Update: This post has been altered from its original publishing to reflect that Haus of Wrestling has independently verified the authenticity of Vince McMahon’s internal statement to WWE employees.
Earlier today, WWE released its 2023 second-quarter results and a 10-Q filing with the Security and Exchange Commission. While much of the news was positive, one glaring inclusion in the 10-Q filing caught many by surprise. Per the filing, on July 17, federal agents executed a search warrant on Vince McMahon and served him with a subpoena for a federal grand jury. When asked about it on the investor call this morning, WWE CEO Nick Khan declined to comment.
WrestleVotes reports that McMahon sent an internal statement to WWE employees this morning addressing the search warrant and federal investigation. Haus of Wrestling has been able to independently verify the authenticity of the statement.
“In 2022, WWE formed a special committee to review allegations of misconduct against me,” McMahon began. “That review was concluded in November 2022 following an extensive investigation. Throughout this experience, I have always denied any intentional wrongdoing and continue to do so. I am confident that the government’s investigation will be resolved without any findings of wrongdoing. I am focused on completing the recovery process from my recent spinal surgery and on closing our transaction with Endeavor, which will create one of the preeminent global sports and entertainment brands.”
The topic of the closing of the transaction with Endeavor, formally creating TKO Holdings, was front and center on the investor call earlier this morning. While Khan was coy in regard to McMahon’s legal issues, he expressed confidence that the transaction will still close in the second half of this year, on schedule. Khan also assuaged fears that TV rights fee negotiations were taking too long, beyond the exclusive negotiating window with Comcast and Fox, by noting that the company is seeking much larger fees this time, which is what is prolonging the process.