Vince McMahon avoided a major courtroom battle over WWE’s merger with UFC, and it’s due to the fact that he cut a last-minute deal to avoid a trial.
The WWE shareholder lawsuit was already pulled from the Delaware Court of Chancery calendar after it was reported that the parties had reached an agreement in principle. Court Administrator Tamara Burton confirmed the trial was cancelled at the parties’ request and that the settlement will be presented for court approval later.
Now, Front Office Sports has provided more context, reporting that McMahon reached a last-minute settlement in a case that could have brought more attention to his sexual misconduct allegations and hush money scandals. An attorney for the plaintiffs confirmed the settlement to Front Office Sports, but declined to go further because the terms are not public yet: “Details aren’t public yet.”
“Vince McMahon reached a last-minute settlement to avoid a trial over the 2023 merger of WWE and UFC, a case which risked making information about his sexual misconduct allegations and hush money scandals public.”
The lawsuit was filed by WWE stockholders after WWE’s $21 billion merger with UFC parent Endeavor, which created TKO Group Holdings. The suit claimed McMahon pushed WWE toward Endeavor over other possible buyers because Ari Emanuel would allow him to maintain financial benefits and control over WWE.
The plaintiffs also alleged that other bidders could have forced McMahon out due to sexual misconduct and settlement payment scandals. Current and former WWE executives Nick Khan, George Barrios, Steve Koonin, Michelle Wilson, and Frank Riddick were also listed as defendants.
During discovery, shareholders requested documents tied to sexual misconduct allegations and payments made to women who accused McMahon of misconduct. They argued those records were relevant to McMahon’s “state of mind” during the merger process.
McMahon may have avoided this Delaware trial, but his legal issues are not fully behind him. Janel Grant’s lawsuit remains ongoing, and McMahon has moved to compel that case into arbitration. He and Linda McMahon are also still facing a lawsuit from five former “Ring Boys,” who allege the couple knowingly allowed a ring crew chief to sexually abuse them decades ago.
The settlement means the shareholder case will not go to trial this week, keeping a lot of potentially explosive material out of open court for now. Still, with other lawsuits ongoing, the legal cloud around McMahon is far from gone.
What do you think about Vince McMahon settling the WWE shareholder lawsuit before trial? Share your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.