The Rise Of Triple H | Wrestling Timelines
July 22, 2022 - Vince “Retires”
Vince McMahon announces his “retirement” on Twitter. Citing his age (incorrectly) of 77, it’s framed as his own decision. The implication is that he’s too old.
This is disingenuous.
In reality, McMahon has resigned in disgrace after reporting from the Wall Street Journal uncovers that he has paid $12 million for non-disclosure agreements to four women across 16 years. It is reported that one woman, a former wrestler, was coerced by Vince into oral sex. This wrestler was demoted after refusing subsequent unwanted sexual advances before being released in 2005.
Much drama has unfolded in WWE’s corridors of power. On May 19, executive board member Stephanie McMahon announced that, effective immediately, she is taking a temporary leave of absence as Chief Brand Officer. Is there a deeper story at play here?
This suspicion becomes harder to shake as the Wall Street Journal phases its big scoop.
The end of Vince McMahon, or the first chapter of it, anyway, is initiated on March 30, 2022. The WWE board had received a letter from a friend of Janel Grant, former WWE paralegal. In it, it was claimed that Grant was paid $3 million to sign an NDA following allegations of sexual misconduct by Vince.
John Laurinaitis, who had taken on Levesque’s duties the year prior, is also implicated in the scandal. On the very same day of July 22, WWE announces that Levesque has resumed his role as EVP of Talent Relations.
In this new, post-Vince World, Levesque will also oversee WWE creative.