Despite leaving his role as WWE Chairman in July surrounded by a sexual misconduct scandal, and a series of new allegations, Vince McMahon is intent on a comeback.
It was reported by the Wall Street Journal on December 13th that McMahon wants to return to WWE. McMahon is said to have told those close to him that he only stepped down due to “bad advice,” and that the controversy would have died down if he would have remained in position. However, it has since been reported that there is little support within the company both at a managerial and on-screen talent level for a return.
Vince McMahon Return Could Have Disastrous Consequences
Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer has now claimed that one long-time supporter thought a return for Vince McMahon could “cripple the entire company.”
“Even those who have been McMahon allies and who never expected him to leave and believed he’d survive, as he always did, are negative about the prospects of his return.
“What if (he) decided to upend the entire Board (he has 80 percent voting stock) and is still the largest owner of common stock?” noted one long-time supporter. “The class action shareholder lawsuits would cripple the entire company. The networks would balk. FOX had to get rid of Roger Ailes. I don’t think they will be favourable to his return. NBCU is a prisoner of he deal and even they spoke up about his TV appearances when he was in the headlines and still appearing on TV.
The shareholder revolt would endanger the entire organization. This was a terrible shot today to the `moving forward’ `business as usual’ claim that was implemented by Stephanie, Levesque (and) Nick Khan. Now the conspiracy theories will be all about (Vince) coming back. If he comes back, it’s a scorched Earth scenario. Unless he figure a lesser role (and how can he of all people take a lesser role?), but the leak from his side is that he was given bad advice, so now he’s blaming people.”
In the same report from the Wall Street Journal, it was revealed that Vince McMahon is also facing fresh allegations of sexual assault, while also refusing to pay damages to the woman involved. He is also refusing to meet legal demands from former WWE referee Rita Chatterton related to an alleged sexual assault in 1986.
Vince McMahon retired from his role with WWE in July 2022 following a string of sexual misconduct claims were made against him, while it is alleged that he paid more than $12 million in secret settlements to supress the allegations.