Every time family members work together in a company, there will be some conflict, and the McMahon family’s experience with WWE was no different.
While Stephanie served as an executive for many years, Vince McMahon oversaw operations as chairman and CEO, and Paul “Triple H” Levesque was a talent before becoming an executive. The hush money scandal over the summer caused Vince to resign from his position, which altered the dynamic. Nick Khan and Stephanie shared duties as co-CEO after Stephanie was appointed chairwoman. Triple H took over main roster creative at the same time.
As he looks to sell the business, Vince elected himself back to the WWE Board of Directors last week. Stephanie left the company on Tuesday while Vince was formally named Chairman of the Board, despite putting on a brave face in a meeting with staff members hours after the announcement.
According to Dave Meltzer in the most recent issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, those with knowledge of the situation “in WWE tried to present her decision to leave as being related to the decision last year.”
At the time, she insisted that she wanted to take stock of her life, focus on raising her three daughters, and spend more time with her family, particularly in light of Triple H’s serious heart condition.
She returned to the business, though, after Vince’s hush money scandal broke.
Meltzer wrote, “But that doesn’t explain why this was a resignation, and she left the board and cut all ties with the company she has worked for since she was a teenager. It was also conceded that she and Vince did have issues in working together as family members and how Khan was a buffer who kept things smooth between them as well as between Vince and Levesque.”
WWE is looking to sell the business by the middle of this year, as was previously reported. Triple H and Stephanie had reportedly been opposed to this.
