New audio has emerged of voicemails featuring Vince McMahon and Ari Emanuel, where it is stated that the deal made in 2023 “solves a lot of problems.”
The audio was part of the shareholders lawsuit against WWE. The clips have been obtained by POST Wrestling’s Brandon Thurston via a Freedom of Information Act request. The clips were filed as exhibits and have been uploaded to POST Wrestling’s YouTube channel.
The first clip from September 2022 hears Emanuel state that he would help McMahon. This was during the time when McMahon was negotiating a sale of WWE:
“I spoke to my lawyer from Latham,” Emanuel said, referring to top-tier law firm Latham & Watkins, which often served as Endeavor’s outside counsel. “Just FYI, everybody at the DOJ is former Latham lawyers. So on that side, it will be helpful. SEC, of course, is SEC, but that’s just the penalty. As it relates to everything else, yes, we can indemnify you, and we will. If it’s criminal, of course, you can’t stop criminal, but this is not criminal. Call me when you get a chance.”
“Indemnify” means they were promising to compensate McMahon for any losses, damage or liabilities as a result of that litigation.
In relation to the shareholder lawsuit that remains ongoing, the shareholders have alleged that McMahon conspired with Emanuel to merge the UFC and WWE so that he could remain in power. As a result of this, shareholders did not receive the best possible deal from the 2023 sale.
In the second voicemail, Emanuel says that he and McMahon should meet to talk through the issues as “there’s ways to figure this out”:
“I really do think that we all need to get together and talk through all the issues, because I think whether it be the DOJ or anything, there’s ways around this to figure this out, and I don’t know what, you know, you’re hearing or thinking. So give me a call if you have five seconds.”
Vince McMahon Voicemail Part Of New Audio Releases
On December 13, 2022, McMahon left a voice message for Jeff Sine, the banker from The Raine Group, who advised McMahon on the merger. McMahon is heard saying that the best move is to go with Emanuel as “it solves a lot of problems.” McMahon also added that it was a stronger situation for them to be together as opposed to individually:
“Hey, Jeff. It’s 10:13 [p.m.]. Very good meeting with Ari and company. And I think and probably the best thing to do is to go forward with the deal with Ari. It solves a lot of problems. I, you know, again, together, I think it’s a stronger situation than either one of us on our own. But I’m pretty sure that’s the way I want to go now. It’s easier, faster and all that kind of stuff. So, let’s talk in the morning, and I didn’t commit to Ari, but let’s talk in the morning, and, and go. [Laughs.] Jeff, thank you so much. Sorry to call so late,”
The merger lawsuit was settled in principle in June 2026, avoiding a trial. Following the merger being completed in 2023, McMahon received a lifetime role as TKO’s Executive Chairman. However, after Janel Grant filed a lawsuit accusing McMahon of sexual abuse and trafficking, McMahon resigned for a second time.
Featured image: WWE
