Tag: Vince McMahon

Stephanie McMahon says Vince McMahon is probably his own ‘biggest nemesis’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Stephanie McMahon feels like her father Vince McMahon is probably his own biggest nemesis.

On her “What’s Your Story?” podcast this week, Stephanie had WWE President Nick Khan on as a guest. They discussed the concept of perseverance and whether it’s something you’re born with or something that can be learned. Stephanie related the discussion to her father, explaining how he survived an abusive environment as a child, including being beaten with a lead pipe by someone his mother was dating.

“His mindset was, if he could survive, he won,” Stephanie said. “So just surviving was winning and still is winning for him today. And I don’t know how you can ever beat someone at the end of the day if all they need to do is survive to win.”

Khan said there aren’t many people who could have survived what Vince went through when he was younger and gone on to create a universe like WWE.

“So all credit to him. I only have admiration for him,” Khan said. “As Paul said — Triple H said — at his Hall of Fame speech, family’s complicated. And, you know, obviously, we don’t need to get into any of that. But in terms of business, that guy’s an empire builder.”

Stephanie didn’t want to go deeper on the subject but agreed with Khan’s comments about Vince’s business success.

“Absolutely he is [an empire builder],” she responded. “And no one can take that away from him, no matter what, including himself, who is probably his biggest nemesis — is himself.”

Stephanie did not elaborate on what she meant by that or directly reference the sexual assault and trafficking allegations Vince is facing from former WWE employee Janel Grant. That lawsuit, which is still ongoing, led to Vince resigning from WWE in January 2024.

Amid the lawsuit, Vince is in the process of starting a new sports and entertainment investment firm called 14th & I.

Report: Vince McMahon attempted to purchase Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

Posted on by Ian Carey

Vince McMahon has reportedly been making moves to get back into promoting.

Justin Barrasso of The Undisputed reports that the 79-year-old recently attempted to purchase controlling interest in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). The promotion’s founder and president, David Feldman, confirmed that a meeting with McMahon took place, but said he was unwilling to relinquish full control.

“He’s a great guy, his whole team is great, but the timing wasn’t right for us,” said Feldman. “He’s Vince McMahon–if I were him, I’d want creative control, too. He was awesome, very complimentary, and he was very serious to do business.”

Barasso also shared that in speaking with executives from both combat sports and wrestling, “the belief is that McMahon will ultimately find himself involved again in professional wrestling.”

BKFC was founded in 2018 and have held 125 bare-knuckled boxing events since. In April 2024, Conor McGregor became a part-owner of the company and frequently appears at BKFC events.

Last month, new details were revealed regarding McMahon’s planned sports, entertainment, and media investment firm. The company will be named 14TH & I, as confirmed by filings in Conneticut last September.

Earlier this month, McMahon sold 1,579,080 shares of TKO stock at $158.32 per share, netting him a quarter of a billion dollars. According to Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics, McMahon now owns 6,442,325 shares of TKO, or approximately 3 percent of the company.  

Shane McMahon: Vince McMahon ‘enjoying life,’ no plans to start wrestling company

Posted on by Ian Carey

Shane McMahon says Vince McMahon is “enjoying life”

He spoke with TMZ recently and was asked about the rumor that he and his father might start a new wrestling company.

“You never know what’s going to happen out there. Of course, anything can happen in WWE, but those rumors are false,” Shane said.

He was also asked about the meeting he had with AEW President Tony Khan last summer. While he wished Khan continued success, Shane says AEW isn’t the company he helped build.

“Had a meeting with AEW and wish them continued success, or whatever. But it’s not WWE. It’s not the company I helped build. But you never know what’s going to happen in this business.”

When asked about speculation that Vince McMahon could buy back WWE, Shane replied:

“Well, he owns a big part of TKO still. So you never know what’s going to happen there either. I’m not trying to be vague, I’m just saying anything can happen.”

Vince McMahon currently owns an estimated 3.25 percent of TKO Group Holdings. According to Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics, McMahon holds 6,442,325 shares following the recent sale of 250 million dollars worth of stock to Endeavor. With TKO stock currently trading at 165.94 dollars per share, McMahon would need almost 16 billion dollars to acquire 51 percent of the company. His net worth is listed at approximately 3.2 billion dollars by Forbes.

