Here's your wrestling news for July 23rd, 2022.
And we're starting today with Vince McMohan who
stepped down as CEO and chair of WWE last month,
due to the investigations into his alleged behavior.
Now, in a truly shocking turn of events.
McMohan has confirmed.
He won't be returning to the role and has announced his retirement
from WWE 40 years after obtaining his father's promotion.
In a tweet McMahon said that He is 77 years old,
it's time for him to call it a day and thank the
WWE universe for their support over the decades.
Shortly after the tweet, Vince released a press statement
saying, as I approach 77 years old, I feel it's time for
me to retire as chairman and CEO of WWE throughout the
years, it's been a privilege to help WWE bring you joy,
inspire you, thrill you, surprise you and always entertain.
I would like to thank my family for
mightily contributing to our success.
And I would also like to thank all of our past and present superstars
and employees for their dedication and passion for our brand.
Most importantly, I would like to thank our fans for allowing us
into your homes every week and being your choice of entertainment.
I hold the deepest appreciation and admiration for our generations
of fans all over the world who have liked currently, like,
and sometimes even love our form of sports entertainment.
Our global audience can take comfort in knowing WWE will continue to
entertain you with the same fervor, dedication and passion, as always.
I'm extremely confident in the continued success of WWE and I
leave our company in the capable hands of an extraordinary group
of superstars, employees and executives in particular, both
chairwoman and co CEO, Stephanie McMahon, and co CEO, Nick Khan.
As the majority shareholder, I will
continue to support WWE in any way.
I.
My personal, thanks to our community and business
partners, shareholders, and board of directors
for their guidance and support through the years.
Then now forever together.
This decision came as a shock to fans though.
PW insiders, Mike Johnson reports that McMahon made the decision
about a week or so ago with one source saying it was around 10 days.
McMahon's timing of his announcement was very
deliberate as releasing it on Friday afternoon.
Eastern was only meant to avoid any negative
fallout from the media and shareholders.
WWE stock closed at 66 22.
A share at 4:00 PM Eastern and McMahon didn't make his
announcement until eight minutes after the trading had ended.
Only a very closed circle, knew about Vince's decision.
And the overwhelming reaction within WWE has been one of shock,
especially among those who have worked there the longest with
one source saying they never truly believe there would be a day.
They worked for the company without Vince McMohan
at the helm with McMohan gone from all his duties.
Bruce Pritchard and Kevin Dunn were left running last night SmackDown
with WWE CEO, Stephanie McMahon, and triple H also backstage.
Wrestling Inc.
We're able to acquire an internal memo from McMahon to the WWE roster.
One of which confirmed its authenticity.
The memo reads to all WWE superstars.
As I approach 77 years old.
OMG, am I really that old?
I feel it's time for me to retire.
I've thoroughly enjoyed my passion, wisdom and love of
the business with you no longer will you see the smiling
docile, levelheaded, calm presence at gorilla every.
Your dedication to WWE will ensure that our
company will continue to grow and prosper.
Our organization is nothing without you.
You are WWE's only natural resource chosen
to perform in front of a global audience.
You are all WWE global ambassadors.
Carry the WWE flag, wherever you go, wave it high and proud and
bust your ass to be all you can as a person and as a performer.
One other thing I won't be with you, but I'll be watching.
Remember to keep your hands up, grab, hold, and sell.
By the way, smack down airs live tonight at 8:00 PM.
Eastern 7:00 PM central on Fox Vince McMohan.
Hasn't just retired as CEO and chairman of the board,
but Brandon Thurston of wrestlenomics reports that he
is retiring from all roles, including head of creative.
A source in WWE confirmed that McMahon is retiring in
full and fightfull adds, that there was an all hands on
deck meeting shortly after his retirement announcement.
The 5:00 PM Eastern meeting was described by sources for
PW insider as a short rah rah meeting in which Vince was
described as indescribable looking to the future, it's reported
that the new leadership will consist of WWE, chairwoman and
CEO, Stephanie McMahon with Nick Khan serving as co CEO.
Triple H is also back in a big way.
Having resumed the role of executive vice president of talent
relations in a brief statement on wwe.com, it was confirmed
that the game has returned to the role he last held in 2020,
and the statement gave no sign that this was a temporary role.
That's certainly bad news for John Laurinaitis,
who remains on administrative leave.
Following reports that he aided with Vince McMahon's
allegedly inappropriate behavior with female employees.
In a statement to wwe.com triple H spoke about the role saying I look
forward to returning to my prior position as head of talent relations.
I'm healthy, fired up and ready to take charge.
He would later add on Twitter that he's proud and
honored to work with the best talent in the world.
The reaction to the news was largely
favorable among WWE fans on Twitter.
Triple H has seen as the architect of the old black and
gold version of NXT, which was nearly universally loved.
Many are hoping that with Paul Levesque in charge of talent,
again, the company will see some type of shake up for decades.
It was believed that Vince McMohan
would only leave his post when he died.
But now the 77 year old former chairman can look forward
to years of retirement after this monumental decision.
During his tenure McMohan was known to micromanage
things and wanted everything to his exact liking, but
that had slipped in the weeks prior to his retirement.
The wrestling observer newsletter reports that both Vince
and Kevin Dunn, the EVP of TV production were absent from
last week's SmackDown in Orlando, Florida, which would
become the final SmackDown of the Vince McMohan era.
