WWE

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McMahon Settles With SEC Over Hush Money Payments

Agency says ex-WWE CEO didn't disclose $10.5M settlements with 2 women

(Newser) - The Securities and Exchange Commission has settled charges against former WWE CEO Vince McMahon over his failure to disclose to the sports entertainment company's board and others that he signed two settlement agreements worth $10.5 million with two women so they wouldn't reveal potential claims against himself...

5 'Ring Boys' Say McMahon, WWE Allowed Sexual Abuse

WWE founder admitted Melvin Phillips Jr. had 'unnatural interest' in young boys, per suit

(Newser) - A WWE ring announcer sexually abused five boys whom he "lured" decades ago with the promise of meeting wrestling stars, according to a lawsuit, which claims the WWE and founder Vince McMahon were "fully aware" of the abuse and "did nothing to prevent or stop it."...

Former WWE Wrestler Held in Wife's Death

Janette Becraft suffered from dementia, neighbors say

(Newser) - William Albert Haynes Jr., who wrestled professionally under the name Billy Jack Haynes, is being held in Oregon in the shooting death of his wife. Portland police identified Haynes, 70, as a suspect after Janette Becraft, 85, was found dead in their home on Thursday, the Oregonian reports. A woman...

Feds Investigate Vince McMahon on Sex Trafficking Allegations

WWE founder's legal trouble escalates

(Newser) - Federal prosecutors in New York spent months investigating sex trafficking allegations against World Wrestling Entertainment founder Vince McMahon before a former WWE employee detailed her allegations in a lawsuit last week. Federal agents executed a search warrant for McMahon's phone and delivered a grand jury subpoena for documents related...

Dwayne Johnson Finally Gets Rights to Famous Nickname
'The Rock' Has
a New Owner
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Jan 27, 2024 4:00 PM CST

'The Rock' Has a New Owner

And it's Dwayne Johnson, who strikes a deal with WWE regarding rights to his famous nickname

(Newser) - It's a name that has become almost synonymous with professional wrestling, but its bearer, Dwayne Johnson, has never legally owned "The Rock." That will change under a new agreement with the WWE, under which Johnson will also join the board of TKO Group, the sports and entertainment...

Lawsuit Accuses Vince McMahon of Sex Trafficking
WWE Founder
McMahon
Resigns
UPDATED
Jan 27, 2024 6:30 AM CST

WWE Founder McMahon Resigns

This following a suit accusing company's founder of sexually assaulting former employee

(Newser) - Vince McMahon has cut ties with the WWE. The AP reports that the wrestling giant's 78-year-old founder resigned his position Friday as executive chair of the board of TKO Group Holdings, WWE's parent company, a day after former WWE staffer Janel Grant filed a suit accusing McMahon and...

Well, Now You Can Netflix and Wrestle
Netflix Just Got
a Little Raw
Jan 23, 2024 12:28 PM CST

Netflix Just Got a Little Raw

WWE is headed to the streaming service in 2025, so soon you can Netflix and wrestle

(Newser) - WWE's weekly show Raw will move to Netflix next year as part of a major streaming deal worth more than $5 billion. TKO Group Holdings Inc., which houses WWE and UFC, said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday that the agreement is for 10 years, with Netflix having an...

Former WWE Star Sentenced to 17 Years After Fatal DUI Crash

Tamara 'Tammy' Sytch wrestled as 'Sunny'

(Newser) - A former WWE wrestler was sentenced to more than 17 years behind bars Monday after a DUI crash last year in Florida that left a 75-year-old man dead. Police say Tamara "Tammy" Sytch, who went by "Sunny" during her wrestling days, had a blood alcohol content four times...

Big Star in Wrestling Is Dead at 36
Big Star in Wrestling
Is Dead at 36
obituary
Aug 25, 2023 12:52 PM CDT

Big Star in Wrestling Is Dead at 36

Bray Wyatt, real name Windham Rotunda, reportedly suffered a heart attack

(Newser) - One of the bigger names in World Wrestling Entertainment has died young: Windham Rotunda, who performed under the name Bray Wyatt, died at age 36 on Thursday, reports Yahoo Sports . Rotunda died unexpectedly, wrote WWE chief content officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque on X. The family hasn't released...

WWE on Auschwitz Pic Used in Promo: We Had No Idea

Company apologizes after Auschwitz Memorial officials blast use of image in WrestleMania promo

(Newser) - The WWE quietly scrubbed an image of Auschwitz used to promote a WrestleMania match last weekend after instant outrage from the masses, and now the organization is finally speaking up about the offensive flub. "We had no knowledge of what was depicted," the WWE said in a statement...

Even as New Allegations Arise, Vince McMahon Wants Back In

'Wall Street Journal' reports that he regrets resigning from WWE

(Newser) - The Wall Street Journal is out with a story about potentially big trouble for Vince McMahon, former head of World Wrestling Entertainment. Specifically, two women have filed new legal claims alleging that he sexually assaulted them years ago. However, the story also includes a surprising revelation given that context: It...

