WWE Chairman Vince McMahon is being reportedly investigated by the board of World Wrestling Entertainment over an alleged $3 million secret settlement.
The report has been published by The Wall St. Journal, who state that McMahon paid a former employee the multi-million dollar settlement due to the WWE Chairman allegedly having an affair with the individual. The agreement was established in January 2022, and now bars the former employee, who was hired in 2019 as a paralegal, from discussing any details regarding the relationship or disparaging Vince McMahon in any way.
The investigation, which began back in April, has discovered other nondisclosure agreements that also include Vince McMahon and WWE’s head of talent relations, John Laurinaitis. When approached for a comment, a WWE spokesperson said that the allegations are being taken seriously and that they are cooperating fully with the enquiry. The response also notes that the relationship between McMahon and the paralegal was consensual. Neither McMahon or Laurinaitis have directly commented on the allegations.
The investigation began after a series of anonymous emails was sent to board members on March 30th, 2022. The emails, which were reportedly sent by a friend of the former paralegal, states that the former employee was initially hired on a salary of $100,000, but this was doubled after sexual relations began. In a more disturbing part of the email, it is alleged that McMahon gave the employee “Like A Toy” to John Laurinaitis at one point. In regards to the payment of the $3 million to the former employee, $1 million was paid upfront, with the remaining $2 million to be paid over the next 5 years.
At the time of writing, Vince McMahon still owns the majority of WWE, holding the majority of the Class B shares, which have 10 times the voting power of Class A shares. McMahon’s daughter Stephanie, is a part of the board of directors, but recently took time away to focus on her family.
Features of Wrestling will provides updates when they become available.
Featured image: Cinema Blend
