Trump taps former WWE CEO Linda McMahon to serve as education secretary

President-elect Trump announced on Tuesday night that he intends to appoint Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), to lead the Department of Education.

His announcement, which was posted on Truth Social, came hours after two sources told Fox News that McMahon was likely to be picked.

"It is my great honor to announce that Linda McMahon, former Administrator of the Small Business Administration, will be the United States Secretary of Education," Trump's statement read.

"As Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly to expand ‘Choice’ to every State in America, and empower parents to make the best Education decisions for their families," the press release added. "Linda served for two years on the Connecticut Board of Education, where she was one of fifteen members overseeing all Public Education in the State, including its Technical High School system."

McMahon, who served as administrator of the Small Business Administration in the first Trump administration, is the wife of Vince McMahon. The couple both co-founded WWE in 1980.

"Linda will use her decades of Leadership experience, and deep understanding of both Education and Business, to empower the next Generation of American Students and Workers, and make America Number One in Education in the World," Trump's statement concluded. "We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort."

McMahon served in the Trump administration from 2017 to 2019. When she resigned, she wrote that the role had been "immensely rewarding."

"While it has truly been the honor of a lifetime to serve our country in this Administration, it is time for me to step down and return to the private sector," McMahon wrote in 2019. "I wish to thank the President and I will continue to be a strong advocate for him and his policies."

Trump has previously floated the idea of disbanding the Department of Education, which began operating in 1980. The agency's website says that its mission is to "promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access for students of all ages."

Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told Fox News host Martha MacCallum last week that the Department of Education "doesn't really add any value anywhere. DeVos advised that the opportunity for Trump to radically change the department is "wide open."

"Take the power away from the Department of Education, block-grant those funds, continue to invest in education, but get it down to a much more local level where better decisions are made on behalf of students," DeVos said. "The bureaucrats at the Department of Education aren't doing the job. They haven't done the job for more than four decades to close the achievement gaps — they've only widened." source: fox news

Mark Shapiro Praises Triple H, Nick Khan As ‘Experts In Storytelling’

TKO President Mark Shapiro praised WWE executives Triple H, Nick Khan as among those in the company who are “experts in storytelling” and creating rivalries. Shapiro spoke on the TKO Q3 financial results call and was asked why there haven’t been a lot of challenges with talent leaving the WWE and UFC. He answered by praising the executives in both companies at creating stars and memorable rivalries, noting talent wants to be there.

“The reason why you don’t hear about it a lot, and we say this in all modesty, you don’t hear about it because of the work of Paul Levesque, Dana White, Nick Khan, and Lawrence Epstein,” Shapiro said (per Fightful). “That’s just the fact of the matter. They are experts in storytelling. Period. They are experts in creating rivalries, period. They are experts, like David Stern was, in building and marketing stars. When your platforms, your businesses, your leagues become known for that, talent aspires to be with those leagues. We haven’t had those challenges as of late because, frankly, the talent wants to get to the UFC and WWE level.”

He continued, “We don’t take that for granted. We’re not arrogant about it, and we want to incentivize all of our fighters at UFC and all of our superstars at WWE to put out their best every day and aim for the top of the mountain. We’re prudent about it and we want to keep those costs under control. As long as we do our job of continuing with that storytelling, continuing to build our fanbase, continuing to surround ourselves with the right partners, then talent will gravitate towards the UFC and WWE.”

TKO announced their financial results on Wednesday with revenue of $681.2 million, a net income of $57.7 million, and adjusted EBITDA 1 of $310.0 million.

Bruce Prichard And Michael Hayes On Temporary Leave From WWE

Longtime WWE creative members Bruce Prichard and Michael Hayes are currently on leave, according to a new report.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reports that Bruce Prichard, 61, and Michael Hayes, 65, are currently on temporary leave, per multiple WWE sources, The report notes that both are expected back. However, the timeframe is said to be indefinite.

Meltzer writes that Bruce Prichard’s absence is officially said to be due to a family emergency. Meanwhile, personal issues are the reason for Hayes’ absence.

The report notes that there is no connection between the two being on leave. Sources in WWE emphasized that it was not a sign of the “old guard being moved out.” They reiterated that both would be back.

Bruce Prichard has been a key figure of the WWE creative team, even after Vince McMahon’s departure, and he works directly under Triple H. Hayes has been with WWE since 1995, and he has been a high-ranking member of the creative team for years.

Hayes has consistently worked on the Bloodline storyline in recent years, as he has consistently been the agent for the matches and segments involved.

