In 2022, reports emerged concerning alleged hush-money payments, prompting Vince McMahon to step down from his roles as WWE’s CEO and Chairman. Regardless of these damning allegations, McMahon kept his finger on the pulse of the creative process until he left WWE after merging with UFC in September, at which point he took on the position of TKO’s Executive Chairman.
However, his tenure with TKO was short-lived due to a wave of severe accusations made by Janel Grant, an ex-WWE employee. McMahon, alongside John Laurinaitis and WWE were sued by Grant for allegations ranging from sex trafficking to rape.
Known for his close association with Triple H, WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash speculated that Triple H would have departed from the company had McMahon reassumed complete creative control instead of resigning. Jonathan Coachman, in his “Behind the Turnbuckle” podcast, found some truth in Nash’s comments.
According to Coachman, McMahon was dissatisfied with Triple H’s NXT project gaining popularity, primarily because it wasn’t originally his idea. He claimed that Vince intentionally steered clear of promoting NXT talents for fear of appearing less intelligent than Triple H.
Coachman shared, “What did Vince despise about Triple H? He couldn’t stand something new that people appreciated if it wasn’t his thought. Vince detested success that didn’t originate from him. Triple H was the brain behind NXT. And it’s apparent that NXT stars weren’t being pushed. What do we see now on Monday Night RAW? NXT stars are everywhere, thanks to Triple H. His best friend Shawn Michaels manages NXT. Vince couldn’t stand it.”
Furthermore, Coachman added that “One of Vince McMahon’s shortcomings was that he claimed to always do what was best for the business, but that’s only accurate if the said initiative was his brainchild. He wasn’t willing to let anyone else take credit, particularly his son-in-law, as it might lead people to believe that Triple H is more intelligent than him.”
In the wake of these leadership transitions, WWE is thriving due to Triple H’s innovative vision and McMahon’s absence. Similarly, under Shawn Michaels’ guidance, NXT is experiencing significant success.