Huge Update On Vince McMahon's Birthday Party: WWE's Role, Guests, WWE Return?! (WWE News)
Vince McMahon turned 80 over the weekend.
With Vince McMahon having turned 80 this past weekend, there are now some details on which WWE stars attended McMahon's birthday party, what WWE's stance is on McMahon, and whether there is the possibility of McMahon rejoining the market leader in some capacity.
Per Fightful Select, WWE-associated names in attendance for the disgraced former WWE Chairman's party included the Undertaker, John Cena, JBL, Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, the Miz, Maryse, Titus O'Neil, Bruce Prichard, and Jerry Lawler.
Of those whom Fightful spoke to, nobody was willing to speak on the record about the event, though WWE talent that the outlet spoke to weren't surprised that there were so many WWE figures there. One particular person, who spent a lot of time working with Vince McMahon, noted how "a lot of people here still feel like they owe Vince something, even though he made his money back on them tenfold". Another WWE source, who didn't attend the party, said there are a number of WWE talent who want to see a resolution in the ongoing Janel Grant lawsuit before deciding whether to completely cut ties with McMahon.
As for McMahon's birthday party, it was intended to be kept very private, and the public likely wouldn't have even known about the party if certain photos hadn't appeared online. A professional photographer was on-site for the event, with attendees encouraged to use this photographer should they want any photos from the party. One such photo was posted online by Jerry Lawler - of Lawler, Miz, Maryse, Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, and Titus O'Neil - but was soon deleted after several people asked the King to do so. Fightful mentions how Lawler is "ride or die" for Vince McMahon, and that the WWE Hall of Famer's stance wouldn't change.
This report goes on to note how there were a number of other current WWE stars at the party, though no specific names were revealed. There were also many more who were invited and didn't attend, and others who wouldn't have been able to attend due to WWE's ongoing European tour. That said, one person told Fightful they were in attendance briefly before then having to catch a flight to Europe. Interestingly, a talent who didn't attend said to Fightful that they would have been fired and never spoken to again by Vince McMahon if they'd been accused of the things he's been accused of.
As for Vince McMahon himself, one attendee, for whom this was the first time seeing McMahon in years, said that Vince "looked 80" and seemed more frail, walked slower, and looked his age in a way that he hadn't in the decades prior to his WWE departure.
For those wondering, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and Nick Khan were all absent from this party, with zero involvement directly from WWE. When certain talents asked WWE higher-ups if they could or should attend the party, the response was that this was that individual's business. And to reiterate, there has been no talk whatsoever of Vince McMahon returning to WWE in any sort of capacity, and top WWE sources have told Fightful that there is "no desire" to bring him back and there have been no discussions whatsoever of having McMahon involved in a creative capacity.
Vince McMahon and WWE are currently involved in a lawsuit brought against them by Janel Grant, where Ms. Grant alleges, amongst other things, sexual assault and sex trafficking.