Vince McMahon Launching New Entertainment Company With Former WWE Executives

Vince McMahon is not throwing in the towel just yet. The former WWE chairman is in the beginning stages of creating a new entertainment company, according to a PWInsider report that broke Tuesday afternoon.

Despite his ongoing legal issues, McMahon's new venture is being described as an "entertainment hub company" and will reportedly focus on producing film and TV projects in the realms of fiction and non-fiction.

According to PWInsider's report, several ex-WWE employees already offered their services to Vinnie Mac's film and TV business, including Brad Blum. Blum was WWE's Chief Operating Officer under McMahon and stayed on board with the company after McMahon's second ousting earlier this year. This past May, Blum resigned after it was discovered that he was “Corporate Officer No. 2” in Janel Grant's lawsuit.

Kristen Prouty, a former WWE executive instrumental in ushering Logan Paul into the WWE family, is also reportedly connected to the project. She was laid off in May following Endeavor's purchase of the global pro wrestling promotion.

PWInsider's sources claim that McMahon will not pursue the formation of a new pro wrestling company nor anything competitive with WWE. The company is currently preparing for launch should McMahon get cleared of his charges, with a Los Angeles headquarters planned.

WWE Announces "WWE ID" Developmental Designation

WWE announced that it has launched a new program called "WWE ID", a developmental program designed to provide independent wrestlers a potential path to WWE.

WWE announced today that it is expanding its footprint in the developmental world.

In a press release, WWE announced that it has launched a new program called WWE ID, short for WWE Independent Development, a developmental program designed to provide independent wrestlers a potential path to WWE.

“WWE ID is the latest in our efforts to identify and support the journey of up-and-coming wrestlers, in turn raising the profile of and strengthening the independent wrestling ecosystem,” WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque is quoted in the press release.

In the program, WWE plans to provide prominent independent wrestling schools with the WWE ID designator with the purpose of providing new trainees and existing talent with enhanced developmental opportunities.

The concept, innovative for its approach, provides a new level of financial assistance to independent wrestling schools not seen before by WWE. In the Triple H Era, WWE has expanded its approach to promotions outside the realm of the WWE Universe, most notably by working agreements with TNA and Pro Wrestling NOAH, as well as acknowledgment on air by Michael Cole and other commentators regarding Superstars’ previous accomplishments and championships in other promotions.

Multiple questions still loom, however, on the granular parts of these new agreements, such as exclusivity and signing rights deals for designated prospects that may prevent them from exploring other career opportunities and whether WWE will integrate the more prominent independent wrestling schools to become extensions of the WWE brand.

WWE announced the first five independent wrestling schools to receive the WWE ID designation: Booker T’s “Reality of Wrestling” in Houston, TX, Cody Rhodes’ “Nightmare Factory” in Atlanta, GA, Seth Rollins’ “Black and Brave Academy” in Davenport, IA, “Elite Pro Wrestling Training Academy” in Concord, NH, and “KnokX Pro Academy” in Los Angeles, CA.

In addition to the school’s designator, WWE ID will also identify top independent wrestling prospects with a WWE ID “Prospect” designation, which will allow WWE to support their development with financial opportunities, training, mentorship, access to their facilities and in-ring training. WWE is also planning on showcasing these prospects and their paths through WWE’s social media accounts.

source: www.si.com

Sports Illustrated: 20 Greatest WWE Wrestlers Of All Time

20 - Becky Lynch

19 - Mick Foley

18 - Chris Jericho

17 - CM Punk

16 - Andre the Giant

15 - Randy Orton

14 - Edge

13 - Rowdy Roddy Piper

12 - Kurt Angle

11 - Macho Man Randy Savage

10 - Bruno Sammartino

9 - Bret Hart

8 - Shawn Michaels

7 - Triple H

6 - The Undertaker

5 - Roman Reigns

4 - John Cena

3 - The Rock

2 - Hulk Hogan

1 - Stone Cold Steve Austin

Nick Khan Announces New WWE-Netflix Docuseries

Following a monumental shift from airing on network television to broadcasting on a streaming platform like Netflix for the next ten years, it's been revealed by WWE President Nick Khan that "WWE Raw" won't be the only new WWE programming one will see on Netflix beginning January 6, 2025. According to "Bloomberg," the company plans to release a behind-the-scenes docuseries as part of its contractual deal with the world's leading streamer. As of this report, no additional details were mentioned on what the docuseries will focus on, or how soon it will be released in the new year.

In the past, WWE has produced both reality and behind-the-scenes shows like "WWE 24," which spotlighted close profiles of WWE stars' lives in and out of the ring. Additionally, they have tapped into similar formats by lifting the veil behind WWE's most significant yearly premium live events, including "WrestleMania XL: Behind the Curtain" in July, which showcased how Cody Rhodes' rematch with Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Championship originated for this year's WrestleMania 40. Regarding "WWE 24," the most recent star it profiled was former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest in August.

