WWE issues internal memo to employees regarding latest Vince McMahon allegations

On Friday, The Wall Street Journal came out with a second story about Vince McMahon. He reportedly paid $12 million in hush money to four women in the past 16 years to suppress sexual misconduct and infidelity allegations.

The reported payouts were made to women formerly affiliated with WWE, and they all signed agreements that prevented them from discussing potential legal claims or their relationships with him.

A $7.5 million pact with a former wrestler alleged that McMahon coerced her into giving her oral sex before she was demoted and later not re-signed by the company in 2005 after she resisted more sexual encounters.

The wrestler, alongside her attorney, approached McMahon in 2018 to negotiate a payment in return for her silence.

A WWE contractor presented the company with unsolicited nude photos of McMahon she received from him. McMahon agreed to pay this person $1 million. In 2006, there was an agreement with a former manager who worked for McMahon. The manager was paid $1 million to keep quiet about a sexual relationship.

Pwinsider.com reports WWE issued the following memo to their employees regarding the story:

“The Wall Street Journal has published a second story with expanded details on its initial WWE report last month. We want to reiterate that we and our Board of Directors take these allegations seriously.

We’ve been cooperating fully with the investigation led by our Board of Directors and will continue to do so until its conclusion. Please note that upon its conclusion, WWE leadership will make itself available to answer any questions you may have. Thank you.”

The first WSJ report was about a $3 million hush pact reached in January after McMahon and a former paralegal had an affair. WWE's Board of Directors started an investigation into this and claims that John Laurinaitis had a relationship with the same paralegal in addition to a claim about a $1.5 million nondisclosure agreement being reached with an employee that made misconduct claims against Laurinaitis in 2012.