A former WWE star has claimed that Vince McMahon once told them that he wished he could take a break from wrestling.
From the moment that Vince McMahon took on his first wrestling job in the late 1960’s he hasn’t known anything else. While he has dabbled in ventures outside of professional wrestling, with mixed success, the bright lights of the squared circle have always been there, day in and day out.
Even today, more than 50 years after taking his first steps into the family business, McMahon remains deeply entrenched in the WWE world that he created.
During his time in WWE Chris Jericho worked extensively with McMahon, achieving an incredible amount of success both creatively and financially. However, Jericho was never afraid to step away from the company, and wrestling in general, when he felt he needed a break.
Speaking during a recent appearance on the True Geordie podcast, Jericho opened up about his relationship with his former boss. The now-AEW star said that he “loved” working for McMahon, before revealing that McMahon once told him he wished he could occasionally step away from the business as he did.
“I loved working for Vince McMahon. I loved how Vince would challenge me and push me. And I also laugh when people say, ‘Oh, Vince has lost it,’ and oh, look at Vince, he’s a terrible Booker and all this other stuff. Maybe it’s not great sometimes, but you’re also dealing with a guy who’s been doing this for 40 years. Imagine doing this for 40 years.
I remember when I left in 2005, I said I need to get away. And he said to me, ‘I wish I could get away sometimes, but I can’t.’ Kind of wistfully for like three seconds, then he was back to Vince McMahon,”
Vince McMahon is currently embroiled in the biggest scandal to hit WWE for a number of decades.
In June it was reported that Vince McMahon was being investigated by WWE’s Board of Directors over claims that he had given a $3 million “hush payment” to a former employee with whom he had an affair.
After news of this investigation was made public, McMahon stepped down from his responsibilities as CEO and Chairman of the Board. He was replaced on an interim basis by Stephanie McMahon.
Then on July 8th more claims were brought to light. The new report alleged that McMahon paid more than $12 million to four women formerly associated with WWE over the course of 16 years. One claim alleges that McMahon coerced a female wrestler into performing oral sex on him.
It is alleged that McMahon paid the woman $7.5 million in exchange for her silence.
H/t to Fightful for the transcription.