Recently, former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon's "Mr. McMahon" docuseries debuted on Netflix. The six-part miniseries gained widespread traction, even trending on the platform after it was uploaded. Earlier this year, WWE and Netflix signed a $5 billion, 10-year deal, making the promotion the first to broadcast its weekly flagship show on a streaming platform. Reports have indicated that despite moving to Netflix, "Raw" will return to three hours every Monday, with no plans to go commercial-free. Meanwhile, WWE's other contractual agreements include moving "WWE SmackDown" back to USA from FOX last month, and "WWE NXT" to The CW as of three weeks ago.

Triple H Is Proud of His Career, Says He Has ‘The Best Job’

In an interview with Jazzy’s World (via Fightful), Triple H reflected on his career thus far and said that he’s proud of what he’s accomplished over the years. He also said that he has “the best job” as the Chief Content Officer of WWE.

He said: “All of it. I was just a kid with a dream that was incredibly lucky. A lot of times, right place, right time, but the whole thing. I love what I do and I’m fortunate enough, if I was to say what I love best about what I do, it’s that I have fun doing it every single day. I have the best job. Had the best job when I was in the ring and have an even better job now helping create the future of what we do. I love what I do and I love having the opportunity to do it.”

source: 411mania.com

Woman suing Vince McMahon, WWE alleging abuse wants NDAs waived

A former WWE employee who filed a lawsuit against the company and ex-leader Vince McMahon, accusing him of sexual battery and trafficking, is asking them to not enforce nondisclosure agreements with other former and current employees and contractors so they can potentially come forward with similar accusations.

A lawyer for Janel Grant emailed a letter making the request late Monday to attorneys representing WWE, McMahon and John Laurinaitis, a former WWE executive and wrestler, in Grant's lawsuit against them.

A spokesperson for McMahon, Curtis Vogel, declined comment. Lawyers for WWE and Laurinaitis did not immediately return emails seeking comment late Monday. Emails to the WWE and its parent companies, Endeavor Group Holdings and its subsidiary, TKO Group Holdings, also were not returned immediately.

McMahon, former CEO and chairman of WWE, has denied Grant's allegations.

Grant, who worked in WWE's legal and talent departments from 2019 to 2022, sued the company, McMahon and Laurinaitis in January, making graphic allegations of sexual assault, harassment, trafficking and other physical and emotional abuse.

McMahon stepped down as WWE's CEO in 2022 amid a company investigation into allegations that match those in Grant's lawsuit. He also resigned as executive chairman of the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings in January, a day after Grant filed her lawsuit.

"If WWE and its parent company Endeavor are serious about parting ways with Vince McMahon and the toxic workplace culture he created, their executives should have no problem with releasing former WWE employees from their NDAs," Ann Callis, Grant's attorney, said in a statement. "This is the first step to rehabilitating a company that covered up decades of sexual assault and human trafficking."

McMahon previously responded to Grant's lawsuit with a statement calling it "replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name." His lawyers said in court documents that he had a consensual relationship with Grant and never mistreated her.

Laurinaitis' lawyer has denied the allegations and said Laurinaitis was also a victim in the case.

Grant said she was pressured into leaving her job with the WWE and signing a $3 million nondisclosure agreement. The lawsuit also seeks to have the agreement declared invalid, saying McMahon breached the deal by giving her $1 million and failing to pay the rest.

Four other women -- all formerly affiliated with WWE -- signed agreements with McMahon that bar them from discussing their relationships with him, The Wall Street Journal reported in July 2022, citing people familiar with the deals and documents it reviewed. Grant was not among those women, her representatives say.

In December 2022, McMahon agreed to pay a female former wrestling referee millions of dollars to settle her allegations that he raped her in 1986, the Journal also reported. McMahon said the alleged sexual assault never happened, and his lawyer said he settled the suit to avoid costly litigation.

Grant's request for the Stamford, Connecticut-based WWE to waive enforcement of the NDAs is similar to ones made to other companies when sexual misconduct allegations arose.

In 2018 and 2019, respectively, the Weinstein Co. and NBC Universal released employees, former employees and others from NDAs made in connection with sexual misconduct claims against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and "Today" host Matt Lauer.

Victims' lawyers call NDAs instruments to silence accusers while allowing alleged abusers to avoid accountability. A federal law approved in 2022 and similar laws in more than a dozen states curb the use of NDAs that block victims of sexual harassment from speaking publicly about their allegations.

