The Vince McMahon chaos at WWE: A complete timeline

(Image credit: Illustrated | Getty Images)

published 23 January 2023

The fourth season of Succession came early for fans of WWE. The wrestling company has been engulfed in drama after its CEO retired in disgrace amid a sexual misconduct scandal, only to abruptly return months later against the board's wishes — leading to his own daughter's exit and rumors that the company could be sold to Saudi Arabia. Here's a complete timeline of the ongoing chaos:

June 2022: WWE board probing Vince McMahon's alleged affair settlement

According to the report, board members learned of this agreement after receiving anonymous emails from a friend of the woman beginning March 30. The emails claim the woman was hired as a paralegal in 2019 and that McMahon doubled her salary, from $100,000 to $200,000, after they began a sexual relationship. She allegedly signed a separation agreement in January 2022 preventing her from discussing the relationship. A WWE spokesperson tells the Journal that the relationship was consensual.

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But the Journal says the board's investigation "unearthed other, older nondisclosure agreements involving claims by former female WWE employees" against McMahon and head of talent relations John Laurinaitis. One of the anonymous emails reportedly claimed McMahon "gave" the former paralegal "like a toy" to Laurinaitis; she reportedly became an assistant for Laurinaitis in 2021. McMahon is also accused of using personal funds to pay these former employees.

A new report says McMahon allegedly agreed to pay over $12 million to four women to "suppress allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity" over the past 16 years. This includes an alleged $7.5 million agreement with a former wrestler who reportedly alleged McMahon coerced her into performing oral sex on him, "then demoted her and, ultimately, declined to renew her contract in 2005 after she resisted further sexual encounters."

Another settlement was reportedly with a WWE contractor who alleged McMahon sexually harassed her; she allegedly claimed she received unsolicited nude photos of McMahon and presented them to the company, ultimately receiving a $1 million settlement in 2008. Additionally, in 2006, a former manager was paid $1 million to "keep quiet" about a sexual relationship with McMahon, the Journal says. These agreements are in addition to the previously reported $3 million settlement with the former paralegal.

This same report reveals another new detail: that head of talent relations John Laurinaitis allegedly had a sexual relationship "with the same former paralegal" who received the $3 million settlement. The board is also reportedly investigating a $1.5 million nondisclosure agreement reached with an employee in 2012, who alleged she had an affair with Laurinaitis and was demoted after breaking it off. Laurinaitis has been placed on administrative leave, the report adds.

On July 22, McMahon abruptly announces in a terse tweet (sent at the end of the day on a Friday) that it's "time for me to retire." The company soon confirms the news in a statement, which does not acknowledge the sexual misconduct allegations as the reason. "I would like to thank my family for mightily contributing to our success, and I would also like to thank all of our past and present superstars and employees for their dedication and passion for our brand," McMahon says.

The following month, WWE says its board investigation into McMahon's alleged misconduct is "substantially complete." According to the Journal, it found that there were about $20 million in expenses that should have been recorded in WWE's financial statements, including $14.6 million to settle sexual misconduct allegations from 2006 through 2022. The investigation also reportedly finds McMahon paid $5 million in unrecorded expenses as contributions to former President Donald Trump's charity.

Weeks later, McMahon releases a shocking statement on Jan. 5 announcing he is electing himself to WWE's board, in addition to former WWE co-presidents Michelle Wilson and George Barrios, and removing three board directors. He's able to do so because he is still the company's majority shareholder. "Mr. McMahon expects to assume the role of executive chairman of the board," his statement says. Two other board directors also resign.

The board "previously rebuffed an attempt from McMahon to return to the company," according to ESPN. In a December letter, the board said his return would be a mistake, a conclusion "based on a variety of factors, including non-public information the board has become aware of and the risks to the company and its shareholders of placing a greater spotlight on these issues," per The Hollywood Reporter.

But McMahon is reportedly exploring a possible sale of WWE, and this comes as WWE's media rights deals are set to be renegotiated in 2023. He says in his statement that his "return will allow WWE, as well as any transaction counterparties, to engage in these processes knowing they will have the support of the controlling shareholder." Translation? "He is essentially tying his return to the ability to get a deal done" and suggesting that if WWE were to "do a deal without him involved in the company, that he could potentially veto it at any time," Matthew Belloni explains on The Town podcast. "So he kind of forced their hand."

PWInsider's Mike Johnson reports news of McMahon's return "shocked everyone we have spoken with" inside WWE. "The company morale has gone up exponentially since Vince 'retired' so a lot of people are wondering what things will look like in the days ahead," Johnson writes, explaining the WWE board can't stop him. "Vince has the majority shareholder," he says, "and he's always had the right to do this — he still owns the company!"

Less than a week after her father's return, Stephanie McMahon resigns as co-CEO and chair of the board on Jan. 10. "WWE is in such a strong position that I have decided to return to my leave and take it one step further with my official resignation," she says. This is despite the fact that Vince McMahon previously said he didn't "intend for my return to have any impact on" WWE's "exceptional management." This same day, WWE confirms Vince McMahon has been "unanimously elected" as executive chairman of the board.

Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer addresses the rumor that "Vince is selling to the Saudis and he's going to go private," noting he also heard these rumblings. "This is not some crazy, made-up story that someone pulled out of thin air," he says. "Everybody was talking about it." But Alvarez says WWE "does not appear to be sold yet." Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer also reports WWE is looking to sell by mid-2023, and he confirms Saudi Arabia is "in the hunt," as is Endeavor, which already owns UFC. Meltzer adds that WWE CEO Nick Khan recently met with Disney CEO Bob Iger, sparking speculation Disney could be in the mix.

Meanwhile, Meltzer says on The Dan LeBatard Show that the WWE board previously voted not to bring McMahon back because "there's other things that haven't even come out publicly that they're worried about." He also speculates that despite Triple H still being in charge of the creative side of WWE for now, "I'm sure that [McMahon's] goal is to be back in charge, fully, of the company, and run the creative of the company."

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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.