Was Vince McMahon Backstage At WWE Raw This Week?

Latest on Vince McMahon's WWE creative takeover following Raw.

Vince McMahon Raw
WWE

Vince McMahon was not present at this week's WWE Raw in North Little Rock, Arkansas, reports Fightful Select.

Currently, there is no word on what kind of creative influence, if any, McMahon may have enforced on the saw, having recently returned to power in the wake of WrestleMania 39 - and Endeavor's takeover of the company.

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Vince, 77, has been back on WWE's Board of Directors as Executive Chairman since January. Effectively holding the promotion to ransom, he had stated, in a letter to the Board, that unless they consented to his return, he would not agree to any sale of the company or new media rights deals. Returning as an executive, McMahon then set about replacing non-compliant executives with more agreeable names, including George Barrios and Michelle Wilson, both of whom he had fired previously.

Endeavor's WWE buyout was formally announced on Monday, 3 April. Appearing on CNBC later that day, McMahon stated that although he would have a degree of creative control over WWE's big decisions, he wouldn't be "in the weeks" as he was prior to resigning in disgrace last July. Later that day, Vince made wholesale changes to the 3 April Raw script, some of which were still ongoing after the broadcast had commenced.

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Vince was not backstage at the 7 April SmackDown, 10 April Raw, or 14 April SmackDown, though multiple reports from different outlets have confirmed his return to creative power. Triple H remains WWE's Chief Content Officer, but McMahon, if he pleases to do so, can have final say on all creative matters.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.