Vince McMahon

The chairman and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has relinquished his duties as his board of directors investigates him for misconduct.

Mr McMahon founded the WWE in the 1980s and has overseen its growth into a media juggernaut whose weekly content is broadcast in more than 180 countries and 30 languages. The WWE's board is now said to be in possession of a copy of the agreement - an upfront payment of $1m, with the rest to be doled out over five years and apparently paid by Mr McMahon personally. Mr McMahon has not responded directly to the claims but, in a statement, pledged his "complete cooperation to the investigation".

John Laurinaitis, former wrestler and head of talent relations, is also being investigated.

“I have committed to doing everything in my power to help the special committee complete its work, including marshaling the cooperation of the entire company to assist in the completion of the investigation and to implement its findings.” “I love this company and am committed to working with the independent directors to strengthen our culture and our company; it is extremely important to me that we have a safe and collaborative workplace,” she said in her own statement. I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are,” McMahon said in a statement, per THR.

Entertainment giant paid $3 million to ex-employee with whom he allegedly had an affair, Wall Street Journal reports.

Vince McMahon controls the majority of shareholders' voting power. Stephanie McMahon and her husband, Paul Levesque, a former professional wrestler who uses the stage name Triple H., are among its members. In the interim, his daughter, Stephanie McMahon, will serve as the publicly listed entertainment company's chairwoman and chief executive.

WWE said Chief Executive Officer Vince McMahon will step back from his duties while the board investigates allegations of misconduct by him and another ...

"I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are." The investigation is also looking into similar arrangements with John Laurinaitis, a former wrestler who manages talent relations for WWE. "I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the special committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation," Vince McMahon said in the statement.

WWE boss Vince McMahon has agreed to step back from his responsibilities as chairman and CEO while the wrestling company's board investigates him for ...

The company's board is made of up executives who report to McMahon and even members of McMahon's own family. "I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are." WWE said Friday that it takes "all allegations of misconduct very seriously" and it has engaged independent legal services to assist with the review.

Wrestling boss will continue to oversee WWE's creative content during the investigation.

She had been serving as the company’s chief brand officer. Aside from the investigation into the alleged misconduct by McMahon and Laurinaitis, WWE said that the company and its special committee will work with an independent third-party to perform a comprehensive review of the work environment at the organization. “I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the special committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” McMahon said in a prepared statement Friday. “I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.”

The board is investigating misconduct allegations against him and WWE's head of talent relations. Stephanie McMahon, Vince's daughter and the chief brand ...

Stephanie McMahon announced in May that she'd be taking a leave of absence "from the majority" of her responsibilities at the company to focus on her family. The company said outside legal counsel was assisting in the board's review. "I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are."

Vince McMahon is in the middle of a corporate firestorm, but he still opened the company's wrestling telecast "Smackdown" on Friday.

"It is extremely important to me that we have a safe and collaborative workplace," he said. The separation agreement was reportedly made in January between McMahon and the former unnamed employee. "Those four words are 'then,' 'now,' 'forever,' and the most important word is 'together,'" he said. Other misconduct claims were reportedly found against John Laurinaitis, the company's head of talent relations. "I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the special committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation," McMahon said in a statement Friday. "I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are." As for McMahon's in-ring persona, he won't be going anywhere for now.

WWE CEO and chairperson Vince McMahon “voluntarily stepped back” from his roles within the company amid an investigation of an alleged affair and payout ...

In 1999, Martha Hart, the wife of the late Owen Hart, sued WWE (then called World Wrestling Federation) for a wrongful death lawsuit after the wrestler fell to his death when his grapple line harness malfunctioned during his entrance from the rafters to the ring at the Over the Edge pay-per-view. Paul “Triple H” Levesque, who is Stephanie’s husband, a former WWE superstar, and executive vice president for global talent strategy and development, could be tapped to run the company in Vince’s stead, though his health could stand in the way. WWE issued an $18 million settlement to Martha in 2000, which she used to form the nonprofit charity organization, the Owen Hart Foundation. For the time being, his daughter Stephanie McMahon will serve as the company’s interim CEO and chairperson. Though Nick Khan, WWE’s president and chief revenue officer, denied the rumor. At the moment, it’s unclear whether McMahon will resume his duties as CEO or chairperson.

His daughter, Stephanie McMahon, who happens to be married to the WWE Superstar Triple H, has assumed the position of interim CEO and chairperson. McMahon, who ...