WWE Wrestler Sara Lee Dead at 30
WWE Wrestler
Sara Lee Dead at 30
OBITUARY
Oct 7, 2022 2:40 PM CDT

WWE Wrestler Sara Lee Dead at 30

'Tough Enough' contestant, mother of 3 dies unexpectedly of unknown cause

(Newser) - Sara Lee, a professional wrestler who nabbed a WWE contract as season 6 winner of the Tough Enough reality TV competition, has died. Lee's mother confirmed the 30-year-old mother of three, who was married to fellow wrester Westin Blake, died unexpectedly. "We are all in shock and arrangements...

Amid Misconduct Probe, WWE's McMahon Is Retiring

With nary a mention of sexual harassment investigation, longtime CEO steps down at 77

(Newser) - World Wrestling Entertainment impresario Vince McMahon announced Friday he is retiring amid an investigation into alleged misconduct involving the flamboyant showman who turned a small wrestling company into a worldwide entertainment business. In a brief statement, McMahon said he is retiring as the company's chairman and CEO. He noted...

Vince McMahon Out as Wrestling CEO
Wrestling CEO Is Out
Amid New Scandal
Jun 17, 2022 11:26 AM CDT

Wrestling CEO Is Out Amid New Scandal

Vince McMahon steps aside at least temporarily as investigation unfolds

(Newser) - Stephanie McMahon will take over her father Vince McMahon's role as CEO and chairman of the WWE while board members investigate hush money payments he allegedly made to former employees. "Effective immediately, McMahon has voluntarily stepped back from his responsibilities as CEO and Chairman of the Board until...

Vince McMahon Paid Millions in Hush Money to Staffers: Report

Investigation reveals NDAs alleging misconduct by CEO and John Laurinaitis

(Newser) - The WWE board of directors is investigating numerous secret nondisclosure agreements involving its chairman Vince McMahon, including a $3 million settlement paid to a former paralegal at the company to cover up an alleged affair. That's according to the Wall Street Journal , which spoke with sources who say the...

WWE Fans Upset Daughter of 'The Rock' Not Using His Name
WWE Fans Don't Like Name
the Rock's Daughter Is Using
in case you missed it
Jun 4, 2022 5:05 PM CDT

WWE Fans Don't Like Name the Rock's Daughter Is Using

Simone Johnson will go by Ava Raine

(Newser) - Simone Johnson—as in, Simone "daughter of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson" Johnson—is following in her dad's footsteps, but not using his name. That last bit has some WWE fans upset. Johnson, 20, was signed by the professional wrestling organization in 2020 but has not yet made...

Wrestling Legend 'Mr. Wonderful' Dies
Wrestling Legend
'Mr. Wonderful' Dies
Jul 13, 2021 12:02 AM CDT

Wrestling Legend 'Mr. Wonderful' Dies

Paul Orndorff was 71

(Newser) - One of the stars of World Wrestling Entertainment's 1980s heyday has died at age 71. Paul Orndorff, otherwise known as "Mr. Wonderful," signed with the World Wrestling Federation in 1983, and was managed by "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, who gave him his nickname, Deadline reports. During the...

Head Injuries Suit Against WWE Goes to Supreme Court

Former wrestlers have lost in lower court rulings

(Newser) - Dozens of former pro wrestlers who claimed in lawsuits that World Wrestling Entertainment failed to protect them from repeated head injuries are taking their case to the US Supreme Court. A lawyer for the former wrestlers, most of them stars in the 1980s and '90s, filed a request late...

Pro-Wrestler Dies of 'Lung Issue' at 41
Former WWE Champ
Jon Huber Dead at 41
obituary
Dec 27, 2020 9:30 AM CST

Former WWE Champ Jon Huber Dead at 41

Huber wrestled for WWE and AEW as Luke Harper and Brodie Lee

(Newser) - Jon Huber, a beloved professional wrestling champ known as Brodie Lee and Luke Harper in the ring, has died at the age of 41. Huber's wife, Amanda Huber, posted about the tragedy on Instagram . "My best friend died today," she wrote, . "surrounded by love ones after...

Wrestler's Last Words: 'Save My Son'
Wrestler's
Last Words:
'Save My Son'
OBITUARY
May 20, 2020 10:40 AM CDT

Wrestler's Last Words: 'Save My Son'

Body of Shad Gaspard, 39, washes ashore in Venice Beach, Calif.

(Newser) - Former WWE star Shad Gaspard has been confirmed dead after he disappeared in a rip current off Venice Beach, Calif., on Sunday. A person reported a body on the beach near Venice Pier around 1:30am Wednesday. The Los Angeles County coroner's office has since confirmed the body is...

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