More on Vince McMahon Wanting to Return to WWE & Potential Fallout

As noted before, Vince McMahon is currently dealing with new legal issues over his past sexual misconduct and assault allegations. McMahon retired from WWE this past July over the fallout of the allegations against him but is currently considering potentially returning to the company in the future.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that as long as McMahon is looking to potentially return to WWE, the company can not be sold to a potential new owner. This reportedly is due to McMahon still remains the largest shareholder and still controls the majority of voting power at around 80 percent in WWE.

Meltzer reported that WWE currently has mechanisms in place that would prevent McMahon from just waltzing back in power since his return would first need to be approved by WWE’s Board of Directors, who was mostly handpicked by him prior to his departure. Another obstacle in McMahon’s potential return reportedly is WWE’s Board primary have to look out for the best interest of the company’s shareholders and could reject his return if they believe it would seriously harm the company’s stock value in any way.

Meltzer also reported that the source of all of the negative information on McMahon in the Wall Street Journal’s reports that led to his departure is currently believed to be someone either on WWE’s Board or very close to it. This person reportedly would have had detailed knowledge of the anonymous letter from WWE’s former paralegal, who McMahon had quietly settled his allegations against and started the process that led to his and John Laurinaitis removal from the company.

In regards to the mood within WWE, Meltzer reported that the general feeling based on those spoken to is that things have been a lot better for the company since McMahon departed, especially from WWE’s locker room.

Those who were allies of McMahon during his tenure in the company reportedly currently hold a negative view of his potential return. One longtime supporter spoken to reportedly stated “What if (he) decided to upend the entire Board (he has 80 percent voting stock) and is still the largest owner of common stock?. The class action shareholder lawsuits would cripple the entire company. The networks would balk. FOX had to get rid of Roger Ailes. I don’t think they will be favorable to his return. NBCU is a prisoner of he deal and even they spoke up about his TV appearances when he was in the headlines and still appearing on TV. The shareholder revolt would endanger the entire organization. This was a terrible shot today to the moving forward ‘business as usual’ claim that was implemented by Stephanie, Levesque (and) Nick Khan. Now the conspiracy theories will be all about (Vince) coming back. If he comes back, it’s a scorched Earth scenario. Unless he figure a lesser role (and how can he of all people take a lesser role?), but the leak from his side is that he was given bad advice, so now he’s blaming people. He stands to make so much money in a stock sale if he lets these TV negotiations go smoothly. Now the networks have to ask, `What’s going on with Vince? “