Asked how his father is doing these days, Shane responded:

“He’s been doing really well. He’s enjoying life. Getting a little bit of a rest in there, but you know my dad, he’s always gung ho and he’s always doing the next thing and that’s what he’s focused on.”

As revealed late last month, Vince McMahon’s new business venture is a company called 14TH & I, expected to focus on investments in sports, media, and entertainment.

Shane’s full interview with TMZ is available below:

Vince McMahon sells over 1.5 million shares of TKO stock

Posted on by Josh Nason

Former WWE chairman Vince McMahon sold over 1.5 million shares of TKO stock to Ari Emanuel’s former company Endeavor.

The news came via an SEC filing TKO made on Wednesday from the transaction that took place Tuesday and was completed Wednesday.

Endeavor, now owned by private equity firm Silver Lake Investments, purchased 1,579,080 shares of Class A common stock from McMahon at $158.32 per share — a total sale bringing McMahon approximately $250 million.

Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston noted that unless McMahon made another transaction since September 2024, he now holds 6,442,325 shares of TKO, bringing him to 3% ownership of the company. He has no voting rights.

14 months ago, McMahon listed all of his TKO stock for sale which at that point stood at 8,021,405 shares. From late-2023 through the spring of 2024, McMahon sold over $1.5 billion in stock through five distinct sales.

McMahon has been working on a sports, entertainment and media investment firm called 14TH & I. He remains under litigation from Janel Grant in her sex trafficking & sexual assault lawsuit, and as a defendant in the “ring boys” lawsuit.

WOR: Mariah May’s future, AEW Double or Nothing PPV buys, other news from the WON

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I, Garrett Gonzales, are back with our Friday edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, talking about all the big news from today’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Here were some of the other things we discussed:

  • Mariah May’s future
  • AEW Double or Nothing PPV buys
  • The name of Vince McMahon’s new company
  • The timeline of John Laurinaitis becoming head of talent relations in WWE
  • Dark Side of the Ring on Daffney and the Muhammed Hassan character

Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube (video sub needed)

Name of Vince McMahon’s new sports & entertainment investment firm revealed

Posted on by Josh Nason

Former WWE chairman Vince McMahon’s plans to launch a sports, entertainment & media investment firm have been moving forward with a filing revealing the name of the new venture.

First reported by Wrestlenomics Friday, the company will be called 14TH & I with the focus on opportunities within the three spaces mentioned above.

From the outlet:

“The firm’s name appears to be a reference to a location of historical significance for McMahon and WWE. A 2006 article on WWE.com noted that the Capitol Wrestling Corporation, the predecessor to WWE, was headquartered at the corner of 14th and I Streets in Washington D.C., around the 1950s and 1960s, when the company was led by McMahon’s father, Vincent J. McMahon.”

A report first emerged in October 2023 that McMahon was putting something together, but without a focus in wrestling.

The filings were made last September in Connecticut with three limited liability companies created in holdings, investments and management, respectively. Wrestlenomics surmised that is to keep the different parts of the company legally and financially separate.

McMahon was named as managing member of both the management and investment arms.

Two trademarks — 14TH&I and 14TH & I — are still pending, covering both the private equity fund investment and entertainment production spaces.

Vince McMahon still dealing with lawsuits

After initial reporting by the Wall Street Journal, McMahon resigned as both WWE Chairman and CEO in July 2022 in the wake of an investigation into multiple “hush fund” payouts to women who alleged sexual misconduct. News broke in December 2023 that he was looking to make his return to the company amid the feeling he got bad advice that resulted in his resignation.

He orchestrated a return to the company’s Board in January 2023 to help facilitate both a new TV deal and the eventual sale to TKO. McMahon then resigned from WWE in January 2024 after being sued by Janel Grant who accused him (in addition to John Laurinaitis and WWE) of sexual trafficking and misconduct among other accusations. Laurinaitis was dropped from the suit this past week, indicating he will be working with the Grant side.

