On December 13th a new report was published into the sexual misconduct scandal around Vince McMahon. As well as more allegations and legal battles over damages, the report also revealed that McMahon is seemingly intent on returning to WWE.
The report claims that McMahon has told those around him that he only stepped down due to “bad advice.” However, he now wishes he would have remained as Chairman, believing that the controversy, and allegations surrounding him would have died down. This was quickly followed by another report which suggested that many talents hoped there would be no comeback.
No Real Desire To See Vince McMahon Return
While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer has now added more context to the current feeling within WWE. Meltzer explained that as long as McMahon insists that he may return, that effectively blocks any potential sale of the company. Although probably more damning is the idea that even many of McMahon’s biggest supporters believe it would be a bad idea for him to come back.
“I think the fact that he wants to (return) and the fact that this stuff then comes up at the same time where people go, ‘Hey there’s no way, there’s more allegations’, all in the same story – I don’t know that that’s a coincidence.
It’s really interesting, and the big unanswered question is who, or whom, are the people who are in touch with the Wall Street Journal? We know they’re probably from the Board of Directors, but who is it that did this? I’ve had people in wrestling, almost everyone in wrestling that I talk to, it’s like, ‘Who exactly is the person?’, and usually the speculation revolves around three people, and I don’t know that it’s one of those three, but it’s a really interesting question.
Vince wants back. Vince is the majority shareholder. He owns the most voting power. He does not own 50% of the stock, but he does own probably close to 80% of the voting power. If it was a private company, he could be in tomorrow. But because it’s a public company, the Board of Directors have to make decisions, and the Board of Directors, their job is to look out for the company, and they may very well believe – and probably do – that Vince coming back would not be the best thing.
Because he left because of these allegations that are public, if he came back, there would definitely be issues with some sponsors, there’d be queasiness. Even perhaps Fox and USA. You’re definitely risking that because, with these different allegations out and the payoffs and stuff like that – it’d be a big, big, big risk.
Another key thing with that story is that because he wants to come back, that company’s not being sold. It can’t be sold, because then he’ll have no voting power.
If it’s sold, he’s never coming back. And obviously as long as he wants to come back, he will not sell this company. And he does have, because of owning over 50% of the voting shares, he can block any sale that Nick Khan or anybody else, Stephanie, wants to do. With anyone. So that’s one of the big stories in this, is whatever talks of sale there is, it can’t happen until Vince gives up the ghost and says, ‘I’m not gonna come back’. As long as Vince has this attitude, they’re not gonna be able to sell.
There’s a lot of other ramifications to this too. The morale situation, now everyone’s kind of uncertain again of what’s going on. There’s really a lot of uncertainty in the company. It would be major, major internal upheaval in that company for him to come back. But he’s Vince, and maybe he will. He will certainly try. In itself, just the fact that he’s trying, is gonna be a big, big story.
I know allies of Vince – very much allies of Vince and very protective of Vince and things like that – who are not business allies of Vince within that company right now, because they know that it would be the worst thing. And they are very strong allies of Vince. People who you would think are his allies, you don’t know. People are happier in the company, they know the company’s running better, and so the people who are allies or looking at the best interests of the company, they don’t want him back.
When Vince was on the rocks, they were allies of Vince, and they didn’t think he was ever gonna go, and they thought he’ll ride it out and it’ll go away. But once he left, the idea of him coming back, I was surprised about a lot of people who you would think are his allies. And personally, I’m sure they are. But as far as wanting him back… I’m sure there’s (some) people that do.”
In the same report, 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.
H/t to Wrestle Talk