The Associated Press does not normally name people who make sexual assault allegations unless they come forward publicly, which Grant did.

She alleges McMahon forced her into a sexual relationship with him in order for her to get and keep a job, and later directed her to have sexual relations with others including Laurinaitis. She also accuses McMahon and Laurinaitis of sexually assaulting her at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

The lawsuit further claims McMahon recruited other people for sexual relations with Grant, shared pornographic photos and videos of her with other men, including WWE employees, despite saying he wouldn't and subjected her to cruel and humiliating acts. source: espn.com

Paul Heyman Tells One Of The Most Heartbreaking Stories In Mr. McMahon Doc, Puts Shane McMahon In A Different Light

Paul "Triple H" Levesque Reveals Brand New WWE Crown Jewel Championship at WWE Bad Blood

Paul "Triple H" Levesque appeared in front of the crowd at WWE's Bad Blood premium live event to make a big announcement regarding the company's next PLE in Saudi Arabia, Crown Jewel, on November 2. Levesque made his way down to the ring and addressed the fans, making an attendance announcement of 16,092 in the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, WWE's 60th consecutive sellout of 2024. Levesque said that at Crown Jewel, WWE will be making history once again, because it will be "the beginning of a new era."

He said that at Crown Jewel, the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion willbe taking on the World Heavyweight Champion, and the WWE Women's Champion will take on the Women's World Champion. He explained that none of the belts will be on the line, but the winners of the two matches will win the Crown Jewel Championship, a large belt Levesque unveiled in the middle of the ring.

WWE NXT Viewership Jumps 44% in CW Debut

The debut of WWE‘s NXT on The CW Tuesday night saw a significant jump in viewership.

The broadcast network debut of WWE’s weekly show featuring developmental talent averaged 895,000 viewers from 8-10 p.m. That is up 44% compared to last week’s episode, which aired on USA Network. Viewership peaked between 8:15 and 8:30 with 965,000 viewers. The episode was also the number one telecast on CW this year among adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 with 406,000 viewers and 354,000 respectively.

The viewership represented a 143% increase in total viewers over CW’s Tuesday primetime average this season, with affiliates in markets like New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Detroit also notching triple digit increases in viewership versus last week.

source: variety.com

JBL: Triple H Is The Only One Who Could Have Taken Over For Vince McMahon

The latest legend to chime in with support for Paul Levesque is John Bradshaw Layfield. Even though he's currently on a world tour of sorts as the guardian of wrestling, making appearances in TNA Wrestling, Major League Wrestling, and Game Changer Wrestling, JBL took the time to talk about Triple H during a recent Q&A with Sportskeeda.

Bradshaw says he's amazed by what has been done since the new regime took over and believes that Triple H is the only one who could have taken over for Vince McMahon.

"Triple H is the only one, to me, that could have taken over for Vince. He’s not only taken over and kept the company the same, they made it better. What they’re doing is just amazing. The billion dollar TV contracts, the crowds they are drawing. I am blown away by what he and Nick Khan together, and the entire team, Bruce Prichard and all the guys, what they’ve done. It’s absolutely amazing to me."

source: fightful.com

Shawn Michaels and Paul Levesque Join Forces for Special Opening Segment at WWE NXT’s CW Debut

Last night, WWE NXT fans witnessed the dawn of a new era for the brand.

At the debut episode of WWE NXT on The CW Network, broadcast live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, WWE Senior VP of Talent Development Creative, Shawn Michaels, took center stage to kick off the show.

As previously noted, "The Heartbreak Kid" unveiled brand new WWE NXT World and WWE NXT Women's World title belts, proudly displayed on a podium in the center of the ring.

Following the unveiling, Michaels stated that with that business taken care of, only one question remained.

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from off-camera, delivering the iconic phrase, “Are you ready?” in its trademark baritone.

The camera panned over to reveal WWE Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, making his way up the ring steps, beaming with a wide grin.

Levesque and Michaels then stood together in the middle of the ring, united, to officially kick off the inaugural episode of NXT on CW, marking the beginning of a new chapter for WWE NXT.

Vince McMahon Criticizes Netflix Documentary for Misleading Portrayal of His Life

Vince McMahon has publicly voiced his disappointment with a new Netflix documentary that focuses on his life and career. In a statement, McMahon expressed regret over the portrayal of him in the film, criticizing how it conflates his on-screen wrestling persona, "Mr. McMahon," with his actual self.

McMahon contends that the filmmakers missed an opportunity to present a balanced and accurate portrayal of both his personal life and his business accomplishments. According to McMahon, the documentary distorts the truth by relying on selective editing, outdated soundbites, and out-of-context footage to mislead viewers. He claims that these editorial choices were deliberately made to push a deceptive narrative, which paints a skewed picture of his life.

A key point of McMahon's criticism is the documentary's handling of a past lawsuit and affair, which he says were presented in a way that reinforces the misconception that his fictional "Mr. McMahon" character is a true reflection of his real persona.

McMahon concluded his statement by encouraging viewers to approach the film with an open mind, reminding them that there are always two sides to every story.

Vince McMahon's Official Statement on the Netflix Documentary:

McMahon writes: "I don’t regret participating in this Netflix documentary. The producers had an opportunity to tell an objective story about my life and the incredible business I built, which were equally filled with excitement, drama, fun, and a fair amount of controversy and life lessons. Unfortunately, based on an early partial cut I’ve seen, this doc falls short and takes the predictable path of conflating the 'Mr. McMahon' character with my true self, Vince. The title and promos alone make that evident.

Much has been misrepresented or left out entirely in an effort to leave viewers intentionally confused. The producers use typical editing tricks with out-of-context footage and dated soundbites to distort the viewer’s perception and support a deceptive narrative.

In an attempt to further their misleading account, the producers use a lawsuit based on an affair I ended as evidence that I am, in fact, 'Mr. McMahon.'

I hope the viewer will keep an open mind and remember that there are two sides to every story."

Update On WWE Programming On Peacock

A new report provides an update on WWE‘s programming on Peacock.

WWE shows are on the move, as SmackDown has moved to USA Network, while NXT will premiere on The CW Network on October 1.

Steven Muelhausen of The Takedown on SI reports that, per a Peacock spokesperson, as part of their agreement with WWE, SmackDown’s complete past season library is available, while new episodes will be available only 30 days after airing on USA.

With RAW, new episodes will be available 30 days after airing, as the show will remain on USA Network through the end of 2024.

The spokesperson also said that Peacock will no longer have the libraries of NXT and RAW when their contracts expire. The streaming service will have countdown clocks to inform viewers of their expiration dates starting on September 19 and December 2, respectively.

Muelhausen also writes that a WWE spokesperson said that all PLEs will continue to air exclusively on Peacock.

WWE RAW will move to Netflix in January 2025. It is currently unclear how this may affect programming otherwise.

source: WrestleZone

WWE and NBC Just Announced a Big Returning Special Event That Fans Will Love

TKO Group Holdings and NBC announced this week that the network will air the first of its planned quarterly Saturday Night’s Main Event specials on Saturday, December 14, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and simulcast on Peacock. The move, which will offer another opportunity for Superstars to clash with one another on the 2024 calendar, is part of the duo's new five-year domestic media rights partnership that currently has both WWE SmackDown and Monday Night Raw on USA Network until the end of 2024.

What Is Saturday Night’s Main Event? For those too young to remember, Saturday Night’s Main Event started in 1985 during Saturday Night Live's timeslot when the sketch comedy show wasn't live. It stuck around on and off until roughly 2008. However, during that time it played home to cage matches, battle royal matches, tag team matches, and more between legends like Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Cody Rhodes, John Cena, Dave Bautista, Roddy Piper, and many more!

In short, this new iteration will offer current WWE titans a chance to have high-profile, consequential matches that’ll help shape the landscape of WWE across its brands in the coming months.

Triple H Contributes To Lemmy Kilmister Tribute Book

In a post on Instagram, Triple H revealed that he has taken part in a book that pays tribute to the late Lemmy Kilmister, frontman of Motorhead. The book is called No Remorse and will be available tomorrow.

He wrote: “I’ll never forget the first time I met Lemmy. The role that he and Motorhead played in shaping “The Game” cannot be overstated, and it’s been the honor of a lifetime to pay homage to my friend by contributing to this novel. Make sure you get your copy today.”

WWE Will Hold Fewer Live Events In 2025

Mark Shapiro, the President and Chief Operating Officer of TKO Group Holdings spoke at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia & Technology Conference on September 11. There, he commented on WWE cutting back on live events.

“We’re cutting events at WWE,” Shapiro said. “We’re taking our low-margin, marginally profitable events, untelevised events that Vince [McMahon] put in place to grow the brand. You’re taking the show on the road and we gotta go to every city we can get to grow the WWE brand. Well the WWE brand, while we still have to grow it, it’s on fire right now. We don’t need to carry these marginally profitable events … What was 300 [events] last year will be roughly 250 this year. And next year, we’ll be close to 200.”

Furthermore, Shapiro said that the tickets for WWE events were underpriced, and he hinted that WWE could follow the pattern of raising prices to meet the demand that has been evident elsewhere in the concert industry.

The company has already started making a change. They have already cut back on the amount of live events that will be held in the United States for the fall of 2024.

Backstage Update On WWE Raw Shift To Two-Hour Format

Some big news emerged from last night's episode of "WWE Raw," as commentator Joe Tessitore revealed that, starting October, "Raw" would be shifting to a two hour format for the remainder of 2024. The move would see the red brand leave behind it's three hour format for the first time since 2012, and had fans wondering if this change would just be through the end of the year, or would continue when "Raw" began airing on Netflix in January 2025.

At least right now, the answer appears to be the latter. Commenting on the programming shift on this morning's "Wrestling Observer Radio," Dave Meltzer revealed that "Raw" would revert back to three hours upon their move to Netflix. Furthermore, the shift from three hours to two was a call made by the USA Network, not by WWE, indicating the promotion was content to remain at three hours for the remainder of their USA tenure.

Further details were also provided regarding WWE's decision to remain with USA Network through the end of the year, something that wasn't always a given due to WWE's original deal with the network expiring in September. Meltzer noted that WWE had a choice on how to fill the gap between October and the start of the Netflix deal, and that the choices came down to USA and the Peacock streaming service, which currently houses WWE's video library. Ultimately, Peacock's unwillingness to pay extra led to WWE's short-term deal to remain with USA. As for the next three weeks, "Raw" will continue to air in its usual three hour block.

Vince McMahon Docuseries Sets Netflix Premiere Date

The Netflix docuseries on former WWE boss Vince McMahon has set its premiere date.

The series, titled “Mr. McMahon,” will debut on Sept. 25. It consists of six one-hour episodes. The official synopsis for the series states:

“‘Mr. McMahon’ chronicles the rise and fall of Vince McMahon, controversial businessman and co-founder of WWE. From his transformation of the WWE from a small, regional business into a global entertainment powerhouse to the explosive sexual misconduct allegations that led to his eventual resignation, this six-episode series offers a deep dive into McMahon’s life and his enduring franchise. Culled from over 200 hours of interviews with McMahon himself (prior to his resignation), his family members, business associates and some of the most iconic names in wrestling history, as well as the journalists who uncovered McMahon’s allegations — filmmaker Chris Smith (‘Tiger King’) and executive producer Bill Simmons (’30 for 30′) present an unflinching, no-holds-barred look at one of the most enigmatic figures in sports entertainment.”

The docuseries was originally announced back in October 2020. Less than two years later, McMahon announced his retirement from WWE amid an investigation into misconduct allegations by the WWE board of directors. He made a stunning return to the company in early 2023 to negotiate its sale, which eventually happened when Endeavor bought WWE and merged it with UFC under the TKO Group banner. McMahon then resigned from the TKO board of directors after a former employee filed a lawsuit against McMahon, accusing him of sexual abuse and trafficking her to other men.

“The goal behind ‘Mr. McMahon’ was to pull back the curtain and reveal the true Vince McMahon, obscured beneath the persona he presented to the world,” said series director and executive producer Chris Smith. “Over the four years of production, the story evolved in truly shocking ways, culminating in some extremely harrowing allegations. The final product is a revealing documentary that we believe offers a rich and nuanced portrait of the man and the complex legacy he left behind.”

Along with Smith, Bill Simmons and Zara Duffy serve as executive producers on “Mr. McMahon.” The series is produced by Library Films in association with Ringer Films. source: variety.com

Paul Heyman Explains Why He's Always Been A "Triple H Guy"

The term "Paul Heyman Guy" has been used over the years to categorize the wrestlers that Heyman managed, who almost always went on to capture gold and become main event stars. However, according to Heyman in a recent interview with "Notsam Wrestling," he too has people to whom he looks up.

"I can't speak for Paul Leveque, I don't know when or where he may have garnered that level of respect for me, I can tell you: I've always been a Paul Leveque guy," Heyman said.

Heyman then recalled the first time he ever met Levesque backstage during one of ECW's appearances on "WWE Raw." Levesque and Heyman had a conversation about the man who trained Levesque, Killer Kowalski, and Heyman was struck by the young wrestler's vision.

"The vision that he had, that as much as 'I love the past and I'm grounded in the rudimentary and fundamental ways of the business, we got to push it forward;' even back then, in '97, I was like 'Wow, this guy has his finger on the pulse of the future,'" Heyman recalled.

Paul Heyman went on to further describe his current experience working with Paul Levesque in WWE today, and claimed that's it's an absolute honor because "Triple H" is a collaborator. The WWE Hall of Famer further claimed that Levesque listens to the room he's in, takes the best out of everyone's ideas without sacrificing his own big picture, and makes it fit into the parameters of a television show or premium live event.

"That level of collaboration at the top? I don't know anybody in the history of this industry that does it as well as Paul Levesque," Heyman proclaimed.

credit "Notsam Wrestling" and Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

SEC slaps $3.5M fine on former Ideanomics CEO for alleged fraud; Shane McMahon Exec Chairman

Triple H: WWE Has A Little Something For All Ages, You Never Want To Age Yourself Out

Triple H wants WWE to appeal to all ages.

Since becoming the Chief Content Officer of WWE, Triple H has started to push the boundaries of a PG product to appease some of the adults that tune in on a weekly basis. Many fans even suspect that Raw will become an edgier product when it makes the move to Netflix in 2025.

While speaking to Full Press Wrestling for a brief interview, Triple H talked about appealing to all ages can be a tricky thing.

“The tricky part about what we do is you’ve got to have something for the 60 year old, you’ve gotta have something for the 40 year old, you’ve gotta have something for the 30 [year old], 20 [year old], and you gotta have something for the 10 and 6 year old. You’ve gotta have a little bit of something for everybody. The characters, the storylines. You never want to age yourself out, you don’t want to shoot yourself [in the foot by being] too kiddy because even the kids won’t like it then right, they don’t want somebody pandering to them. You’ve got to have something that crosses everything and it’s the trick of what we do, a little something for everyone.”

source: fightful.com

Triple H Meets Kevin Durant At Fanatics Fest NYC, Gives Him Texas Legacy Title

Game recognized game, as Triple H met up with Kevin Durant at Fanatics Fest NYC. In a tweet, WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H shared a clip in which he met NBA star Kevin Durant backstage at the convention. He gave him a Texas Longhorns Legacy Championship, and Durant expressed his excitement.

Ran into @KDTrey5 at @FanaticsFest and had to make sure he could (literally) carry the @TexasLonghorns legacy wherever he goes. #HookEm @Fanatics pic.twitter.com/KhJns5tV92

— Triple H (@TripleH) August 18, 2024

Durant is a two-time NBA Champion and a former NBA MVP. He is also a 14-time All-Star, among other accolades.

Afa Anoa'i, part of WWE Hall of Fame tag team, dies at age 81

Afa Anoa'i, the WWE Hall of Famer best known for being one-half of the Wild Samoans pro wrestling tag team, has died at 81.

His death was announced by his family Friday, two months after his younger brother and tag team partner, Sika, died in June.

Afa is the uncle of WWE superstar Roman Reigns.

"It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of my father Afa Anoai Sr.," his son Samu wrote on Facebook. "It was a peaceful transition and he was surrounded by loved ones. Please respect our privacy as we mourn our father."

According to the Wrestling Observer, Afa had been recently admitted into hospice care and experienced two heart attacks while battling pneumonia in January.

WWE paid tribute to Afa on Friday, observing a moment of silence during "Friday Night Smackdown."

Afa and Sika were a prominent tag team in WWE (then WWF) during the early 1980s and were three-time WWF tag team champions. They worked in a number of promotions, including the NWA, Mid-South Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling and the AWA, winning 20 tag team championships around the world.

The Wild Samoans were inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.

Afa and Sika last appeared in WWE at the "Hell in a Cell" premium live event in 2020 to celebrate Roman Reigns' victory over Jey Uso.

"Our family has suffered another great loss with the passing of my uncle and WWE Hall of Famer, Gataivasā Afa Amituana'i Anoa'i," Reigns wrote on X on Friday. "We thank everyone for their support and are comforted by the fact that he now rests in peace. Afa and my father, Pola'ivao Leati Sika Anoa'I were loving brothers, the greatest tag team of their generation, and now they're reunited together in heaven. Rest in Power Wild Samoans." source: espn.com

Triple H Unveils WWE Speed Women’s Tournament Set to Debut on September 4th

There's a major update for WWE fans following the Speed series. Chief Content Officer Triple H recently announced that the first-ever WWE Speed Women’s Championship Tournament will make its debut on September 4th. This exciting event will air exclusively on X (formerly known as Twitter) at 12 PM ET / 9 AM PT.

In his announcement, Triple H expressed his enthusiasm:

“Time to turn #WWESpeed up another notch… excited to announce that the WWE Speed Women’s Championship Tournament will premiere Sept. 4 at 12pm ET / 9am PT, exclusively on @X.”

As a reminder, the inaugural WWE Speed tournament saw Ricochet crowned as the first Speed Champion. He eventually lost the title to Andrade, who is set to defend it against the winner of this upcoming tournament.

TKO Details Repayments By Vince McMahon For Misallocated Funds

Former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon resigned from WWE and parent company TKO in January following the filing of a sex trafficking lawsuit against him by Janel Grant, 18 months after his initial resignation in 2022 following reports he had misappropriated company funds to pay NDAs to Grant and others. McMahon has since been reimbursing the money waylaid to WWE — which merged with UFC under TKO in September 2023 — and the company's latest quarterly report indicates he has continued to do so since his resignation.

"Mr. McMahon has agreed to make future payments to certain counterparties personally," the report reads. "As of December 31, 2023, total liabilities of $1.5 million are ... owed by Mr. McMahon to certain counterparties."

It's further noted that as of June 30, 2024, McMahon had made the payments to the relevant parties in full and directly.

"In connection with and/or arising from the investigation conducted by a Special Committee of the former WWE board of directors, Mr. McMahon has agreed to reimburse the Company for additional costs incurred in connection with and/or arising from the same matters," the section concludes. 

McMahon returned to WWE after his initial resignation in January 2023, announcing his intent to secure a sale of the company. That turn of events led to the formation of TKO, with which McMahon continued as Executive Chairman. Grant's lawsuit in January this year alleged gross sexual misconduct and trafficking at the hands of McMahon during her time with the company, which he has continuously and vehemently denied, and saw him resign from his roles with TKO and WWE.

Happy Birthday Triple H

Paul Michael Levesque
July 27, 1969

AJ Styles Believes Triple H Is Trying To Make Pro Wrestling Bigger

Ahead of his in-ring debut with Pro Wrestling NOAH, AJ Styles is singing the praises of his boss, Triple H.

SmackDown Superstar AJ Styles participated in today’s Nippon Budokan Tournament Press Conference. When asked about what being able to compete in NOAH this weekend means for the current state of WWE, Styles said Triple H is trying to show that they are willing to work with other companies to make pro wrestling bigger than ever.

“I think this is showing the Triple H era of what WWE is all about,” AJ Styles. “Because I’m not the only one that is wrestling in Japan tomorrow night. IYO SKY is also wrestling along with myself, and that just goes to show what Triple H is trying to bring throughout the world and WWE, whether it be in NOAH or somewhere else.

“Having the opportunity to wrestle there is big for everybody, and it just shows how we were willing and able to work together so that we all can make pro wrestling as big as we possibly can.”

Styles competed against Noamichi Marufuji on July 13th at Destination 2024.

WWE touts historic numbers for Money in the Bank premium live event

 

WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, today announced that Money In The Bank 2024, which featured the surprise announcement of WWE Superstar John Cena's retirement in 2025, became the highest-grossing WWE arena event in Canada in company history.

In addition to the record-setting weekend, WrestleMania XL: Behind the Curtain has amassed more than 2.3 million total viewers since its July 3 debut on WWE’s YouTube channel. The documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of the chaotic build to WrestleMania XL and features interviews with Dwayne Johnson, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque.

"Weekends that bring visitors en masse to our host cities play an important part in our planning process,” said WWE President Nick Khan. “The results are a testament to our Superstars, our creative team led by Paul Levesque, our media & production team led by Lee Fitting and, most importantly, our fans who both attended and created our massive viewership."

Money In The Bank highlights include:

GATE: Money In The Bank 2024 became the highest-grossing WWE arena event in Canada in company history.

ATTENDANCE: More than 45,000 fans attended the four events running Thursday to Sunday, including the debut of WWE Superstar Sami Zayn’s comedy show, Sami Zayn & Friends Do Toronto, in addition to Friday Night SmackDown, Money In The Bank and NXT Heatwave at Scotiabank Arena.

VIEWERSHIP: Saturday’s show became the most-watched Money In The Bank of all time, with viewership up 46 percent from last year’s record-setting number.

JOHN CENA: WWE Superstar John Cena made international news with his announcement that he will retire from in-ring action following The Last Time Is Now John Cena Farewell Tour in 2025.

MERCHANDISE: In partnership with Fanatics, merchandise sales were up from last year’s record-setting number, with the Canadian-themed Money In The Bank briefcase grabbing the top spot as the best-selling item of the weekend.

FAN HOSPITALITY: Money In The Bank weekend set a revenue record for fan experience packages offered by exclusive partner On Location.

SOCIAL: Cena’s retirement announcement amassed more than 65 million social media views in the first 24 hours, making it WWE’s most-viewed social segment since WrestleMania XL.

Stephanie, Aurora, Murphy, and Vaughn