Additionally, McMahon, Linda McMahon, WWE, and TKO are the key defendants named in the “ring boy” lawsuit that alleges they knew and did nothing to prevent ring announcer and head of ring crew Mel Phillips’ sexual assault of underage boys in the 80s and early 90s.

Janel Grant voluntarily dismisses claims against John Laurinaitis

Posted on by Ian Carey

Attorneys for Janel Grant have dismissed all claims against John Laurinaitis in her ongoing lawsuit alleging sexual abuse involving WWE and Vince McMahon.

In a court filing submitted Wednesday to the United States District Court of Connecticut, Grant voluntarily dismissed the case with prejudice as it relates to Laurinaitis. This means she cannot refile the claims against him. The dismissal applies only to Laurinaitis. Grant is continuing her legal action against WWE and Vince McMahon.

Today’s filing reads: 

“Plaintiff Janel Grant hereby stipulates with Defendant John Laurinaitis that the above-entitled action is voluntarily dismissed, with prejudice, against Defendant John Laurinaitis. For the sake of clarity, Plaintiff is not dismissing any claims against any defendant other than Mr. Laurinaitis. Each party shall bear its own costs.”

The filing states that each party will bear their own legal costs.

In a statement to Post Wrestling, Grant’s lawyers say that Laurinaitis has agreed to provide evidence for Grant’s lawsuit against McMahon and WWE. Brandon Thurston would later clarify that the statement comes from both Grant and Laurinaitis.

“John Laurinaitis has agreed to cooperate and provide evidence in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE. His agreement to a confidential settlement is a pivotal next step toward holding McMahon and WWE accountable and bringing justice to Ms. Grant after years of sexual abuse and trafficking. Mr. Laurinaitis looks forward to moving on with his life. We cannot provide any additional details at this time.”

The case is currently awaiting a ruling on whether it will be sent to private arbitration. Lawyers for the defendents have until June 13 to refile their motion to compel arbitration. Grant’s team will have until June 23 to respond, and a decision will be made after. 

Earlier this month, a federal judge granted Grant’s request to file an amended complaint to include information regarding WWE’s settlement with the SEC over undisclosed payments, expanded allegations of abuse, the naming of alleged enablers, and efforts to obtain medical records from a doctor she alleges was paid by McMahon. 

John Cena not surprised by fan reaction to him saying he loves Vince McMahon

Posted on by Bryan Rose

John Cena isn’t surprised by fan reaction regarding his love for Vince McMahon.

At Amazon’s upfront presentation, a reporter from Us Weekly asked Cena if he was surprised by WWE fans’ reaction to him saying that he still loves Vince McMahon, who is currently facing a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault and trafficking.

“No, because everyone’s entitled to their opinion,” he responded. “Just like I am entitled to have an emotional connection to somebody. I don’t hold anybody to how they feel or what they view as permissible or things that make them happy, angry, excited, sad. That’s their right as a human being, I’m not surprised by any of that.”

After initially saying he loves McMahon in an interview with Howard Stern shortly after the suit was filed in January of 2024, Cena doubled down on his comments during an interview with The New York Times that came out during WrestleMania week. 

“I don’t care who hears it: I love Vince,” Cena told them. “I’m not downplaying anything that needs to be decided or allegations of any kind, but when I love somebody, I love them wholeheartedly. I know people are going to be angry about that, but they can’t put their value on my relationship with somebody I love.”

McMahon resigned from WWE and TKO shortly after the suit was filed. Cena is currently the WWE Champion, defeating Randy Orton in his most recent match at Backlash this past Saturday.

WOL: Grant vs. McMahon, NXT TV, plus THEKLA!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including Janel Grant vs. Vince McMahon latest, Dynamite tonight, a great NXT on Tuesday, and more. Then we are joined by THEKLA to talk pro-wrestling, art and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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Judge approves Janel Grant’s request to amend lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE

Posted on by Ian Carey

A federal judge has granted Janel Grant’s request to file an amended complaint in her lawsuit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE.

Grant is seeking to revise her complaint, originally filed in January 2024, to include details about WWE’s settlement with the SEC over undisclosed payments, expanded allegations of abuse, the naming of alleged enablers, and efforts to obtain medical records from a physician she says was paid by McMahon.

