The end of an era is over: Vince McMahon stepped down from WWE this Friday, the company he was removed from as CEO after he saw his name implicated in a former employee’s bribery scandal. The 76-year-old American businessman announced the decision through a short post on social networks. “At 77, it’s time to retire. Thank you WWE Universe. Then. Now. Forever and ever. together,” he wrote. After 42 years in the WWE industry, in which he has played several important roles in the growth of the brand on a global level, Vince McMahon is stepping down as president of the North American company, taking charge of his daughter, Stephanie McMahon. The former “wrestler” temporarily took over WWE on June 17, when a bribery scandal involving the name of Vince McMahon surfaced. The businessman was suspected of bribing a former WWE employee with a “suitcase” worth three million dollars (about 2.85 million euros) so that she would not reveal an alleged love affair that could exist between them.
“As we approach the age of 77 [celebra-os a 24 de agosto], it’s time for me to step down as president and CEO of WWE. For all these years, it has been my privilege to help WWE bring you joy, inspire, excite, surprise and, above all, entertain you,” the American businessman wrote in another, more detailed statement posted on the official WWE website.
He continued: “I would like to thank all of our former and current superstars and employees for their dedication and passion for our brand. Most importantly, I would like to thank all of our fans for allowing us to enter your homes every week. and for your preference in the world of entertainment. I also leave my deepest gratitude and admiration to the generations of fans around the world who loved, still love, and in some cases even love our sport.”
So far, no further information has been released on the future of the company, which has meanwhile announced the return of Paul Levesque, aka “Triple H”, to resume his duties as WWE Talent Relations Manager.
