive and chairwoman, the company said in a statement. On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Mr. McMahon agreed to pay a secret $3 million settlement to an employee with whom he was said to have had an affair, and that the board had been investigating since April. The investigation unearthed other nondisclosure agreements involving claims of misconduct by Mr. McMahon, The Journal reported. Mr. McMahon, the pro wrestling company’s chairman and chief executive, agreed to pay a secret settlement to an employee with whom he was said to have had an affair, The Wall Street Journal reported this week.

Vince McMahon's daughter, Stephanie, will lead the wrestling company during the inquiry. McMahon, accused of paying $3 million to cover up an affair, ...

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The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that WWE was investigating an alleged $3 million payment from McMahon to a departing female employee following a ...

She had been serving as the company’s chief brand officer. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that WWE was investigating an alleged $3 million payment from McMahon to a departing female employee following a consensual affair. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that WWE was investigating an alleged $3 million payment from McMahon to a departing female employee following a consensual affair. Outside of the investigation, WWE said Friday that the company and its special committee will work with an independent third-party to perform a comprehensive review of the work environment at the organization. “I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the special committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” McMahon said in a prepared statement Friday. “I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.” Vince McMahon is stepping down as CEO and chairman of WWE during an investigation into alleged misconduct involving the longtime leader and public face of the organization.

His daughter, Stephanie McMahon, who happens to be married to the WWE Superstar Triple H, has assumed the position of interim CEO and chairperson. McMahon, who ...

I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.” There have also been allegations made against him of sexual assault in the past, which he has denied. Vince McMahon, the 76-year-old head of World Wrestling Entertainment and face behind one of the more entertaining memes commonly spotted online, announced on Friday that he is stepping back from his leadership role while the company investigates misdemeanor claims.

Vince McMahon is stepping down as CEO and chairman of WWE during an investigation into alleged misconduct involving the longtime leader and public face of ...

She had been serving as the company’s chief brand officer. Outside of the investigation, WWE said Friday that the company and its special committee will work with an independent third-party to perform a comprehensive review of the work environment at the organization. “I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the special committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” McMahon said in a prepared statement Friday. “I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.”

Vince McMahon has stepped down as Chairman and CEO of WWE and Stephanie McMahon has been named Chairwoman and CEO of the wrestling giant following news of ...

Ms. McMahon said in her own personal statement, “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. WSJ would add in relation to the alleged $3 million settlement, “The first email, sent to board members on March 30, alleged that Mr. McMahon, 76 years old, initially hired the woman at a salary of $100,000 but increased it to $200,000 after beginning a sexual relationship with her. The investigation would go on to discover other, older nondisclosure agreements pertaining to former female WWE employees and alleged misconduct by Mr. McMahon and Laurinaitis. I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.” 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. 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.

Vince McMahon is in the middle of a corporate firestorm, but he still opened the company's wrestling telecast "Smackdown" on Friday.

"It is extremely important to me that we have a safe and collaborative workplace," he said. The separation agreement was reportedly made in January between McMahon and the former unnamed employee. "Those four words are 'then,' 'now,' 'forever,' and the most important word is 'together,'" he said. Other misconduct claims were reportedly found against John Laurinaitis, the company's head of talent relations. "I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the special committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation," McMahon said in a statement Friday. "I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are." As for McMahon's in-ring persona, he won't be going anywhere for now.

WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon is stepping back from his duties as the company's board investigates alleged misconduct by the executive.

In its release, the WWE said, "The Company and the Board do not expect to have further comment until the investigation is concluded." He bought the company from his father 40 years ago and has orchestrated its growth into a global, arena-packing brand that has media partnerships with Fox, Hulu and NBCUniversal's Peacock, among others. "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," Stephanie McMahon said in the release.

The WWE board of directors appointed McMahon's daughter, Stephanie McMahon, as interim CEO and chairwoman until the probe's conclusion. “I have pledged my ...

"I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are." He frequently appears in WWE broadcasts and is said to have almost total control over scripts and overall storylines. “I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the Special Committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” Vince McMahon said a in statement released by the Stamford, Connecticut-based company.

Vince McMahon opened "SmackDown Live" on Friday night with a brief appearance in the ring.

The board’s investigation uncovered other settlement agreements involving McMahon and Laurinaitis, the Journal reported. McMahon’s daughter and WWE executive Stephanie McMahon has been named interim CEO and chairwoman while the investigation is underway. He kept his remarks brief, saying, “It is a privilege as always to stand before you here tonight, the WWE universe…I’m here simply to remind you of the four words we just saw in what we call our WWE signature.

McMahon's daughter, Stephanie, will serve as interim CEO and chairwoman, the organization said.

She had been serving as the company’s chief brand officer. “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,” she said in a statement. “I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the special committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” McMahon said in a prepared statement Friday. “I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.” Outside of the investigation, WWE said Friday that the company and its special committee will work with an independent third-party to perform a comprehensive review of the work environment at the organization. Revenue last year exceeded $1 billion for the first time, and the company has television deals with Fox and NBCUniversal. Last month it announced a multi-year expansion of its original programming partnership with A&E. Vince McMahon will appear on its live show “SmackDown” later Friday, WWE said on Twitter after it announced the changes in leadership.

Amid a misconduct scandal, McMahon's appearance on 'Smackdown' Friday shows the organization will have to live with its nominally deposed mad king.

Those words betray the brazenness of someone who may have lost the confidence and respect of a segment of viewers and even stakeholders, but still owns a majority of controlling shares in the company he’s overseen for 40 years. Competition is what fuels Vince McMahon — competition for ratings, global dominance, social media saturation, prestige, alpha-male pride and the adoration of millions. I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.” Strange sentiment from someone who earlier that day stepped back from his decades-long role as chief executive and chairman following revelations in the Wall Street Journal that he’d allegedly paid millions to silence a former staff paralegal with whom he carried on an extramarital affair. More recently, he came out unscathed after ex-wrestler Ashley Massaro accused him of negligence for failing to take action after she was allegedly raped overseas by a military doctor as part of a WWE tour of armed-forces bases. While Vince may have temporarily ceded C-Suite authority — handing the reins to daughter Stephanie one month after her own publicly declared leave of absence for, ironically, family reasons — WWE confirmed in a corporate release that he will retain creative control of all programming.