The following line-up is announced for tonight’s episode of AEW “Rampage”.
A tumultuous week for WWE wraps up with a live edition of “SmackDown” tonight on FOX.
WWE is promoting that Mr. McMahon will appear on tonight’s broadcast. WWE specified that it will be “Mr. McMahon” who will be on “SmackDown”, indicating that he will be speaking in character.
WWE and its Board of Directors announced early this morning that Vince McMahon has stepped back from his responsibilities as Chairman and CEO amid an investigation into alleged misconduct. His role in directing the creative direction of the company is not changing. Stephanie McMahon has been appointed the interim CEO and interim Chairwoman.
The allegations facing Vince McMahon are only reaching farther into WWE as the Board of Directors is now under investigation by a law firm.
On the heels of news that Vince McMahon is being investigated by his own board of directors for allegedly paying off a paralegal to keep quiet regarding an affair he was involved in, WWE’s board of directors and senior management are being investigated as well. Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP is investigating whether members of WWE’s board of directors or senior management failed to manage WWE in an acceptable manner, and as such, were in breach of their fiduciary duties to WWE.
Essentially, to be in breach of one’s fiduciary duties is to fail to act in the best interests of another person (in this case shareholders) when it is the responsibility of that person to do so. The reason for the investigation is to determine whether WWE and its shareholders have suffered damages as a result of said mismanagement and are owed any monies or damages as a result.
On June 15, 2022, the Wall Street Journal reported that the WWE board was investigating an alleged $3 million settlement that CEO Vince McMahon agreed to pay to keep an affair quiet. Now, the law firm is reaching out to shareholders and letting them know that if they feel they have legal claims against WWE’s directors and officers, they should come forward to discuss the investigation, including whether these same shareholders have legal rights.
Essentially, this investigation will try to uncover if all the incidences that Vince and others are being accused of might have interfered with the company’s ability to make money for its shareholders. If Vince and others named in said suit were not effectively doing their job, the shareholders may have a right to sue. To put it simply, if whatever is uncovered in these investigations shows that McMahon and others were not working in the best interests of the shareholders, things could get ugly and quickly.
Source: TheSportster
Following a report revealing the WWE board is investigating allegations made against Vince McMahon, the boss has temporarily stepped down as the chairman and CEO of the company. Vince’s daughter Stephanie has been appointed interim CEO and chairwoman pending the results of the investigation. Vince will remain in charge of WWE creative, something that will likely be addressed tonight on SmackDown.
Shortly after WWE issued a statement revealing Vince will be stepping back from his duties as the promotion’s chairman, a second reveal was made informing fans the boss will be on SmackDown tonight. What exactly Vince will be doing on the show hasn’t been clarified, but as you can see in the tweet below, the implication is he will be opening the show.
Putting Vince on TV amid all this, or rather Vince putting himself on TV in the middle of all this, is quite something. Although the results of the investigation could well prove nothing actually happened, and the currently inactive chairman may well be appearing on TV tonight to deliver a sincere message, advertising the way WWE has on social media makes it feel a lot like a way to get viewers off the back of something that is currently unresolved.
As for Stephanie, the interim chairwoman has already issued her first statement since being brought back into the fold just a month after she stepped away from her previous WWE duties. “I am honored to assume the role of interim Chairwoman & CEO. I love @WWE and all it continues to do to entertain billions around the world,” Stephanie tweeted.
More details about what exactly is going on behind the scenes in WWE will undoubtedly continue to emerge in the coming days and weeks. Perhaps most notably tonight when Vince opens SmackDown. There will likely be a lot of change coming, regardless of the results of the investigation. Plus, the allegations made against John Laurinaitis still haven’t been officially addressed.
Source: TheSportster
UPDATE:
Shortly before 10 a.m. EST, CNBC’s Alex Sherman tweeted out just how McMahon would be approaching his appearance on tonight’s broadcast.
“New from CNBC: Vince McMahon will speak tonight on SmackDown IN CHARACTER as Mr. McMahon to address his temporary absence,” Sherman tweeted. “Could be a big ratings night for WWE. McMahon has torn up the script for SmackDown, which was written last night, I’m told.”
