Vince McMahon is back as a member of WWE’s Board of Directors.
Vince McMahon Returns To WWE
Six months after retiring amidst an ongoing sexual assault investigation, which is still ongoing, McMahon along with Michelle Wilson and George Barrios is back on the Board of Directors for WWE as three members of the current board have resigned. In addition, the SEC filing states that two other members stepped down once the Board reinstated McMahon on Friday, January 6th.
According to a Wall Street Journal Report that came out on Thursday McMahon wanted to come back as the Executive Chairman of WWE as early as December 2022. The reason McMahon wanted to come back to the company was to pursue a sale and be involved in the company’s upcoming media rights deals. He felt it was “Best for Business” with him running the show to maximize the lucrative deal for the company.
One of the reasons for McMahon stepped away and was investigated by the Board of Directors and the government was because of multiple “hush fund” payouts to women who alleged sexual misconduct. The “hush fund” was company money not his own money and was never reported in the company’s financial statements. McMahon also thought he got bad advice and felt the investigation would have just gone away if he stayed.
To no one’s surprise, WWE announced via a press release that Vince McMahon was back with the company.
“Today, we announce that the founder of WWE, Vince McMahon, will be returning to the Board,” said Chairwoman & Co-CEO Stephanie McMahon, Co-CEO Nick Khan and Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque. “We also welcome back Michelle Wilson and George Barrios to our Board of Directors. Together, we look forward to exploring all strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value.”
As Vince McMahon stated yesterday, “WWE has an exceptional management team in place, and I do not intend for my return to have any impact on their roles, duties, or responsibilities.”
Based on the information from the filing, Vince McMahon expects to assume the role of Executive of the Board. Currently, Nick Khan and Stephanie McMahon are Co-CEO and Chairmen of the Board. McMahon outlined his rationale for coming to this decision via press release and went through the timeline of communication with the Board to put this into motion:
“Based on correspondence from the Board, dated December 27, 2022, and following conversations with representatives of the Issuer both before and after the Reporting Person’s most recent letter on December 31, 2022, the Reporting Person determined, consistent with his rights as controlling stockholder, that the actions he has taken are necessary to maximize value for all of the Issuer’s stockholders.”
“”These actions will enable unified decision making through the Issuer’s upcoming media rights negotiations and a parallel full review of the Issuer’s strategic alternatives, which the Reporting Person believes is the right course of action and in the best interests of the Issuer and the Issuer’s stockholders in the midst of the current dynamics in the media and entertainment industry.”
AEW: CM Punk Winning AEW World Title Was The Right Decision
WWE: Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns Is The Perfect Time To Make One Champion
NJPW: Wrestling Roundup: Mercedes Mone Debuts, Charlotte Flair Returns and More
NFL: PfgVIBE’s 2021 NFL Predictions: Team and Individual Picks
NHL: Matthew Tkachuk Traded To Florida Panthers
PODCAST: Crossbody of Work Episode 87: Mickie James
In the filing linked above it was revealed that JoEllen Lyons Dillon, Jeffrey R. Speed and Alan M. Wexler were removed as a result of the changes.
In the WWE press release above, they confirmed their current Board and noted two additional members (Ignace Lahoud and Man Jit Singh) have resigned effective Friday. Singh was part of the investigative team into McMahon’s “hush fund.”
Fallout And What Led To Vince Coming Back
Vince McMahon used the ultimate power play. However, if you read the correspondence between the Board and McMahon during the December email chain, the Board of Directors for WWE does not want him as Executive Chairman while there is a government investigation going on.
Reposting WWE’s Board’s December 27 email to Vince. pic.twitter.com/dm41qFknO3
— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) January 6, 2023
McMahon stated that he will not approve any sale or media rights deal without having that title. It is a storyline from McMahon’s own world playing out in real life. And now that he is back on the Board of Directors he changed the bylaws. That means no sale can be approved without his approval or say.
WWE’s stock price jumped this morning and trading was temporarily halted before it resumed after a short delay.
There is a meeting with WWE staff and personnel to be held this afternoon. There is no word if Vince McMahon will be back as head of creative a role Triple H currently holds.
Stay tuned for more on this ongoing story.
-
Royal Rumble Fallout and the road to AEW Revolutionby Full Press Coverage on February 3, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim is back once again joined by Teddy as they review AEW Dynamite and the […]
-
AEW Tribute to Jay Briscoe and RAW 30 Plus Royal Rumble Previewby Full Press Coverage on February 3, 2023 at 12:58 am
Jim is back once again joined by Teddy as they review AEW Tribute to Jay […]
-
Vince McMahon Returns To WWEby Full Press Coverage on January 16, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim is joined by Teddy Repantis as they discuss Vince McMahon's return to […]
-
Big Time Returns - Mercedes Mone Debuts at Wrestle Kingdom, Charlotte Flair Returns and Moreby Full Press Coverage on January 15, 2023 at 9:08 pm
Jim is joined by Teddy Repantis to discuss the debut of Mercedes Mone aka […]
-
Islanders Land Horvat; What's Next For Canucks?by Full Press Coverage on February 1, 2023 at 1:15 am
Jim Biringer is back with a Full Press Hockey Daily breaking down the Bo […]
-
Divisional Round Predictions: Who Is Headed To Conference Championship Weekend?by Full Press Coverage on January 20, 2023 at 10:22 am
Ian and John preview Division Round Weekend in the NFL and give their […]
-
CFB Daily: Georgia Repeats As National Champions After Romp Of TCUby Full Press Coverage on January 10, 2023 at 5:24 pm
Jim Biringer is back to break down the National Championship Game as […]
-
CFB Daily: National Championship Game Previewby Full Press Coverage on January 9, 2023 at 1:48 am
Jim Biringer is back with another College Football Daily previewing the […]
-
2/3 - Tom Brady Retires... For Goodby Full Press Coverage on February 3, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Ian and John react to Tom Brady's second, and likely final, retirement. […]
-
1/31 - Tom Brady and the 49ers, Aaron Rodgers Futureby Full Press Coverage on January 31, 2023 at 9:00 am
Ian and John discuss whether or not the 49ers loss in the NFC Championship […]
-
1/30 - Conference Championship Recap: Eagles, Chiefs Advanceby Full Press Coverage on January 30, 2023 at 10:35 am
Ian and John recap the Eagles and Chiefs victories on Conference […]
-
1/27 - Conference Championship Preview: Who is Going To The Super Bowl?by Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 9:50 am
Ian and John preview Conference Championship Weekend and give their picks […]