The defendants argued that Grant’s amendments were filed in bad faith to attract media attention. They also objected to the inclusion of SEC findings and allegations involving Grant’s treatment with McMahon’s physician, stating they are irrelevant. They also claimed the delay in filing was too long.

“McMahon further posits that the amendments are made in bad faith, suggesting they are designed to capture media interest rather than strengthen Grant’s substantive legal arguments,” Judge Sarah F. Russell wrote in summarizing the defense’s position.

However, she rejected those claims in her ruling on Tuesday, stating that the defense had not met “the high burden of proving the amendments will unduly prejudice” them.

“It is certainly clear that some of Grant’s proposed amendments include facts she knew or should have known when she filed the Complaint,” Russell wrote. “But her newly pleaded facts do not deprive Defendants of their ability to timely assert that her claims are subject to arbitration. I accordingly decline to find her amendments are in bad faith.”

The physician referenced in the suit is believed to be Carlon Colker of Peak Wellness, who this week filed a defamation lawsuit against Grant’s attorney Ann Callis and her Holland Law firm.

Grant has until May 14 to submit the amended complaint. The case is awaiting a ruling on whether the lawsuit will be moved to arbitration. WWE has until June 13 to refile its motion to compel arbitration, and Grant will have until June 23 to respond.

Russell also noted that “the amendments will have little impact on Defendants’ stated plan to brief a motion to compel arbitration.”

The full ruling from Judge Sarah F. Russell is available via CourtListener.

Doctor in Vince McMahon vs. Janel Grant case files defamation suit against lawyer

Posted on by Ian Carey

Dr. Carlon Colker of Peak Wellness has filed a defamation lawsuit against attorney Ann Callis.

Callis represents Janel Grant in her lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis, which alleges sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and workplace misconduct. In that case, Grant’s team contends that Colker and Peak Wellness facilitated her abuse by administering unapproved treatments, providing unidentified substances, and enabling McMahon’s control over her. They also claim that Peak Wellness has failed to provide complete documentation related to Grant’s treatment.

Colker, through his attorneys, filed a 41-page complaint on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, alleging that Callis and the Holland Law Firm defamed him and his clinic via press releases distributed to media outlets and statements made during a live-streamed press conference on YouTube. The filing asserts that all relevant medical records were delivered to Grant’s legal team last summer and includes emails relating to this as evidence. Colker’s team also denies that Grant was ever given unidentified substances and states that she did not raise concerns when ending her treatment in 2022.

Colker is seeking punitive damages, alleging that Callis and her firm knowingly spread false information about him and his business.

As of now, Callis has not responded to the lawsuit.

Three new plaintiffs join ‘ring boy scandal’ lawsuit against WWE, McMahons

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Three new plaintiffs have joined the lawsuit against WWE and The McMahons.

Post Wrestling reported on Monday that the former ring boys filing the suit against WWE, TKO and Vince & Linda McMahon have provided further details regarding the defendant’s alleged failure to report sexual abuse. The filing includes allegations from three additional plaintiffs that allege abuse not only by former ring announcer and road crew member Mel Phillips, but also from longtime WWE official Pat Patterson and former WWE wrestler Koko B. Ware.

John Doe 6, a Missisippi resident, alleges that he met Phillips around 1988 when he was 11 or 12 years old. After a house show on July 14, 1989 in Baltimore he was told that he needed to stay in Patterson’s hotel room while other boys stayed in Phillips’ room. It was there that Doe 6 alleges that he was given alcohol as Patterson played pornography on the television. Patterson then allegedly proceeded to perform sexual acts on Doe 6.

He said he was also sexually abused by Phillips after a July 21, 1992 event in Portland, Maine. This was after Phillips’ reported exit from the WWE in March of 1992.

In a separate incident that took place in Portland, Maine, Doe 6 alleges that Ware pushed his head against a wall and patted him down, grabbing him by the crotch with other witnesses present including Phillips, Patterson, Tony Chimel, and referee Danny Davis, with only Chimel telling Ware to let go. Ware did not immediately respond to Post Wrestling for comment.