It's worth Noting that this same day John Cena was marrying his wife.
Shay Shariatzdeh for the second time.
And it's plausible that at least McMahon was invited
to be at the ceremony with that said, it's still
incredibly rare for McMohan to miss any tapings.
And we know he was in Florida earlier this week, as
Ric flair told, busted open radio that he had seen
McMohan in Tampa for raw and personally thanked
McMohan, for putting him back in WWE's opening package.
Whatever the reason neither McMahon nor Dunn made its last week
SmackDown, something that those within WWE will have to get used to.
Now, this is unquestionably the biggest news
story of the year and perhaps the decade.
So it should come as no surprise that AEW's Tony Khan has addressed
it Khan and his company have never shied away from taking shots at
WWE and news of McMohan's retirement has proven to be no different.
On Twitter Khan gloated about being the longest tenured
CEO in pro wrestling and promoted the latest a E w
rampage, we assure the a E w roster will have plenty
to say about McMohan's decision during next week's TV.
As the impact that the now former WWE CEO
has had in pro wrestling cannot be denied.
As for WWE chairwoman, Stephanie McMohan opened up last night's.
SmackDown live from Boston's TD garden and said that Vince didn't
just want to thank the fans, but thanked everyone in the company
from those in the back, the ring, the rigging and graphics
teams, and even pat McAfee and Michael Cole on commentary.
Everyone got thanks from McMohan and
Stephanie led the crowd in another.
Thank you, Vince chant.
When wrestling Inc reached out to talent, there was mass confusion.
It smackdown as the announcement came
mere hours before the show went live.
Not only that, but WWE is mere days away from
summer slam WWE's second biggest show of the year.
And there's no word on what McMahon's retirement
will mean for creative plans heading into the
week, leading up to the premium live event.
McMahon's fall from grace began in June when news broke
that the WWE's board of directors had begun an investigation
into him looking at allegations of a series of nondisclosure
agreements between McMahon and former female employees.
Vince is alleged to have paid over $12 million over 16 years.
And it was recently stated by the reporters at the wall
street journal that these allegations aren't over yet.
Major media outlets have been following up on
this investigation, but that didn't stop McMahon
from continuing to appear on WWE TV mere hours.
Before stepping down as CEO Vince appeared on SmackDown to welcome
the fans and recite the company's motto and would appear on the June
27th raw to introduce John Cena on his 20th anniversary celebration.
During this week's raw WWE global
ambassador Titus O'Neil opened the show.
Speaking about WWE being a safe Haven, a bizarre opening,
many believe was to try and help the company's public image.
The investigations into McMohan.
Aren't the only investigations as several law firms are scrutinizing
WWE's board to see if they're handling of the situation has put them
in violation of securities law and their duties to shareholders.
It seems like many heads could still roll, but for
Vince McMohan, the son has long last set on his tenure.
Working for WWE this week.
SmackDown took place mere hours after Vince McMohan announced
that he was retiring from WWE, which had a major effect
on the show after McMohan's announcement, Brian Alvarez
of the wrestling observer tweeted that Brock Lessner
had walked out of the show stating from several sources.
Brock Lessner has left SmackDown.
He later added Brock line was some
derivative of if he's gone, I'm gone.
fightful select later confirmed that Lessner had indeed
walked out of the show saying the former world champion
was very pissed off after learning of McMohan's decision.
Lessner had been scheduled to appear to promote his upcoming
last man's standing match for the undisputed WWE universal
championship against Roman Reigns at summer slam on July 30th.
Brock's relationship with McMahon has been complicated,
as he said in the past that he and Vince have shared
a love, hate relationship over the past 20 years.
But then he views McMahon as a father figure WWE
quickly pulled Brock from all advertising for the show.
And the company quickly went to work on
organizing a possible replacement for summer slam.
Brian Alvarez reported that well, WWE were trying
to coax the beast back to the show that the
promotion did have someone waiting in the wings.
If they couldn't bring him back.
A source close to Cultaholic said that if lessner didn't
return, then they'd make the move to bring Goldberg back
and have the WWE hall of Famer face reigns at summer slam.
Instead after a night of speculation on his whereabouts
and future in WWE SmackDown ended in spectacular
fashion when lessner returned to close out the show.
The main event of Friday smackdown, saw the undisputed WWE
tag team champions, the USOs and theory team up to face the
street profits and madcap Moss, which the faces won by DQ.
Thanks to theory, attacking Moss with the money in the
bank briefcase thory's post match attack was ended only
when Lessner's music played and the beast planted the cocky
superstar with an F 5 given the reports about his walkout,
seeing Lessner on SmackDown was a shock to everyone.
Even those working backstage all appears to be on track for
lesser to challenge undisputed, WWE universal champion, Roman
reigns in a last man standing title match at summer slam.
But after walking out of the show, a decision which has
effectively ended the WWE careers of Sasha banks & Naomi, we'll
have to see who stands tall at next week's premium live event.
And we're ending with another missing as max Dupri was
not at last night's SmackDown, despite being advertised
Dupri did not appear on the show, which saw the debut
of his sister Maxine Dupri appearing alongside Mason.
Mansoor Maxine said that she will be hosting a special
reveal next week, showing off the Maximum Male Models.
2022 beach wear collection.
As for max, there's no word on what kept him from the show.
And as the faction grows, their leader
was nowhere to be seen this week.