News broke revealing Vince McMahon is being investigated by WWE’s board of directors. The main claim made against the chairman is that McMahon had an affair with a former WWE employee, and when the consensual relationship came to an end, the boss paid her a $3 million settlement to keep quiet about it.
Just two days later, that investigation has led to Vince voluntarily stepping down as WWE’s CEO and chairman pending the results of the investigation. “Effective immediately, McMahon has voluntarily stepped back from his responsibilities as CEO and Chairman of the Board until the conclusion of the investigation,” a press release issued by WWE reads, via Wrestling Inc.
As for who will fill Vince’s role while the investigation is ongoing, and perhaps for good depending on the results, that will be his daughter, Stephanie McMahon. The boss’s daughter has been appointed interim CEO and interim chairwoman of the company in her father’s absence. Vince won’t be gone completely for the time being. The press release also makes clear that Vince will retain his responsibilities as WWE’s head of creative content.
“I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the Special Committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” Vince’s part of the official statement from WWE reads. “It is extremely important to me that we have a safe and collaborative workplace. I have committed to doing everything in my power to help the Special Committee complete its work,” Stephanie writes. Her return to fill in as chairwoman comes just a month after she stepped back from her role as WWE’s chief brand officer.
It’s currently unclear how this will affect the day-to-day of WWE for the fans, especially since Vince has retained his role as the head of the company’s creative. That could all change depending on the results of the investigation, of course, although the duration of it also remains unclear at present. The investigation also includes other claims of misconduct made against both Vince and John Laurinaitis since the initial news about the alleged affair and payoff broke.
Source: TheSportster
Major League Wrestling FUSION tonight at 8pm ET features the crowning of the inaugural Women’s World Featherweight Champion, streaming worldwide for free on MLW’s YouTube channel and Saturday nationwide on cable and dish on beIN SPORTS.
All eyes are on the top featherweights as “La Luchadora” Taya Valkyrie goes toe-to-toe with Holidead to crown the inaugural World Women’s Featherweight Champion this week on Fusion!
Taya Valkyrie trail blazed her path to the championship bout by clearing out multiple divisions in major promotions around the globe. Now the current AAA Reina de Reinas Champion looks to add the crown jewel to her collection and etch her name in the history books.
Becoming the inaugural Women’s World Featherweight Champion of Major League Wrestling and making history in the making is on Taya’s mind… but can she stop the undefeated Holidead?
Breaking and entering? An exclusive MLW.com story on the Samoan SWAT Team crashing El Jefe’s office. How will Cesar Duran searches retaliate?
Mads Krugger delivers his final warning to Fatu and sets the stage for war next week in the Weapons Of Mass Destruction Match.
Two ex championship teams make their bid to reclaim gold. Standing in their way: Hustle & Power. The Von Erichs and 5150 challenge EJ Nduka and Calvin Tankman in a triple threat championship bout.
Gangrel fangs and bangs against Budd Heavy. Could the “Vampire Warrior” unleash the terror of Strange Sangre on Philly’s lovable beer guzzling brawler?
The Real 1 takes issue with a certain Samoan scratching up his ride?
Richard Holliday hits Beverly Hills and looks to cash in on his notoriety after defeating Alex Hammerstone last week.
Holliday’s girlfriend and the other half of The Clout Couple, Alicia Atout, returns to the field with her first interview assignment in months. What deceitful motive could The Interview Queen have for picking up a microphone again?
Tonight’s “Impact on AXS TV” is the last stop before Sunday night’s Slammiversary pay-per-view.
The following line-up is announced for tonight:
The action begins Before the IMPACT, streaming this Thursday at 7:30pm ET exclusively on IMPACT Plus, YouTube and Facebook. Laredo Kid and Blake Christian take to the skies in a high-intensity bout you won’t see anywhere else! Plus, Gia Miller, Josh Mathews and George Iceman get you ready for all things IMPACT on the road to Slammiversary.
Brian Hebner is walking away from the business of professional wrestling.
Brian Hebner, the son of former WWE referee Earl Hebner, is a second-generation referee in the world of pro wrestling. Brian has been a referee in professional wrestling for over 20 years now and is best known for his time in WWE and IMPACT Wrestling. Hebner revealed on his podcast Refin’ It Up with Brian Hebner what his future in the pro wrestling business looks like.
