Newly revealed court documents and text messages have shed further light on the behind-the-scenes manoeuvring that led to WWE’s merger with UFC under the TKO banner, suggesting that key executives expected Vince McMahon’s return to power well before it officially happened.
The information was revealed in a report from Wrestlenomics in collaboration with POST Wrestling, stemming from documents made public as part of an ongoing shareholder lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that Vince McMahon breached his fiduciary duties by orchestrating WWE’s sale in a way that prioritised his own control rather than shareholder value.
According to the report, messages obtained through the case show that TKO President Mark Shapiro anticipated McMahon’s return to WWE leadership months before it became public knowledge. In one exchange dated July 22, 2022, the same day McMahon announced his retirement, Shapiro reportedly messaged then-Endeavor executives Andrew Schleimer and Jason Lublin, predicting that McMahon would soon reclaim control of the company.
“Nick and Stephanie are going to take over WWE for the next nine months,” Shapiro wrote. “Vince will be back with a new board, or he will take the company private, or he will sell it to us. The race is on.”
At the time, Nick Khan and Stephanie McMahon were named as co-CEOs following Vince McMahon’s initial departure. As history later showed, McMahon returned to WWE’s board in early 2023 before overseeing the company’s sale to Endeavor, leading to the formation of TKO Group Holdings.
The documents also reveal communication between McMahon and Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel during the period in question. According to the filings, Emanuel and McMahon exchanged messages about potential meetings, including one in August 2022 following McMahon’s visit with a senior banker involved in WWE’s sale process. One message from Emanuel reportedly stated, “I will be your greatest partner,” though the context of the remark remains unclear.
Additionally, the filings suggest McMahon and Khan were discussing creative matters during this period, despite public claims that McMahon had stepped away from WWE operations. In one exchange, McMahon referenced “new creative” related to WrestleMania 39 plans, prompting Khan to respond with the word “Langis”, believed to be a coded reference to the encrypted messaging service Signal.
According to Wrestlenomics, these communications appear to contradict public statements made at the time, including assurances that McMahon was not involved in creative decisions following his initial resignation. The report notes that there is no definitive evidence linking McMahon to specific creative outcomes, but the messages raise questions about the extent of his behind-the-scenes influence.
The shareholder lawsuit, which challenges the circumstances surrounding WWE’s sale and merger with Endeavor, is currently moving through the discovery phase. A trial is expected in 2026, with potential financial consequences if the plaintiffs prevail.
When Did Vince McMahon Return To WWE After His Retirement?
Vince McMahon retired from WWE on July 22, 2022 and appointed Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan as co-CEOs. Triple H also took over McMahon’s role as head of the company’s creative.
On January 6, 2023, it was announced via The Wall Street Journal that McMahon was planning to return to WWE as executive chairman, and on the same day, the company published a filing with the SEC, which appointed McMahon, George Barrios, and Michelle Wilson back to the company’s Board of Directors. McMahon took back the role of Executive Chairman of WWE on January 10.