I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.” There have also been allegations made against him of sexual assault in the past, which he has denied. Vince McMahon, the 76-year-old head of World Wrestling Entertainment and face behind one of the more entertaining memes commonly spotted online, announced on Friday that he is stepping back from his leadership role while the company investigates misdemeanor claims.

Amid a misconduct scandal, McMahon's appearance on 'Smackdown' Friday shows the organization will have to live with its nominally deposed mad king.

Those words betray the brazenness of someone who may have lost the confidence and respect of a segment of viewers and even stakeholders, but still owns a majority of controlling shares in the company he’s overseen for 40 years. Competition is what fuels Vince McMahon — competition for ratings, global dominance, social media saturation, prestige, alpha-male pride and the adoration of millions. I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.” Strange sentiment from someone who earlier that day stepped back from his decades-long role as chief executive and chairman following revelations in the Wall Street Journal that he’d allegedly paid millions to silence a former staff paralegal with whom he carried on an extramarital affair. More recently, he came out unscathed after ex-wrestler Ashley Massaro accused him of negligence for failing to take action after she was allegedly raped overseas by a military doctor as part of a WWE tour of armed-forces bases. While Vince may have temporarily ceded C-Suite authority — handing the reins to daughter Stephanie one month after her own publicly declared leave of absence for, ironically, family reasons — WWE confirmed in a corporate release that he will retain creative control of all programming.

McMahon's daughter, Stephanie, will serve as interim CEO and chairwoman, the organization said.

She had been serving as the company’s chief brand officer. “I have committed to doing everything in my power to help the Special Committee complete its work, including marshaling the cooperation of the entire company to assist in the completion of the investigation and to implement its findings,” she said in a statement. “I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the special committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” McMahon said in a prepared statement Friday. “I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.” Outside of the investigation, WWE said Friday that the company and its special committee will work with an independent third-party to perform a comprehensive review of the work environment at the organization. Revenue last year exceeded $1 billion for the first time, and the company has television deals with Fox and NBCUniversal. Last month it announced a multi-year expansion of its original programming partnership with A&E. Vince McMahon will appear on its live show “SmackDown” later Friday, WWE said on Twitter after it announced the changes in leadership.

Hours after stepping down as from his role as WWE's chairman and CEO, Vince McMahon appeared on the company's wrestling telecast Smackdown Friday night.

“I love this company and am committed to working with the Independent Directors to strengthen our culture and our Company; it is extremely important to me that we have a safe and collaborative workplace,” Stephanie said in a press release. “I have committed to doing everything in my power to help the Special Committee complete its work, including marshaling the cooperation of the entire company to assist in the completion of the investigation and to implement its findings.” “I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the special committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” McMahon said in a statement on Friday. “I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.”

Vince McMahon "stepped back" as WWE CEO and chairman as the board investigates his alleged $3 million settlement with a female ex-employee.

“WWE and its board of directors take all allegations of misconduct very seriously,” the company said in a statement. Stephanie McMahon said in a statement, “I love this company and am committed to working with the Independent Directors to strengthen our culture and our company; it is extremely important to me that we have a safe and collaborative workplace. I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.”

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Those four words are Then, Now, Forever and the most important one, Together. Welcome to SmackDown!” McMahon said. The world of professional wrestling is often awash with dramatic, soap opera-like storylines. McMahon was said to be in a “great mood” backstage at the show in Minneapolis, and was reported to be joking around, despite the weight of allegations currently on him. An unnamed wrestler speaking to Fightful said they thought McMahon’s appearance was "a cheap rating ploy in the middle of something serious,” and that WWE’s culture and presentation will likely remain the same once the investigation is closed. “I have pledged my complete co-operation to the investigation by the special committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” McMahon said in a statement. “I have committed to doing everything in my power to help the special committee complete its work, including marshalling the co-operation of the entire company to assist in the completion of the investigation and to implement its findings,” she said in a statement.

Vince McMahon opened "SmackDown Live" on Friday night with a brief appearance in the ring.

The board’s investigation uncovered other settlement agreements involving McMahon and Laurinaitis, the Journal reported. McMahon’s daughter and WWE executive Stephanie McMahon has been named interim CEO and chairwoman while the investigation is underway. He kept his remarks brief, saying, “It is a privilege as always to stand before you here tonight, the WWE universe…I’m here simply to remind you of the four words we just saw in what we call our WWE signature.