World Wrestling Leisure introduced Friday that its famed CEO, Vince McMahon, has stepped back from his leadership responsibilities as the corporate investigates misconduct claims towards him.
The WWE board of administrators appointed McMahon’s daughter, Stephanie McMahon, as interim CEO and chairwoman till the probe’s conclusion.
“I’ve pledged my full cooperation to the investigation by the Particular Committee, and I’ll do all the things doable to assist the investigation,” Vince McMahon stated a in assertion launched by the Stamford, Connecticut-based firm. “I’ve additionally pledged to simply accept the findings and final result of the investigation, no matter they’re.”
Later Friday, McMahon kicked off “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” with a quick deal with, saying he want to remind followers of the game’s “signature” phrases: “Then, now, eternally, and an important phrase is collectively.”
“Welcome to SmackDown,” he stated, tossing his microphone.
Few CEOs are as carefully related to a product as McMahon is to professional wrestling. He steadily seems in WWE broadcasts and is claimed to have virtually complete management over scripts and general storylines.
And even because the board seems to be into doable misconduct, administrators are nonetheless permitting McMahon to “retain his function and obligations associated to WWE’s artistic content material throughout this era,” according to the company statement.
Stephanie McMahon additionally stated she would assist the continuing probe.
“I like this firm and am dedicated to working with the Impartial Administrators to strengthen our tradition and our Firm; this can be very necessary to me that now we have a protected and collaborative office,” she stated in an organization assertion.
“I’ve dedicated to doing all the things in my energy to assist the Particular Committee full its work, together with marshaling the cooperation of your complete firm to help within the completion of the investigation and to implement its findings.”
The WWE board stated it’s investigating each the elder McMahon and John Laurinaitis, head of expertise relations, for “alleged misconduct” however didn’t element any of the accusations.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the WWE board needs to know if McMahon paid a former worker $3 million so she’d preserve quiet about an affair the 2 had.
The continuing probe can also be trying into allegations of different nondisclosure agreements involving former feminine WWE staff and Laurinaitis, the newspaper reported.
Dennis Romero contributed.