“I am announcing that I am going to retire from professional wrestling as a full-time referee,” Hebner said. “This has nothing to do with anybody making me mad or making me angry, this is a move I am making about personal decisions.”
“[Slammiversary] weekend will be my last full-time wrestling gig, I guess,” Hebner stated. “I’m a single dad doing the best I can and it’s hard to be that guy when you’re on the road and missing so many things and I remember how much my son missed and it’s kind of a way of giving back to my family. But yeah, that is going to be my last show. I will finish out the day after which will be the TV tapings.”
Brian is currently the head referee at IMPACT Wrestling, however, he will not be holding that position for much longer. IMPACT Wrestling’s 20-year anniversary Pay-Per-View Slammiversary is this Sunday, June 19 at the Nashville Fairgrounds in Nashville, Tennessee. The event will be headlined by IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander defending his title against former IMPACT World Champion Eric Young.
Earl, Brian’s father, last refereed over a year ago for AEW. Brian competed in one match in TNA, where Brian took on his father at TNA Capital Punishment in 2006 in a hair vs hair match. Brian walked away with the victory on that night.
Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to Refin’ It Up with Brian Hebner podcast
It was reported yesterday by Raj Giri that Sasha Banks had been released by WWE. Now, further details about Banks’ WWE status are coming out.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that he spoke with Giri earlier in the afternoon before the report was made and reached out to WWE. The representative he spoke to heard nothing about Banks’ release either way but did note that they saw Giri’s tweet. Regarding Banks’ status, nothing has been confirmed, but nothing has been refuted either. Contacts close to the public relations team in WWE had heard nothing of Banks’ reported departure as of 8 PM ET last night.
As of this writing, no memos or emails have apparently been sent out by the company internally regarding anything related to the reported release of Banks. There was reportedly an email sent urgently requesting her removal from an advertised live event, but nothing surrounding the current situation.
Along with her co-Tag Team Champion Naomi, Banks walked out on WWE on May 16 before an episode of “WWE Raw.” Since then, Banks and Naomi were publicly outed on-air for staging the walkout and they were suspended indefinitely without pay. Corey Graves stated on the air that the walkout “disappointed the WWE Universe in the process” and that their actions caused them to relinquish their Tag Titles. All their merchandise has been removed from the WWE Shop and their likenesses have been scrubbed from any video advertisements or introductions.
It’s been reported that Banks’ contract was set to expire with WWE in two months’ time, and Naomi was reportedly in talks of renegotiating a contract at the time of the walkout.
Earlier this week, photos and videos were posted of Banks following a PRK eye surgery she underwent. That, along with her being seen at a Steve Aoki concert have been the only moments we’ve seen of Banks since she and Naomi staged the walkout.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
According to a bombshell Wall Street Journal piece, WWE CEO Vince McMahon is under investigation following an alleged affair with an employee.
Vince McMahon, WWE’s founder and CEO, is reportedly being investigated by the board of his own company after making an alleged hush payment to a former employee following an affair.
On Wednesday, June 15 the Wall Street Journal dropped a bombshell story that claims WWE’s board received an email containing details of a workplace affair McMahon conducted with a now-former WWE paralegal and the subsequent payments made in exchange for the unmanned person’s silence.
The email alleges that the female paralegal was initially hired on a salary of $100,000 per year, but her salary was doubled after she began a sexual relationship with McMahon. Allegedly, when McMahon ended the relationship with the former WWE employee, he “gave her like a toy” to the company’s general manager of talent relations John Laurinaitis.
According to WSJ’s report, the board’s investigation began in April and has discovered numerous non-disclosure agreements pertaining to allegations of misconduct leveled at McMahon and Laurinaitis.
Vince McMahon has been married to Linda McMahon, a former administrator of the United States Small Business Administration, since 1966. John Laurinaitis has been married to Kathy Colace, the mother of former WWE Superstars Nikki and Brie Bella, since 2016.
As we previously reported, Vince McMahon’s daughter Stephanie McMahon recently stood down from her role as WWE’s Chief Brand Officer.
“As of tomorrow, I am taking a leave of absence from the majority of my responsibilities at WWE,” Stephanie tweeted. “WWE is a lifelong legacy for me and I look forward to returning to the company that I love after taking this time to focus on my family.”
Source: TheSportster
Wrestling News Blog 