On March 6th Vince McMahon attended a WWE television taping for the first time since returning to the company two months earlier.
McMahon forced his way back onto WWE’s Board of Directors along with two associates in January and was later elected Executive Chairman. Upon returning he removed three serving board members and two more quit with immediate effect. Stephanie McMahon, who had been working as co-CEO also left the company.
The remarkable comeback came after McMahon had ‘retired’ from WWE in July 2022, surrounded by allegations of sexual misconduct.
While it is believed that McMahon’s appearance at the March 6th episode of Raw was to see John Cena, who was making his own return to the company, it has been suggested there might be more to it. In the aftermath of the visit, it was noted that McMahon is “doing more than WWE are letting on,” as the company insists he is only working to secure a sale.
A new report from Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated has now offered more insight. Barrasso confirmed earlier reports that McMahon was seated at Gorilla all night, but made sure that people noticed he was not involved. He didn’t wear a headset and “spent a large portion of the show on his phone.” Furthermore, when wrestlers went to Triple H for feedback on matches or segments, he stayed silent.
The report notes that McMahon’s “hands off” approach could very much be by design and part of a longer-term plan. Barrasso suggests that McMahon could be laying the groundwork for further involvement at tapings, including at WrestleMania 39.
It should be noted that McMahon wasn’t present for the March 13th episode of Raw in Providence, Rhode Island.
John Cena Defends Vince McMahon
On March 6th, Cena returned to Raw and was confronted by Austin Theory. By the end of the segment, the pair had agreed on a match for WrestleMania. Speaking in an interview in the days after the show, Cena discussed his return and his relationship with Vince McMahon. The 16-time World Champion defended McMahon, despite the allegations leveled against him, reiterating his love for the Executive Chairman.