A couple of weeks ago, news broke that former WWE CEO Vince McMahon allegedly paid a woman $3 million after they had an affair. The backlash from the story, initially covered by the Wall Street Journal, prompted McMahon to turn over the reigns of the company to his daughter, Stephanie.
On Friday morning, the flood gates opened up. A new report listed four women being paid $12 million in hush money for varying sexual misconduct allegations.
That sent Twitter ablaze, as WWE fans roasted Vince McMahon.
Vince McMahon has to go. Day-to-day business, creative, all of it. It's time to wrap it up and move on.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) July 8, 2022
Vince McMahon’s lawyer right now: pic.twitter.com/IY8y4ZkYfS
— Fiending For Followers ‼️ (@Fiend4FolIows) July 8, 2022
Vince McMahon right now. pic.twitter.com/IGSAtNCPlP
— TranquiloClubYT (@TranquiloClubYT) July 8, 2022
when I was a kid my dad told me Vince McMahon makes wrestlers suck him off to get ring time. dont know how he knew this and everyone else didn't but, it seems the other shoe dropped
— trevor (@trrvvb) July 8, 2022
Leaked script for Vince McMahon when he shows up tonight on SmackDown!: pic.twitter.com/rVALm9UaVu
— PAC Has Nightmare Eyes/ Sam King (@PacKimblee) July 8, 2022
Max Caster was right: F**k Vince McMahon pic.twitter.com/8bYpP9zUdj
— AJ's University of Nerds and Geeks!❤️⭐️️🌈🌻 (@AjBlueBayBelt) July 8, 2022
Needless to say, WWE fans are not pleased with the recent news. But at the same time, the vast majority of people are also not shocked. There have been documentaries chronicling the exploits of Vince McMahon with his wrestlers. The lives that many of McMahon's performers and athletes are forced to lead is insane. Many of them are home for maybe a couple weeks a year, leaving their families behind.
Even John Oliver's Last Week Tonight detailed much of it on his show back in 2019.
Nevertheless, the recent news is still shocking. Reportedly the settlements include a female wrestler that Vince McMahon coerced into giving her oral sex back in 2005. Following that encounter, instead of promoting the woman, he demoted her. He eventually released her from the company after she refused further advances.
Another woman was allegedly paid $1 million for providing nude photos. A separate woman reportedly had an affair with McMahon and was paid off to keep quiet. The entire situation is a complete mess but no one with a straight face can say they are surprised by these developments.