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Misconduct allegations threaten Vince McMahon’s hold on WWE


WWE CEO and Chairman Vince McMahon revolutionized the sport of wrestling into a staple of mainstream entertainment over the course of his decades-long career. However, fresh allegations of misconduct could destabilize the once unshakeable control McMahon had held over the industry.

According to the Wall Street Journal, McMahon paid out more than $12 million in hush money settlements to four women over a 16-year span. These findings came after WWE launched an investigation into a $3 million settlement McMahon had reached with a former company employee with whom he had allegedly engaged in an affair.

All four of these reported settlements were reached with women who had professional ties to the WWE. One of these agreements was reached with a former wrestler who alleged McMahon had coerced her into providing sexual favors before demoting her, while another included allegations by a former WWE contractor that the CEO had sent her unsolicited nude photographs of himself.

WWE employees who spoke with the Wall Street Journal about their organization’s ongoing investigation into these incidents said, “Mr. McMahon’s affairs at the company were common knowledge.”

In light of these accusations, McMahon announced last month he was voluntarily stepping back from his responsibilities as CEO and chairman while the WWE examined the claims made against him.

“I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the Special Committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation. I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are,” McMahon said in a statement.

Despite the announcement he would step away, McMahon has continued to make multiple televised in-character appearances on both “Friday Night SmackDown” and “Monday Night Raw.Meanwhile, McMahon’s daughter, Stephanie McMahon, has taken on her father’s role within WWE’s business dealings on an interim basis.

JACK AYLMER: FROM FRINGE ENTERTAINMENT TO A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON.

PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HAS EVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF ONE ECCENTRIC CEO.

BUT, RECENT ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT MAY FORCE THE INDUSTRY ICON TO TAP OUT.

VINCE MCMAHON, JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY.

BORN IN 1945, THE MCMAHON FAMILY LEGACY WAS ALREADY DEEPLY INTERTWINED WITH WRESTLING BEFORE VINCE.

HIS GRANDFATHER RODERICK BOOKED MATCHES AT THE FAMED MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, WHILE HIS FATHER VINCENT J MCMAHON PROMOTED TOP INDUSTRY TALENTS LIKE HULK HOGAN AND ANDRE THE GIANT.

AFTER WORKING AS A COMMENTATOR FOR HIS FATHER’S THEN-WWWF FOR MUCH OF THE 1970S, THE YOUNGER VINCE MCMAHON EVENTUALLY PURCHASED THE FAMILY BUSINESS IN 1982 AND SET HIS SIGHTS ON TAKING THE SPORT TO THE NATIONAL STAGE.

IN A DEPARTURE FROM THE STANDARD SET BY HIS FATHER, VINCE WAS OFTEN A FIXTURE IN THE RING, TAKING ON THE ROLE OF A VILLAINOUS CORPORATE TYRANT DURING EVENTS.

WITH A ROSTER OF TALENTED PERFORMERS LIKE DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON, JOHN CENA, AND STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN, MCMAHON TOOK THE ONCE REGIONAL ATTRACTION TO FANS AROUND THE GLOBE.

THE SUCCESS HAS EARNED MCMAHON BILLIONS ACCORDING TO FORBES.

IT’S ALSO GAINED HIM PLENTY OF CRITICS – MANY HAVE COME FORWARD CLAIMING UNSAVORY BUSINESS PRACTICES
AND WORKPLACE HARASSMENT.

AN INVESTIGATION EARLIER THIS YEAR UNCOVERED SEVERAL NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS INVOLVING MISCONDUCT CLAIMS PAST EMPLOYEES HAD MADE AGAINST MCMAHON.

IN RESPONSE TO THESE REVELATIONS, MCMAHON HAS PLEDGED TO “ACCEPT THE FINDINGS AND OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION” WHILE TAKING A STEP BACK AS WWE CEO AND CHAIRMAN.

HOWEVER- HE’S NOT SHYING AWAY FROM THE SPOTLIGHT.
MCMAHON WAS STILL FEATURED IN A RECENT “FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN” IN AN APPEARANCE ONE WRESTLER CALLED QUOTE TONE DEAF AND EMBARRASSING.”

THERE’S NO TIMELINE ON HIS RETURN – AND IN THE MEANTIME HIS DAUGHTER HAS STEPPED IN AS CEO.

VINCE MCMAHON, JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW.