WWE’s McMahon says he is retiring amid misconduct probe | National News

In a temporary statement issued by WWE, McMahon said he is retiring as the firm’s chairman and CEO. He observed that he continues to be its vast majority shareholder.

McMahon stepped down briefly as CEO and chairman of WWE in mid-June throughout an investigation into alleged misconduct. Previously this thirty day period, the Wall Street Journal claimed McMahon agreed to pay back far more than $12 million around the previous 16 decades to suppress allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity.

“At 77, time for me to retire. Thank you, WWE Universe. Then. Now. Endlessly. Alongside one another. #WWE #thankful,” he wrote on Twitter.

There was no mention of the investigation in assertion from the corporation primarily based in Stamford, Connecticut. McMahon said his daughter, Stephanie, who was named interim CEO and chairperson previous thirty day period, will serve as chairperson and share CEO responsibilities with Nick Khan, who joined the firm in 2020.

“Our world viewers can just take comfort and ease in being aware of WWE will proceed to entertain you with the exact fervor, dedication, and enthusiasm as usually,” he wrote in the assertion, thanking WWE’s generations of supporters all more than the environment.

McMahon to start with stepped aside from the prime positions previous thirty day period after the Journal reported at the time that he had agreed to pay $3 million to a previous paralegal who explained he sexually harassed her on the job. He was intended to carry on overseeing WWE’s resourceful content material for the duration of the companies investigation. But then the newspaper described that McMahon experienced agreed to pay out the drastically larger sized sum of $12 million.

Four women — all previously affiliated with WWE — signed agreements with McMahon that bar them from talking about their relationships with him, the Journal claimed, citing men and women common with the discounts and files it reviewed. McMahon has mentioned he is cooperating with the company’s investigation.

McMahon has been the chief and most recognizable experience at WWE for a long time. When he bought what was then the Globe Wrestling Federation from his father in 1982, wrestling matches took location at small venues and appeared on area cable channels.

The group underwent a seismic transformation below McMahon with activities like WrestleMania, a high quality reside manufacturing that draws tens of millions of fervent viewers.

Income very last yr exceeded $1 billion for the first time and the business has tv discounts with Fox and NBCUniversal. Previous thirty day period it introduced a multiyear expansion of its primary programming partnership with A&E.

WWE stars have grow to be crossover sensations, which includes Hulk Hogan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and John Cena.