John Doe 7 says he was around 14 or 15 years old when he met Phillips in 1974. He says he was abused by Phillips in Baltimore, Maryland during his work as a ring boy, including forced oral sex. Doe 7 also said abuse happened away from WWE events and Phillips sometimes recorded the abuse with a video camera.

John Doe 8 met Phillips when he was around 15 years old in Baltimore back in 1982 while he was working concessions at the Baltimore Civic Center. Before a April 10, 1982 WWE event Doe 8 alleges that Phillips told he and another boy were told to get undressed at a hotel room. Doe 8 says Phillips then proceeded to put the boys’ feet on his crotch to compare sizes while he was aroused. They were also offered cocaine and pills.

Linda McMahon filed a motion earlier this month to dismiss the lawsuit, saying she has no significant connection to the state and never communicated with the then five individuals who originally filed the lawsuit. She also sought to distance herself from Phillips, saying she never personally supervised him while he was employed in WWE. In the amended suit, the ring boys outlined times when they interacted with or were in the presence of Vince & Linda McMahon.

Triple H thanks Vince McMahon among many others in WWE Hall of Fame speech

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Triple H thanked his father-in-law, among many others, during his Hall of Fame speech.

The newest member of the WWE Hall of Fame took time to thank many people during his speech in Las Vegas. Most notably, he thanked Vince McMahon, who has been largely removed from WWE television following sexual assault and trafficking allegations brought in a lawsuit last year. 

He called his relationship with McMahon “complicated,” as it was someone close to him in both his personal and business life. He said McMahon was the one that invited him to sit under his learning tree and attend production meetings while also recognizing him as father-in-law and his children’s grandfather.

“When there’s somebody that helps you propel that far, you owe them so much. He taught me so much, what to do, what not to do. I’m so grateful for all of those lessons. I love you Vince, and thank you,” he said.

He also thanked his mother-in-law Linda McMahon, who was in the crowd, Shane McMahon who was not, his parents and sister, his three daughters, and Stephanie McMahon. The last person he thanked was Nick Khan, calling him “the best business man I’ve ever met.”

Throughout his speech he thanked many people both during his time as a wrestler and later as a key member of WWE’s creative process including William Regal, Terry Taylor, members of the Kliq and D-Generation X, Shawn Michaels, Chyna, Mick Foley, Steve Austin, Ric Flair & Evolution, Paul Heyman, The Undertaker, and many more. He noted that Taylor had been hospitalized earlier in the day due to a medical emergency and was surprised to see him in the crowd regardless.

Others inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday include Michelle McCool, The Natural Disasters, and Lex Luger. Also inducted were Kamala, Ivan Koloff, and Dory Funk Sr. as Legacy inductees and the match between Steve Austin and Bret Hart from WrestleMania 13 as an Immortal Moment.

John Cena: I don’t care who hears it, I love Vince McMahon

Posted on by Joseph Currier

John Cena is doubling down on controversial comments he’s made about Vince McMahon.

When appearing on the Howard Stern Show in February 2024, Cena said that he was still going to love McMahon and be his friend amid the sexual abuse allegations McMahon is facing. Cena described himself as a big advocate of love, friendship, honesty, and communication but said he also advocates for accountability. Cena said the allegations were a hill McMahon would have to climb.

Cena was again asked about McMahon in an interview with the New York Times published on Friday. Despite knowing it would anger people, Cena reiterated what he previously said.

“I don’t care who hears it: I love Vince,” Cena told the New York Times. “I’m not downplaying anything that needs to be decided or allegations of any kind, but when I love somebody, I love them wholeheartedly.”

He then added: “I know people are going to be angry about that, but they can’t put their value on my relationship with somebody I love.”

McMahon is no longer with WWE after resigning from the company in January 2024 in the wake of a lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant. The suit, which is still ongoing, accuses McMahon of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking. McMahon has denied the allegations.

WWE and John Laurinaitis are also named as defendants in Grant’s lawsuit.

Ahead of his retirement in December 2025. Cena will compete at his final WrestleMania this Sunday. He’s challenging Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41 night two.